The Hammers are hoping to take over operational responsibility for the stadium after the Games, but the presence of a running track - pledged by London in its original bid to host the Olympics - has been a contentious issue. However, Ian Tompkins, West Ham's Olympic project director, has outlined how the track would be partially covered up during the winter months before being exposed during the summer, to ensure the stadium would fulfil its pledge of ensuring a legacy for athletics. "The stadium has to include the running track," Tompkins told The Sport Briefing. "That has been made clear from the beginning and we completely understand it. "It has to be able to fulfil the commitments given - that there will be an athletics legacy. "We've had lots of discussions with UK Athletics and others and our plan does incorporate athletics with a running track. "The football and athletics seasons do sit quite nicely in the year, so essentially what would happen is the athletics track would remain covered during the football season because the pitch would overlap a little bit anyway." A recent online supporters' poll showed 72% of West Ham fans would not support a move from the club's existing Upton Park home if the Olympic Stadium kept a running track. However, Tompkins believes the proposal will not only be welcomed by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), but also fans concerned by the impact a running track would have on the match-day experience. "I completely understand those views (of the fans)," he said. "We're well aware of what is being said but we're equally aware of the supporters that are saying it is the right thing for the club to do. "You're always going to get this. It's change and it's moving away; it's a very emotive thing in anything, particularly football. "We know that one of the greatest concerns being spoken about is the viewing distances and sight lines. What I will say (is) it is very difficult to (show the fans). "What we want to do, hopefully with the help of various people and at the right time, is to get groups of supporters in there. "If you've been in there I think you would agree with me and recognise how intimate it is; it's not necessarily the issue people fear. "It's just such a fantastic stadium and I can't wait to be in the position where we can invite people in and hopefully get them understanding what it is like." West Ham's plan to accommodate 60,000 fans at the reformed stadium by altering seat spacing, as well as increasing the number of facilitates and extending the roof, is still a "work in progress", according to Tompkins. He added that the club is considering various solutions in a bid to transform the Olympic Stadium into an all-year round venue whilst simultaneously leaving the height and structure predominantly as it is. Furthermore, West Ham is working with Newham Borough Council and others in the region to lobby for international services to run from Stratford, which Tompkins described as a "very important piece in the jigsaw". Tompkins said that West Ham hope to be more explicit about the club's plans by the end of the year, and a decision on the future use of the Olympic Stadium should be made by the OPLC the end of March 2011. He added: "We're in a position with the stadium to hit the ground running with the right solution for it and make it work from day one." West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady recently estimated the cost of revamping the Olympic Stadium to a 60,000-seat venue at between £150-180 million.
