Hammers could join Prmier League's elite thanks to Olympic Stadium deal (From Thurrock Gazette)

West Ham skipper's delight at Olympic stadium deal

1:40pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in Sport

WEST HAM: West Ham captain Kevin Nolan believes the club's move to the Olympic Stadium could help them join the Barclays Premier League elite.

The Hammers were today handed the keys for the Olympic Stadium after a deal for the London 2012 centrepiece was finally agreed, with the club set to move in ahead of the 2016/17 season.

Nolan, 30, is completely behind the move from West Ham's current Upton Park home and reckons it will give the Hammers the best chance of challenging the established Premier League giants.

"You can see that this is a club that has always had the up-and-downs because they haven't been able to splash the cash," he said.

"They haven't had the stadium to create the revenue so I think this is the perfect opportunity to put this club in amongst the big boys and we have got to make sure now that we stabilise the club in the fact we make sure it is still a Premier League club and even fighting for European places by the time we move here."