West Ham unlikely to play at London Stadium until September next season over World Athletics Championships seating delay

West Ham are confident they can handle any disruption caused by issues over the retractable seating at the London Stadium.

The Hammers are unlikely to play at home next term until September because of the delay in converting the stadium back to football following a summer of athletics there.

Standard Sport understands it could take up to 15 days for seating to be moved back into place but the World Athletics Championships end on August 13, which is likely to be the day after the Premier League season kicks off.

In the original plans for the multi-use stadium it was thought it would take only five days but the company behind that proposal, Alto Seating Solutions, has gone into liquidation.

Under the original proposal it was going to cost £300,000 to move the seating but the process is now being put out to tender and it is thought it could cost up to £8million.

No date has been set for the start of the next Premier League season but it is likely to be August 12.

Given the World Athletics Championships finish the next day, West Ham will ask the Premier League to be away on the opening day of the season and the following week too when they shoud be at home. They would then be away in the third round of League matches, meaning they would not play at the London Stadium until mid-September.

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This arrangement would mirror the one Liverpool had this year when they moved their second match of the campaign — against Burnley — to Turf Moor as Anfield was still being redeveloped.

As well as the World Athletics Championships, which start on August 4, the stadium will also host a round of the Diamond League on July 9 with the World ParaAthletics Championships beginning five days later.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced an inquiry into the cost of converting the stadium, which has risen from £272m to £323m.

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