The London Stadium may become athletics free a lot sooner than anticipated, as West Ham’s owners explore options that will allow them greater mobility in their currently shared home.

The news comes from well-respected Hammers fans’ website Claret and Hugh, a site that can often rightly claim to get hold of club information earlier than many national news outlets.

The report suggests that West Ham could pay UK Athletics a substantial one-off sum to quit the London Stadium after the 2017 London Anniversary Games and World Athletics Championships.

The owners appear to have taken this stance due to the cost of moving the retractable seats, which cover the running track and expand the capacity of the stadium. The seats also bring some fans closer to the action and ensure there isn’t a massive gap between where the action takes place, and the nearest fans.

The original cost of moving the seats was estimated at £300,000, but last year the actual cost came out at £8million. This has led to the West Ham board considering their options, with one possible alternative to pay UK Athletics to give up their 50-year agreement to use the stadium. Cancelling the agreement is likely to cost millions, but could work out much cheaper than the total annual bill for moving the retractable seating over 50 years.

In any case, Hammers fans have been left disappointed with their new stadium so far this year. Many don’t believe the stadium has been adequately converted to be suitable for football.

The gap between most of the supporters and the pitch is not helping the West Ham faithful in generating the kind of atmosphere they did week in week out at Upton Park in seasons past. Additionally, the sizeable gap between the East and West stands as a result of the bowl-shaped stadium fitted with the retractable seats is not helping either. It’s clear the stadium could do with a revamp.

Being the sole tenants would allow West Ham to convert the stadium as they please and potentially make it more suitable for the needs of a Premier League team.

This is sure to be welcome news for Hammers fans everywhere, who have seen their side struggle in their new surroundings this term. West Ham’s record stands at 4 wins and 4 draws in their 17 home league games this season. They’ll be hoping for an improvement next term; news of a potential deal with UK Athletics and subsequent redevelopment could really boost the atmosphere around the place.