West Ham United have confirmed that they are to take legal action against both Tottenham and the corporate intelligence company employed by the north Londoners to obtain private information in the cash-for-stadium scandal.
It was revealed by the Sunday Times that Tottenham had hired the agency earlier this year to procure sensitive personal information from employees of both the OPLC and West Ham United.But only a matter of hours after the first run of the Times hit the streets, West Ham responded with a statement in which the club confirmed they will be 'investigating the investigators'.
"The newspaper's statement that Tottenham Hotspur employed the investigators who obtained private information illegally is one we are treating with the utmost seriousness and no doubt data protection and prosecution agencies may also do so," said the statement, published on whufc.com in the early hours of Sunday morning.
"The only wrongdoing here is by those who have broken the law and obtained private information. It would appear that no stone has gone unturned trying to find a way to undermine our bid including apparently targeting the 14 OPLC Board members who had voted unanimously on the bid in our favour.
"The suggestion of 'secret cash' in the Sunday Times article is absolutely and categorically denied. As such, legal action is being taken against the Sunday Times, as well as Tottenham Hotspur.
"We are so confident in the probity of our actions that we will take the strongest action possible against any suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of West Ham United or its officers, as well as involve the police and the data protection registrar in regard to the accessing of private information by illegal means."
The statement also dismissed suggestions that the OPLC's Ms Knight - who was suspended from her post on Friday - was given preferential treatment when offered consultancy work by the club.
"A number of companies applied for the procurement contract," it read. "It was awarded to Ms Knight as she was able to provide expertise at a significantly competitive price.
"The OPLC has confirmed that Ms Knight had absolutely no involvement in the bidding process and we repeat that secret cash was not paid to her. Her work was very transparent and the bidding process was never compromised. "
To read the club's statement in full, click here.
* Discuss this story on the KUMB.com forums here.
* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.
