WEST HAM stars and Upton Park schoolchildren travelled to Downing Street on Thursday to deliver the club and Newham Council’s bid to take over Stratford’s Olympic Stadium.

But their chances of managing the stadium once the 2012 Games are over could be dented as London rivals Tottenham Hotspur join the competition to win control of the 80,000 arena.

Players Scott Parker, Carlton Cole and Mark Noble helped six pupils from Cleves Primary School hand in the plan along with Newham Young Mayor Kaycee de Belen on the official deadline for bids.

Under the proposals submitted to the Olympic Park Legacy Company the Stadium would become a 60,000 capacity ground for the Premiership club as well as hosting athletics, other major sports, concerts and community facilities.

West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady said: “We believe this is the only bid that can deliver London’s legacy commitment to the International Olympic Committee.

“The last thing anyone wants is for the Olympic Stadium to become a ghost of Olympics past. The only realistic solution is to make the stadium work for a Premier League football team and that should be West Ham United.

“As a top-flight football club we have the necessary expertise in running a major multi-purpose venue.”

Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales added: “A busy stadium will enhance the regeneration of the wider area and importantly, there will be no cost to the public purse after the stadium’s conversion.”

But fellow top-flight club Tottenham have also moved to take over the stadium despite plans for a new ground in North London receiving planning permission on Thursday.

Chairman Daniel Levy told the BBC: “I can confirm we have registered an interest in the Olympic Stadium within the deadline of September 30 in conjunction with AEG (Europe), the world’s largest entertainment and facilities management company.”