West Ham relegation leads to London taxpayers hit with £2.5m bill after Boris Johnson deal

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Londonders face a £2.5million bill after West Ham United were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season. The Irons defeated Leeds United 3-0 at the London Stadium, but it proved too little too late as Spurs overcame Everton to secure their top-flight survival.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side head down to the Championship after finishing two points behind Spurs. It is 15 years since a team achieved the Hammers' 39-point total and were relegated.

While the pain of relegation is usually reserved for players representing a club and their ardent fanbase, on this occasion, the frustration runs deeper. Taxpayers are set to see their funds stretched even further due to the deal that saw West Ham move to the London Stadium after it was built for the 2012 Olympics.

Under a 99-year lease agreement, West Ham only need to pay the Greater London Authority about half of their current annual rent of £4.4m following relegation. The deal agreed by previous London Mayor Boris Johnson sees the GLA pick up the bill for stewarding and costs associated with the stadium, with those bills set to rise.

With four more home matches to be played in the Championship compared to the Premier League, there will be more outlay on stewarding, while commercial revenue is expected to fall as the stadium misses out on the massive outreach of the world's most prestigious division.

Speaking before the final day drama unfolded, London Mayor Sadiq Khan conceded that Londoners who are not Tottenham fans should probably be cheering for West Ham to avoid relegation.

“The previous Mayor, Boris Johnson, did the worst deal imaginable," Khan said.

"As far as West Ham are concerned, as a deal of the century where he basically gave them rent free, this amazing stadium for 100 years.

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“If West Ham are relegated, we, the taxpayers, we City Hall, could lose up to £2.5m a year. So what I say to Londoners who don't support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham, because the taxpayer will lose out if West Ham go down."

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen was devastated following the confirmation of relegation. The attacker, who missed out on an England World Cup call-up, suggested his focus was now on the Irons earning promotion despite being linked with Liverpool and manchester -united-fc> Manchester United .

“Ultimately, this season we haven’t been good enough and we’ve paid the price,” he told Sky Sports .

“I’m under contract here. I’ve been here six and a half years. I’ve had some really high moments and this is a low moment that will outweigh everything.

“There’s going to be rumours, there’s going to be talk. Ultimately, what I see is getting this club back in the Premier League because that is where it deserves to be.

“This is a really, really low moment, but we have to bounce back because there’s no other way. This is a really difficult moment

“You never know what the future holds. For me, I want to get this club back in the Premier League. Right now our vision is to do that.”

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