---
title: "London Mayor has say on West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspur relegation battle"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2026/05/12/sadiq-khan-west-ham-tottenham-hotspur-premier-league-relegation/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ralphael Adelugba"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2026-05-12T14:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-05-12T14:00:00Z"
---

# London Mayor has say on West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspur relegation battle

- **West Ham United are two points behind Tottenham Hotspur**
- **The Hammers remain in the relegation zone**
- **London Mayor Sadiq Khan claims Londoners should be cheering for West Ham over Spurs**

The main subplot in this year’s Premier League is that one major London club will be relegated. Following the recent Premier League matchweek, which saw [Arsenal](https://readarsenal.com/) beat West Ham United 1-0 and Tottenham Hotspur drop points at home with Leeds United, the Gunners are on their way to wrapping up the title race while their city rivals battle for top-flight status.

18th-place [Irons](https://readwestham.com/) are two points behind [Tottenham](https://readtottenham.com/) with two matches remaining, and the close contest for the final safety place has drawn interest from all quarters.

## Sadiq Khan claims Londoners should be cheering for West Ham

According to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Londoners should support West Ham over Spurs because taxpayers would face a £2.5 million charge if the East London team gets relegated.

This is because the Greater London Authority (GLA), which is funded by the public, pays for the game-by-game operation of the London Stadium, with the Hammers paying £4.4 million in rent each year. Furthermore, hosting 23 home matches in the second division, rather than 19 in the Premier League, would lead to higher stewarding costs.

*“What I’d say to Londoners who don’t support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham,”* Sir Khan told the [Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/sadiq-khan-west-ham-tottenham-spurs-taxpayers-london-stadium-b1281935.html).

*“The previous Mayor, Boris Johnson, did the worst deal that can be imaginable.*

*“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.*

*“Now if \[the Hammers\] 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.”*

[Nuno Espírito Santo’s](https://readwestham.com/2026/05/11/nuno-espirito-santo-west-ham-loss-arsenal/) side face [Newcastle United](https://readnewcastle.com/) this Sunday, with Spurs playing [Chelsea](https://readchelsea.com/) at Stamford Bridge the following Tuesday. If the Hammers were to lose and Spurs gain a result, it would effectively relegate West Ham, given the significance of the goal difference between the two sides.