Sports Desk

Tottenham Hotspur are the strongest contender for the much coveted 2012 Olympic stadium according to a report in the Financial Times, which has reported that the backing of AEG and Joe Lewis the billionaire currency trader, makes the Spurs "hard to resist".

The Treasury will be looking at the bid which will guarantee the highest return to the taxpayer following the £496 million investment to build the stadium and decontaminate the land around the site.   

Spurs are confident that with the level of gate receipts, profits, sponsorships and turnover the West Ham rivals will be the losers in all areas.   Spurs has also pledged to invest in the redevelopment of Crystal Palace stadium and make it fit for international competition, following Spurs plans to scrap athletics from the 2012 stadium.