James Collins makes worrying admission over problem with the London Stadium

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Veteran West Ham United defender James Collins has made a worrying admission about the club’s controversial new home.

West Ham United’s Adrian, Dimitri Payet and team mates look dejected

A woeful start to the season and life at their new 60,000 Olympic Stadium home has left morale low on the pitch and in the stands.

Fighting among fans and safety fears at the ground as well as a perceived lack of the famous intimidating Hammers atmosphere from Upton Park has seen the stadium switch cited by many as a reason for the club’s contrast in fortunes compared to their fantastic campaign last term.

The Hammers sit 17th in the Premier League nearly a third of the way through the season, just one point above the relegation zone while Slaven Bilic’s side were also unceremoniously dumped out of Europe in pre-qualifying.

General view outside the stadium

The club finds itself at the centre of a new negative story each week with the spotlight firmly fixed over East London following the move into such an iconic ground.

Whether the big stadium move has impacted results on the pitch is dividing opinion among supporters and pundits.

Many have suggested the Hammers are struggling to adapt after moving from the smallest pitch in the Premier League at Upton Park to one of the biggest in the London Stadium.

And now experienced centre back Collins, who came back into the side for the 1-1 draw with Stoke City last time out, has made an admission about playing at home in an interview on the club’s official website.

Life’s a pitch for West Ham at the Olympic Stadium

“It’s lovely to be back (but) I’m very tired now though,” Collins told whufc.com.

“Listen that pitch seems to be bigger than any one I’ve ever played on.

“(But) no it’s great to be back, and it’s always nice to pull on that West Ham shirt and at such a great venue but obviously tinged with disappointment.”

Bilic recently made moves to have his squad train at the stadium in the build-up to games which highlighted his concern over a lack of familiarity with the venue, as reported by the Telegraph.

West Ham’s James Collins

Many disgruntled Hammers fans are not happy with the suitability of the stadium as a football venue for a host of different reasons.

Some on the other hand are enjoying it and want to give the stadium every chance to win them over.

It is now abundantly clear that fears nothing could ever replace Upton Park have been realised, however there is no turning back now so West Ham simply have to make it work.