‘Yes, the stadium is beautiful. Nothing is ever perfect, but it’s as close as we can get, but nobody is going to be saying “nice stadium Karren, shame about the team” if we do not take the opportunity to grow and improve.’

So Karren Brady begins her personal tour of West Ham’s new home. Just the two of us and few thousand builders still putting the finishing touches to areas such as the dressing room – initially chosen and designed by Sam Allardyce to replicate Real Madrid, but since stripped and redesigned by Slaven Bilic. Now it will look like West Ham’s.

I’ll declare here and now: I like the stadium and I like what Karren Brady has done for West Ham.

Head of Sport Lee Clayton was given an exclusive tour around West Ham's new stadium by Karren Brady

Builders are still putting the final touches on the stadium but it will be ready in time for the new campaign

No, she didn’t ask me to say that. Yes, I pay for my season tickets at the same price as everyone else. Yes, the legacy of the stadium was a mess from the start when athletics thought they could sustain it post-Olympics. Yes, West Ham have got an outrageously desirable deal.

Of course there are concerns about the running track and the distance from the pitch that is the greatest concern for all the locals, but having checked out various levels on my visit, the views ('sight lines') are impressive and it's a small price to pay, if you'll excuse the pun. Wait until you've sat in it before you make up your mind.

This was an invite to a private tour with the lady who has made the tenancy possible and it is the first time I’ve attended the stadium in four years. I also understand what Upton Park means to West Ham supporters. I’ve been going there for more than 35 years too.

The new place will take some getting used to. The former Olympic Stadium feels like a ‘Cup Final’ venue at present, a day out occasion, rather than a regular residence, but Brady and her team are still working on adding more claret and blue, more finishing touches. The walls inside, for instance, will have the name of every one of the 52,000 season ticket holders from the inaugural season. A clever idea.

The stadium is still in 'athletics mode' but extra seats will slide out towards the pitch when in 'football mode'

Builders are still finishing the dressing rooms (this picture of the home changing room was taken in May 2015)

There will be a welcome pack to help supporters to settle in, while guidance has been sought from other clubs who have moved into new stadia in recent times. Arsenal have been especially helpful and there is certainly a comparison to be had with the Emirates decor in the multiple bars and function rooms.

One important piece of advice offered is that how you visit the stadium the first time will shape habits of the future. West Ham, as with on the pitch, know a strong start would be most useful to expel doubters.

Brady also knows this is a chance to change perceptions. ‘This stadium gives us an opportunity to help everyone think differently about West Ham. We have a modern stadium in London that I hope will make our supporters proud,' she said, wandering through the new club superstore.

'The culture that Slaven Bilic has brought to the club is that everyone looks up, not down.

‘With that in mind, we have refurbished the training ground at Rush Green that will now become first team only. We have four new pitches laid, a warm up area, a warm down area. You name it. We are revising our levels across the club.

‘When players come here, I want them to think that we are a club going places.’ This is certainly not Upton Park. In a challenging summer transfer market where finding a 20-goal striker is proving difficult, West Ham have kept all the players they wanted to keep, especially Dimitri Payet, who will not be allowed to go. There has been no contact from prospective takers but none has been sought, whatever the fee potential following his exciting Euro rendition.

West Ham will do everything in their power to keep Dimitri Payet as the club want him to lead the show

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic has put his own stamp on the stadium following Sam Allardyce's exit

It’s impossible to imagine what the stadium might be like with Payet leading the play and 60,000 supporters, including 52,000 season tickets holders showing their appreciation. Or what it will be like to travel to and from the stadium. They are the next hurdles to overcome.

I returned to King's Cross after my visit in six minutes by Javelin train. Tube and overground links to Stratford's travel hub are regular and with multiple options, which is important for allcomers, home and away.

The referee's room is larger than most, which West Ham fans may smile at given the decisions at the back end of last season which cost them points and games.

Supporters attending the European tie on August 4 or the prestigious friendly with Juventus three days later should arrive early. As with Wembley, this appears to be a stadium where fans can enjoy the hospitality in comfort and watch big screens, a long way from the dilapidation (and tiny concourse TVs) of their old stamping ground. Pricing of food and refreshments, of course, will be crucial to this plan.

Supporters can order ahead for food and drink from an app and a multi-million pound investment in a Wi-Fi system - ready in October - should help this ambitious idea.

So, it seems West Ham are almost ready, once the arena comes out of ‘athletics mode’ following the Anniversary Games, but are West ham fans ready for their new adventure?

West Ham's last ever game at Upton Park was a memorable 3-2 win over Manchester United in May

Fireworks explode over Upton Park as West Ham supporters said their goodbyes to the east London ground

West Ham defender Winston Reid scored the final ever top-flight goal at Upton Park to mark a memorable night

‘You say some West Ham supporters like to live in the past, talk about the glory days, but this is an opportunity to look to the future with ambition and pride. I believe the supporters will love the stadium, the players will be inspired,' Karren adds.

‘OK, away teams may be inspired to play here too, but what do you want me to do about that? All home grounds give the home team an advantage.

‘By the time the season starts, there will be no doubt that this is West Ham's new home.

‘It will be truly ready for the opening Premier League home game against Bournemouth and hopefully fully ready in time for the home Europa League match and the opening ceremony against Juventus. We have work to do still, but I'm calm. I showed my board around last week and wanted to wait until it had got to this stage.

'For the first two games it will operate below normal capacity, at 54,000. They are not test events as they are proper events, but we will also use those for our fans to get a feel for the new stadium; locating their seats, working out where to go, where are the nearest toilets, that sort of thing.'

The move will take some getting used to for many, beyond the inevitable teething problems. Not everyone embraces change.

Athletics' biggest names such as Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake (left) have raced at the Olympic Stadium

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For instance, it still takes 11 days for the stadium to go from athletics to football mode, although all hope that will become seven days thanks to a new ‘skate system’ which speeds up the moving of the seats and has been purchased. With that in mind, West Ham have already applied for their first two games next season to be away from home, following the World Athletics Championship.

'That comes with the territory,' Brady says, comfortable with the share. She has found little if any problems with her athletics partners.

One of the walls inside shows medals won here by Olympians as well as West Ham's World Cup titans and trophy winners. 'There's space for a few more, isn't there?', she motions.

‘People say "the seats look far away" but it is still in athletics mode.

'Look, this is our new home and we have done all that we can to make it as comfortable as possible for our supporters and football-ready. I hope they will be proud, as I am.'

A safe standing area was ruled out early. 'I spent enough time standing as a kid when I couldn’t see to believe comfortable seating is the way forward.'