Post by Taxigirl on Aug 3, 2005 8:44:26 GMT
skysports.planetfootball.com
by Graeme Bailey
The Football Association insist that Wembley will be finished in time for next year's FA Cup final.
The FA have reacted to reports saying that the home of English football would not be ready for the 2006 Cup Final - which is scheduled to be the first major event at the newly built arena.
Despite their insistence, the FA did confirm - as expected - that a contingency plan would be in place, which would almost certainly mean Cardiff's Millennium Stadium being placed on stand-by.
"The FA are assured by Multiplex through Wembley National Stadium Limited that Wembley is on schedule," said an FA statement.
"They are the expert contractors working to a fixed price contract.
"Therefore we have to be guided by their experienced advice that Wembley will be handed over to the FA by the end of March 2006 and be open for the FA Cup final.
"However, it would be naive of any organisation involved in such a huge building project not to have alternative plans in place should any unforeseen problems occur.
"Therefore it is accurate that the FA are in negotiations with an additional venue - purely as back-up.
"The public would expect that, when we are responsible for hosting the most prestigious domestic cup competition in world football."
by Graeme Bailey
The Football Association insist that Wembley will be finished in time for next year's FA Cup final.
The FA have reacted to reports saying that the home of English football would not be ready for the 2006 Cup Final - which is scheduled to be the first major event at the newly built arena.
Despite their insistence, the FA did confirm - as expected - that a contingency plan would be in place, which would almost certainly mean Cardiff's Millennium Stadium being placed on stand-by.
"The FA are assured by Multiplex through Wembley National Stadium Limited that Wembley is on schedule," said an FA statement.
"They are the expert contractors working to a fixed price contract.
"Therefore we have to be guided by their experienced advice that Wembley will be handed over to the FA by the end of March 2006 and be open for the FA Cup final.
"However, it would be naive of any organisation involved in such a huge building project not to have alternative plans in place should any unforeseen problems occur.
"Therefore it is accurate that the FA are in negotiations with an additional venue - purely as back-up.
"The public would expect that, when we are responsible for hosting the most prestigious domestic cup competition in world football."