Wembley might not be able to deliver for 2007 matches

Wembley officials cannot guarantee that the new stadium will be ready for the 2007 FA Cup final. The 90,000-seat stadium is not expected to be able to host events until early 2007.
 
“For us the most important thing is not to hit a particular date,” Wembley National Stadium Limited chairman Michael Cunnah told Five Live Sport. “The England matches can be played around the country, which has been very successful, and the cup finals have a very good home down in Cardiff.
 
“The important thing for us is that the stadium is built to the right quality and for the price that we can afford.
 
“So from that point of view, time becomes our variable and although we were very, very disappointed not to have the FA Cup final here it is more important to get the stadium that is going to be here for 100 years.”
 
WNSL have been told they face a compensation claim for as much as GBP 150 million from stadium builders Multiplex. Multiplex told Five Live Sport that WNSL have made more than 200 significant changes to the original design.
 
Multiplex wants Wembley officials to help them contribute to penalty costs incurred because of delays. That cost is believed to be GBP 140,000 a day.
 
“We refute any claims that Multiplex have against us,” Cunnah said. “150 million is an outrageous number, and we refute any claim whether it is for 1 or for 150 million. Technology has moved on since the stadium was designed so there have been design changes but they have all been pre-agreed with Multiplex.”
 
Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Executive is investigating alleged safety breaches on the site, which were uncovered by Five Live Sport. Multiplex officials say that health and safety is paramount on their sites, and that strict guidelines are in place.