Updated: Dec. 21, 2005
Wembley contractor Multiplex today admitted that rebuilding work may not be completed in time for the 2006 FA Cup final to be staged at the new national stadium.
The news comes just two days after the Australian firm revealed they face losses of up to £70million on the troubled project.
Multiplex has been dogged by problems on the proposed 90,000-seat arena, which has incurred litigation and higher costs after a change of steel contractor.
And now there is a real fear the Football Association will have to go ahead with alternative plans to switch next year's cup final to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
'The project is currently tracking to a revised programme which permits progressive handover of the stadium commencing in January 2006, with works substantially completed by end of March 2006,' declared a Multiplex statement.
'Some works that are not critical to delivering the operational status of the stadium continue past this date, but still permit the FA Cup Final to be played on May 13, 2006.
'There remains a material risk that these dates will not be achieved and the stadium will not be available for the FA Cup Final.
'As previously stated, such delay, if it was to occur, would be likely to lead to significant additional costs, including liquidated damages.'