Wembley 'ready for final'

Cardiff was due to host English football's major finals from 2001 until Wembley's planned opening in 2005.

But delays have seen events, including 2006's FA Cup Final, staged in Cardiff.

The Millennium Stadium said it had held a date open after Wembley builders Multiplex said the �757m stadium may not be completed until June 2007.

The latest deadline was September this year and Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL) has denied Multiplex's claims the stadium will now not be ready until June.

The FA said no plans have been made to book the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the 2007 final.

An FA spokesman said: "Further to conversations with Wembley National Stadium Limited, the FA remains confident that Wembley Stadium can be ready for this season's FA Cup final."

'Holding date open'

Millennium Stadium chief executive Paul Sergeant said the Welsh capital was ready to host the match for the seventh time if Wembley's completion was delayed.

He said: "How can you turn an FA Cup final away?

"We've got to have those discussions yet with the Football Association but we've been holding a date open speculatively and we would welcome it with open arms if that was to be the case.

Construction of Wembley Stadium has suffered delays

"(The FA Cup final) is fantastic in so far as it raises the profile of the stadium and Cardiff and Wales in general.

"We've been, over the last year-and-a-half, replacing those events with things like Madonna for when Wembley eventually opens.

"But you can't replace the cup final, that's for sure."

Mr Sergeant added he had not been told officially that Wembley would not stage the May 2007 final.

"The news from Multiplex overnight in Australia has taken us by surprise and we are hoping to talk to relevant people today," he said.