Spurs Linked With Wembley Bid - 14/09/2006

Spurs have been linked with a possible audacious bid for the new Wembley Stadium. They would then lease back the right to stage international games and Cup semi-finals and finals to the FA. With the cost of the stadium spiralling towards the £1 billion mark, and the FA's debts mounting, the bid could be a way out if football's governing body finds itself in serious financial difficulties. Although most Spurs fans would like to remain at their historic Haringey home, the local council are unlikely to give them permission to expand because of poor transport links. Their preferred solution remains the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 event. They could face a challenge from West Ham who have been lobbying actively, while London mayor Ken Livingstone may oppose the plan as he would prefer it to provide a long term athletics facility (but it would be possible to maintain some athletics use). Other alternatives would be building on the Chigwell training ground if they get permission to move it to Enfield or even, but highly unlikely, a completely new ground in Hertfordshire. The plan would plunge Spurs into serious debt and there are question marks about whether they could fill either Wembley or the Olympic Stadium even with the capacity reduced to 60,000 from 80,000. However, if the club wants to achieve its ambitions, it will probably have to move from White Hart Lane.