Wembley plans back to the drawing board

The Wembley National Stadium is now likely to be less like the Stade de France or Stadium Australia as no one is prepared to underwrite it. The project is almost definitely going back to the drawing board for a redesign, omitting the luxuries, office space and hotels. The new plans could even see the retention of the Twin Towers. Costs have spiralled to £700m, and the Football Association says it can't afford to underwrite it and has demanded £150m from the government. In a statement, the FA said: Neither sports governing bodies nor banks will take the risks associated with such a project - the current problems being experienced by Stadium Australia and other national stadiums are too clear to ignore. Tony Blair is not prepared to bail the scheme out. A Downing Street spokesperson said: I think people will find it a little odd, at a time when football has never been richer, that football should be unable to secure the financial support for this project. I think that's obviously a view shared in Downing Street. If current plans are scrapped, football chiefs will be left with three options - refurbish the existing stadium, currently awaiting demolition; abandon plans for a permanent home of English football and rotate major games at club venues; or go back to the drawing board for a new all-encompassing national sports stadium. No decision is expected before the general election.