Boost for Wembley replacement in Midlands

Coventry's new stadium gets a second viewing

Backers of rival bids for the new national football stadium are increasingly hopeful it will be built in the Midlands.

The task force looking for a home for the Wembley replacement is revisiting the site of Coventry City's planned new stadium.

It comes two weeks after the group met officials behind a rival bid to bring the stadium to Birmingham's NEC.

The search for a new site began after the Football Association warned that an extra £150m was needed to cover the spiralling costs of rebuilding Wembley.

Pat Carter, head of the government group considering venues, is examining the possibility of an 80,000-seat national stadium being built on the site where Coventry's new ground is planned.

Second view

Mr Carter visited the city a fortnight ago and met delegates putting together the bid.

Plans for the new Coventry ground include a retractable roof, a roll-out pitch, a new railway station and parking for 6,000 cars.

A view of the planned stadium next to the NEC

Coventry City Council leader Councillor Nick Nolan said: "We've actually been asked to give more details and we will be meeting the task force."

Mr Carter spend two hours earlier this month studying proposals by Birmingham City Council to build a 85,000-seater stadium on a greenfield site next to the NEC.

Plans for the 112-acre site include a new tram station, a moving walkway to the ground and 22,000 parking spaces.

'Anything possible'

Organisers of the bid fear that bias by political leaders in favour of London may block attempts to build the stadium outside the capital.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "Pat Carter is looking at all options. He starts from the point of view that anything is possible."

Mr Carter is expected to report back to the government by the end of August.