Architects involved in the project say the new 88,000-seater arena, which will also include an athletics track, will be slightly north of the present site.

BBC's Marcus Cheek: The towers have presided over some of the country's greatest triumphs

Current plans would mean the existing towers being in the middle of the pitch, according to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, but a proposal to build replica towers at the entrance to the new stadium is under consideration.

The Football Association is unlikely to object and Chief Executive Graham Kelly told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "In any project of this size, there are changes along the way."

Graham Kelly: 'The twin towers are not that significant'

Assurances were given that the twin towers would remain when the project was first put forward.

"That was certainly the original wish when this was being contemplated because they are a landmark of Wembley.

"But whatever happens - whether they are kept or whether they are not kept for whatever reason, be it safety or the cost of the scheme - what will be built, and it is a central feature for our 2006 World Cup bid, is a fantastic state-of the-art national stadium for three sports at Wembley," said Mr Kelly.

Kelly: The new stadium will be "fantastic"

"The plan is to complete the paperwork in the next few weeks and to commence demolition in just under a year's time," he added.

Sir Jocelyn Stevens, the Chairman of English Heritage, has been told that the towers serve no useful purpose.

But Sir Geoff Hurst, the hat-trick hero of England's 1966 World Cup final triumph at Wembley, greeted the news with dismay.

"The twin towers are synonymous with the history of the game. I would have thought the twin towers could have been integrated in the new stadium. They mean so much," he commented.

Former England teammate Sir Bobby Charlton said: "They represent the country that gave the world the game."

The newspaper quotes government sports minister Tony Banks as describing the towers as "just concrete blocks".

He adds: They are completely non-functional. I'm a great believer in football tradition, but the past can't hold us back."

Wembley is due to close next summer so building work can get under way.

Stadium cost escalates

Kelly: "Football is in partnership on this"

The cost of rebuilding Wembley has risen sharply and the Mail on Sunday claims the final figure could be more than £400m.

Original estimates envisaged spending of £240m, with the Sports Council pledging £100m from National Lottery funds.

Mr Kelly said: "There are different schemes. If you set out to build a stadium, you can build a new, perfetcly acceptable stadium for a certain figure which is of an OK standard.

"If you want the best stadium in the world to rival the Stade de France or to out-perform the Stade de France, the centre-piece of the World Cup - athletics, Olympics rugby league, the three other sports the new stadium will be used for - you will find a top of the range scheme will obviously cost more money."