Wembley chief's Cup final doubts

The new Wembley as it will look when it is completed

The chief executive of the new Wembley stadium has admitted it may not be ready for the 2006 FA Cup final.

Wembley chief Michael Cunnah told BBC Five Live: "We're going 100% for the Cup final at Wembley, but nobody can guarantee it."

A harsh winter could delay the completion of the project, with the 13 May showpiece the first major event.

But Cunnah said he remained hopeful it would be ready and handed over to his team on 31 March or very soon after.

Building firm Multiplex is due to hand to Cunnah's team on that date so test events can take place before the FA Cup final.

"If there is a deep freeze, the builders will find it hard digging the pitch and putting foundations in," said Cunnah.

However, Cunnah refused to predict when it would be finished.

"It'll be finished when it's finished," he said.

"Multiplex is working to 31 March, but you've just got to see how fast they go and what progress they make in the next few months."

FA unsure over Wembley deadline

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick has already expressed doubt that the stadium will be finished.

"If Multiplex (the constructor) is true to its word we have every chance of staging the Cup final at Wembley," he said.

"Equally, we have taken the prudent step to book Cardiff's Millennium Stadium."

Multiplex announced recently that costs for the stadium were expected to overrun by £75m.