more wembley trouble, page-3

odds shorten on not finishing for 07facup Odds sliced on Wembley delays
From: AAP
March 21, 2006
THE odds on Wembley Stadium not being ready to contest the 2007 FA Cup final have been sliced in half to 8/1.

Australian firm Multiplex has experienced a series of delays and cost blowouts on building the new home of English soccer, and yesterday lost a day's work as construction crews downed tools when a metal girder fell just 50cm.
The fall of the 50x2m girder was blamed on faulty welding.

Unions have called for an investigation, with Multiplex adamant there was no design fault and no implications for the structure of the roof of the stadium.

Monday's mishap was enough for bookmaker William Hill to cut its odds on the stadium's completion in time for the 2007 FA Cup final.

It had originally been anticipated it would be ready for this year's final in May, but that has been moved back to its temporary home of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Bookmakers complained of being the subject of a betting sting that saw many workers from the site profit by wagering on the stadium not being ready.
Stadium operators are in negotiations with music promoters who had booked the stadium for concerts by Bon Jovi and Take That during this northern summer.

The first soccer match set down for the new stadium is the Community Shield in August – the traditional curtain-raiser of the new season when the league champions meet the FA Cup winners