Britain's Football Association expect next year’s FA Cup final to return to London if building work at Wembley is completed by contractors on schedule.
The governing body, however, have admitted contingency plans are being put in place to stage the showpiece event at an alternative venue should any unforeseen problems occur.
Officials have been told that work at Wembley is on schedule, which would mean a return to London for the cup final for the first time since 2000.
A statement from the FA read: “The FA is assured by Multiplex through Wembley National Stadium Limited that Wembley is on schedule.
“They are the expert contractors working to a fixed price contract. Therefore we have to be guided by their experienced advice that Wembley will be handed over to The FA by the end of March 2006 and be open for The FA Cup final.
“However it would be naïve of any organisation involved in such a huge building project not to have alternative plans in place – should any unforeseen problems occur.
“Therefore, it is accurate that The FA is currently in negotiation with an additional venue – purely as back up. The public would expect that when we are responsible for hosting the most prestigious domestic cup competition in world football.
“We can also make clear that we would only consider any fallback venue which has a proven track record of hosting FA matches.”
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