Arsenal FC admit stadium delay inevitable

Arsenal Football Club has admitted today (Wednesday) that it is now unlikely that its new stadium will be ready in time for the start of the 2005-2006 season because of delays in the £400m project.

Although the current Premiership champions are continued committed to itsnew  Ashburton Grove home, it admits that financing the 60,000 seater stadium is proving difficult.

However, Arsenal still remain confident that it will secure funding for the scheme, even though costs have risen significantly since the switch of ground was first announced.

In a statement, the club said: "Media reports suggesting that the club's proposed move to a new stadium has been scrapped are completely untrue and we remain fully committed to relocating to Ashburton Grove.

"However, due to the complexity of the project, a number of delays have occurred not just on the construction of the stadium itself but also with legal, financial and property issues, transport infrastructure, relocation of existing local statutory services and businesses, provision of affordable housing and significant regeneration of the local area.

"The impact of these delays mean that the club is now unable to relocate to Ashburton Grove for the start of the 2005/06 season as planned but will do so at the earliest possible date thereafter," it continued. 

"All aspects of the project are being actively progressed, including construction work although non-critical labour will be slowed down temporarily."