The new Wembley project is having to look at funding alternatives, now that it's not going to be hosting athletics, and one option they're considering is a ground-share with Arsenal.

According to today's edition of Construction News (thanks to Simon Cadde for the quotes), "It has emerged that Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of WNSL, has already had discussions with David Dein, Arsenal's vice-chairman regarding the possibility of a ground-share scheme. ". Any such scheme would get complicated for Wembley, as they'd lose National Lottery funding which is conditional on there being no "anchor tenant" restricting the number of England games that could be played there. The new Wembley is scheduled to be ready in 2004.

We don't think this is a cause for concern. If David Dein is talking to them, it's only a matter of sensibly keeping himself aware of alternatives should the worst come to pass. There is no question that Arsenal are fully committed to the Ashburton Grove project. It's also possible that Arsenal haven't spoken to Wembley about this for a while, and that the story is coming out now just because Wembley want some publicity.

(update) Always nice to be able to say we told you so...
Since the above was written this article has appeared from Reuters, in which Wembley redevelopment company chairman Rodney Walker has moved fast to dismiss the story. He says that the story appears to be based on one brief phone call before Xmas. "I am astonished this has been so blown out of proportion. Those who feed such idle gossip must be aware that they are undermining the future of Wembley."

What the story does highlight, is the need for supporters of the new stadium to maintain/increase pressure (as Arsene Wenger was asking us to do recently). It's being reported as if the obstacles to Ashburton Grove are bigger than they are, but that kind of reporting can end up being self-fulfilling when people read it uncritically.

You can find a list of addresses to write to, etc, concerning the new Arsenal stadium, in our AISA section.