Tottenham set for extended deadline over Wembley decision

Joe Williams

Tottenham are expected to confirm they have been given extra time to make a decision on playing at Wembley next season.

Spurs were due to notify the Football Association by Friday whether they would host matches at the national stadium in 2017-18 but the club requested that deadline be extended.

Press Association Sport understands the FA has agreed, with the expectation now that Tottenham will instead make a final call by the end of April.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were set to base at Wembley for a season while their new £800million stadium was completed but there are concerns around the building work being finished in time.

Spurs face Arsenal at home on April 30 and it would seem inconceivable a decision would not be made before what is potentially the last north London derby at White Hart Lane.

An application for Tottenham to host 27 matches at Wembley’s full 90,000 capacity was approved by Brent Council’s planning committee last week but chairman Daniel Levy has suggested they could continue playing at their current ground next season.

Levy has revealed the club are seeking “greater certainty” that their new 61,000-seater stadium will be ready in time for the 2018-19 campaign.

Tottenham could therefore stay at their current ground next season and play home games at Wembley the following year, before moving into the new stadium for the 2019-20 campaign.

In a statement alongside Tottenham’s latest financial results on the club website, Levy said: “We continue to focus on ensuring that the future of the club is protected at all times.

“Therefore, whilst everyone is eager to know if this is our last season at the Lane, we shall only make the decision to decommission our historic White Hart Lane when we have greater certainty on the delivery of the new stadium.

“Our performances on the pitch and the sight of our new stadium taking shape signifies an exciting future. As we move forward with the challenges ahead, I firmly believe that the positive outlook, unity and togetherness across the club, the team and the fans means we can look forward with optimism.”

Spurs revealed record revenue of £209.8million for the year ending June 30, 2016, and profit after interest and tax of £33million, up from £9.4million the previous year.