Wembley’s £600m sale moves one step closer

BUT FA DEAL COULD STILL COLLAPSE

THE FA cleared another hurdle yesterday in the proposed sale of Wembley for £600million to Fulham and Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan.

But it was only an agreement to take the tortuous purchase process to the FA council for approval next month, when there remains a strong possibility of the deal collapsing.

FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn had wanted the unanimous support of their 12- strong board to recommend the sale.

But there was enough opposition around the FA table for an agreement to be reached only in continuing to the next stage.

An FA statement said: ‘The sale of Wembley, the negotiated protections and an outlined plan to invest £600m into football community facilities were presented and discussed at the FA board meeting this week.

‘ Following on from this discussion, the FA board has agreed to take the presentations to the FA Council to get its input now that the full facts are known.’ Glenn, who is driving the sale, will hope to change negative opinion among the blazers when he makes a full presentation at the next FA Council meeting on October 11. But there remains strong suspicion among the Amateur Game representatives over where the Professional Game will direct their share of the proceeds. In his own statement last night, Khan (below) said: ‘The news from today’s FA board meeting is welcomed and encouraging. I understand the discussion was open and thorough. One cannot ask for more as we continue to work through the process with the FA board, FA Council, Sport England, the Mayor of London’s office and DCMS toward reaching an agreement. ‘Today’s development has no effect on my plans to renovate Craven Cottage and, as such, has no impact on Craven Cottage continuing to be the permanent home of Fulham FC.’