FOOTBALL bosses have vowed that a dispute between contractors would not delay construction of the new Wembley Stadium.

North-East engineering company Cleveland Bridge, which was producing steel for the stadium roof, pulled out of the project on Monday and began legal proceedings against the main contractor, Multiplex, for breach of contract.

It warned that the decision would costs jobs at its Darlington plant but last night declined to say how many workers were under threat.

Union leaders are due to hold talks with Cleveland Bridge bosses this morning over the fate of the company's 400 workers.

Jimmy Skivington, from the GMB union, said: "It is far too early to speculate on how many jobs will go, but it is obviously going to have a real impact.

"I am furiously concerned. The annoying part is that our members have nothing to do with this dispute, but they are the ones who are going to suffer."

An FA spokesman said the stadium would not fall behind schedule.

"This is an issue for Multiplex, our contractor, and Cleveland Bridge, one of its subcontractors," he said.

"Our concern is that the stadium opens on time and on budget, and those are unaltered by this issue. There is no suggestion of any change in the timescale."

The FA has a fixed-price contract with Multiplex, which means that any cost overrun must be paid by the builder.

A spokeswoman for Multiplex, which built Sydney's Olympic stadium, said the company was confident of completing the work on time and to cost. She said another company had been lined up to supply steel parts for the stadium's retractable roof.

Cleveland Bridge is expected to claim it is owed more than £5m by Multiplex when the case comes to court.