WHEN Franz Beckenbauer and the rest of Germany's 1966 World Cup team were given a tour of the building site that is Wembley 11 days ago, he declared England should bid for the 2018 finals.

At this rate, given the announcement yesterday from the Football Association that there has been a further delay to the grand opening, we should count ourselves lucky if it is ready by then.

With Beckenbauer here as part of a public relations exercise, one can only assume what the legendary former Germany skipper really thought. Three-and-a-half years after work began, there is still no firm date set for the first game to be held there.

After revealing, once again, that the 'construction of Wembley is significantly behind schedule', the FA then went on to admit, in fear of more embarrassment, that no new deadline will be set.

The ironic thing is that yesterday was the day when Multiplex, an Australian firm who are probably regretting ever getting involved with this momentous job, had originally planned to hand over the stadium to Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL).

And the plans were for the FA Cup final in six weeks' time, which Middlesbrough are still hoping to play a part in, to act as the curtain-raiser for a venue that has been described by many as the best in the world.

It beggars belief that only in January, Multiplex continually denied the ongoing rumours that there were huge problems and maintained everything was 'running smoothly'. It would seem those words were not entirely true.

Three England matches - two of which were Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia - and the Community Shield planned for the new Wembley in autumn will now be played at alternative venues, most probably the Millennium Stadium and Old Trafford.

And the hope is for the friendly, against as yet unconfirmed opposition, in February next year will provide the opener for Wembley.

The old stadium, underneath the Twin Towers, was always going to be sadly missed but the yearn to see its return has grown stronger and stronger the longer this country has been forced to wait for its replacement.

Workers have recently been sent home for a day when a roof beam collapsed and there are huge concerns regarding the sewers beneath the £757m, 90,000 all-seater stadium.

There have been numerous pay-disputes with sub-contractors, the most recent of which was this week, when 120 steelworkers, scaffolders and welders were given notice that their employment would be terminated this coming Tuesday.

In all the furore that will be circulating after the latest humiliation to befall the English game, there is arguably one figure that is perhaps the most frightening.

Multiplex, who can only be bracing themselves for even more costs in light of the ever-lengthening delays, have already calculated losses to them of £183m, which is just £7m short of the entire cost of building the Millennium Stadium.

Had new Wembley been ready for the date pencilled in when it was only a pipe-dream, which incredibly was the 2003 FA Cup final, then Multiplex may have not incurred such losses.

But they have paid the price for using the wrong concrete and, more pertinently, so has the football-loving English public and those wishing to watch the Rolling Stones and Robbie Williams perform.

On the other hand, there could be a small consolation, at least we should definitely have Michael Owen back for the opener.

Or will we? Now that's another story.