Bevington said: "I can categorically say that no decision has been taken on where The FA Cup Final will be played.

"We are giving Wembley every chance of being ready.

"We are in regular contact with the operating company WNSL and through them the builders Multiplex. There is a critical path that the builders have in place. For The FA it is a daily watching brief and an on-going evaluation process.

"We have taken the prudent measure of booking Cardiff as a back-up. It would have been naive not to do so.

"Whether or not it is ready for this season's Cup Final, the new Wembley will be a fantastic venue for Cup Finals and international matches for years and years to come. It will be one of the best stadiums in the world and one that everyone will feel immensely proud of."