Tottenham Chair Daniel Levy raised doubts over the club's proposed move out of White Hart Lane, with the team "securing more time" to confirm whether it will play at Wembley next season, according to Matt Law of the London TELEGRAPH. The potential delay "is associated to the full cost of Tottenham’s new stadium project," which had already seen estimates "significantly increase" to £800M ($995M). Tottenham agreed to inform the FA whether it would move into Wembley for all home games next season "by the end of this month." But, "following talks," it is understood the FA has "granted Spurs greater flexibility" over the timescale of its decision and the club appears "increasingly likely to wait until April before making a final decision." The doubt is believed to center around the cost of the project. The first estimate, some years ago, had been that Tottenham’s new stadium would cost £450M, but that increased to £750M and then £800M after Levy struck an agreement for NFL fixtures to be played there (TELEGRAPH, 3/29). The BBC reported should Tottenham stay at its current ground next season, it would "likely play home games at Wembley the following year" before moving into the new 61,000-seat stadium in time for the '19-20 campaign (BBC, 3/29). The London INDEPENDENT reported Levy "urged caution" in a statement published alongside the club's financial results, and "refused to close the door on another year in N17." Levy: "We continue to focus on ensuring that the future of the Club is protected at all times and 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" (INDEPENDENT, 3/29).
MEGASTORE WORK UNDERWAY: In London, Andy Warren reported the club was last week granted the right to play 27 matches at full capacity "under the famous arch next season." But Tottenham is "yet to take up" its option. The club's end-of-year financial report, for the period until June 30, 2016, "reveals building work at the new stadium has reached 'level six.'" Groundwork for a Tottenham museum and the club's megastore "has now begun, along with restoration works to Percy House which will host the club's Foundation." The new ground will include a retractable pitch and the U.K.'s "biggest single-tier home end," with a capacity of 17,000, inspired by Borussia Dortmund's Yellow Wall (DAILY MAIL, 3/29).