I Don't Welcome A Move To Wembley Stadium; Gary Mabbutt Warns Tottenham Supporters

The Premier League club announced they will spend a year away from White Hart Lane before switching to their new home because of a legal wrangle. But former Spurs defender and captain Gary Mabbutt who won a UEFA Cup and an FA Cup with Spurs, said: "It's not quite as easy as just deciding where we'd like to play."

Tottenham had been scheduled to move to their 56,250-capacity new home at the start of the 2017-18 season. But a High Court challenge has been launched by a landowner on the site, which is next to White Hart Lane. That means a temporary venue will be used for one campaign as the quickest build time requires work to be carried out at Tottenham's current home.

A poll of 2,000 fans carried out by the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, found out that 85% would be happy with a year-long move to the national stadium, which is also in north London. The Olympic Stadium in Stratford has been mooted, while it is thought talks have been held with Milton Keynes Dons over a move to Wembley Stadium.

Spurs' rivals Arsenal played Champions League matches at the old Wembley Stadium from 1998 to 2000. Mabbutt, who made more than 600 appearances for the club over 16 years and is now an ambassador there, told BBC Radio 5 live that the Wembley idea was not a simple one. "There is a lot of due diligence on the schedule of Wembley. They have concerts, they have other sporting events taking place," the 53-year-old said.

"You're looking at other stadiums. Will it be big enough? Will it be acceptable for our fans? Is the pitch going to be the right size? Every team decides on the size due to the way they play. All these things will have to be taken into consideration." A ground share with rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium is not thought to be among the options being considered.

"Geographically it is a solution, it is a very sensitive subject but I don't think it will happen," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust spokesman Martin Cloake said Wembley would be the preferred option.

"From informal discussions, the assumption has always been that it would be Wembley," he said.

White Hart Lane

White Hart Lane has a capacity of 36,240 "A move to Stratford would certainly raise eyebrows," Cloake added. "There would be some serious issues with MK Dons."

Mabbutt also played down media reports that Spurs owner Joe Lewis had put the club up for sale.