Romour Time Part 2

FA look to World Cup at Fratton Park

The Football Association are considering offering Portsmouth financial incentives to redevelop Fratton Park as a potential 2018 World Cup venue. The FA, who are keen to have a geographical spread of stadiums, want to include plans for a minimum 40,000-seat South Coast base in the technical section of their bid document to Fifa.

There is a desire to redevelop Fratton Park," FA chairman Lord Triesman said of Portsmouth's resolve to rebuild their ancient home or relocate nearby. Asked whether the FA would help Portsmouth financially, he replied: "Whatever we do has to be in line with whatever Fifa say are the bedrock conditions for making the bid.

"We have stadia right round the country, but we have to look to see whether other stadia further south in England can be developed."

A new super-stadium in Bristol has been discussed but the FA are now focusing on the Portsmouth option, offering "the peak of the criterion we have seen Fifa use in the past"

We will see!