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Multiplex, the construction firm behind the £757 million new Wembley stadium, has said today that it is hopeful of completing work on the flagship project by September this year.

Concern does still exit, however, that the over-budget stadium will not be entirely completed until October 2007 because of a series of critical issues still to be resolved.

A statement from the Australian firm places blame for the latest projected delays on Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) and has removed itself of any culpability.

"Multiplex remains confident that substantial completion will be achieved in July 2006 sufficient to enable us to achieve practical completion of our works at the end of September 2006," the company said.

"In order to achieve practical completion of Wembley Stadium certain works which are the responsibility of WNSL rather than Multiplex must first be completed. WNSL has not begun some of these works."

The statement added: "Furthermore, once practical completion has been achieved, it is the responsibility of WNSL to carry out a series of critical works and activities in order to make the stadium operational for events. The timing and hosting of the first event is therefore entirely a matter for WNSL."

Work on the beleaguered new national stadium has progressed rapidly in recent months to the stage where the pitch and all associated works have been completed and approximately 70,000 of the 90,000 seats have been put in place.

All structural steelwork has now been completed, final painting works are in progress and the south roof is complete, bar minor works, with the north roof following in mid-July.