The Football Association were expected to confirm today that the controversial National Football Centre at Burton will open in two years.
The venue - inspired by the success of the French academy at Clarefontaine - was first mooted almost a decade ago and was at one stage expected to be up and running in 2003. It was then put on hold but new Football Association chairman Lord Triesman looked certain to reveal today it will be operational by 2010.

The announcement will be made at the Wembley launch of the FA's four-year strategic vision, the brainchild of FA chief executive Brian Barwick, and will involve the comprehensive restructuring of the game's ruling body. That plan will give Lord Triesman even more power at the FA and Barwick has no problems with that.

"Lord Triesman is a hugely positive influence at the FA," he said. "I'm really enjoying working with him. He's 10 years older than me and 10 years wiser.

"He's the sort of fellow that, when it gets tough here, and on occasions it does, he'll be right alongside me in the trenches."