BOLTON Wanderers are confident the Reebok Stadium will be ready to stage Premiership football in August.

Work on the £35 million project is on schedule and club chairman Gordon Hargreaves today allayed fears that the ground would not be ready.

Contractors will need extra time to complete some of the catering and hospitality facilities in the 25,000 all-seater super stadium.

But Wanderers are not expecting to bring into play their contingency plan to switch early games to Manchester City's Maine Road ground.

"It may take until late September to complete some of the corporate facilities but we will be able to stage football in August," Mr Hargreaves said.

Work is going on round the clock on the futuristic-looking stadium which will be the impressive focal point of a 200-acre £150 million business, retail and leisure development on the Horwich site.

The first tickets for the new season went on sale to existing season ticket holders at the start of a phased programme today and the fixture lists are expected to be released on Monday, June 16.

The Premier League has indicated it will areee to Wanderers' request to have an away fixture on the opening Saturday, August 9.

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