EFFORTS to build a new national football stadium have been surrounded by controversy and heavy criticism.

A project that began life as a symbol of England's bright new future is gradually sinking into a mess of arguments, financial troubles and embarrassment.

But football fans in Bolton should be aware that one of their own is trying his best to save the project and the face of English football.

Former Wanderers player and supporter Paul Fletcher, who was chief executive of the Reebok Stadium, has spent the past few months working with the team which is bidding to build a new national stadium in Birmingham.

Mr Fletcher, aged 50, was originally the commercial director of the planned new £500 million Wembley Stadium but left 18 months into a five-year contract.

He now thinks Birmingham should become the new home of English football.

He said: "I used to always think Wembley was the best place to have the stadium. Sadly, Wembley's image has been tarnished over the past 12 months and supporters now want it to be in Birmingham."

Mr Fletcher points to a recent television poll which showed 57 per cent of fans supported a new venue in the West Midlands.

Only 27 per cent opted for Wembley with the rest favouring Coventry's entry.

He believes the factors in favour of a stadium in Birmingham are overwhelming.

The £324 million ground would have a capacity of 85,000 with all seats offering an uninterrupted view, parking for 7,000 cars and 500 coaches, and a breathtaking design.

He added: "It is in the middle of the country and is easily accessible for teams and players.

"The infrastructure is there. It is right next to the NEC and existing car parking will be available. The M42 is also being widened, while traffic in London gets worse.

"Also, the fans want it in Birmingham and a poll of League chairmen showed more than 50 per cent of them supported it."

Mr Fletcher, who played for Bolton for three years before moving to Burnley, said it would be sad to see Wembley disappear but he pointed to the Reebok Stadium to show why people must not get stuck in the past.

"How many people talk about Burnden Park now? People still have their great memories but we have got to build a stadium for our children's future.

"I am very proud of the Reebok Stadium which I think has had a magnificent impact on Bolton and Bolton Wanderers."

Mr Fletcher left his job on the Wembley team under mysterious circumstances last September and still does not want to go into the details of his departure.

Four months later the bid collapsed when banks refused to come up with the money.

Newspaper reports suggested he had fallen out with Chelsea chairman Ken Bates who was also involved. Mr Fletcher said that was not true.

"I thought Ken was superb as the leader of the project and I think what he has done at Chelsea is incredible.

"If I was to be critical of Ken I would say he did not have enough time to spend on the Wembley project.

"If he had had one meeting a day, instead of one a week, I think we would have seen a totally different outcome."

After a meeting with Doug Ellis, chairman of Aston Villa, Mr Fletcher decided he wanted to join the committee which is aiming to build the new ground in Birmingham.

Everyone is now waiting for the Government to publish a White Paper on the national stadium which should arrive sometime next month.

Mr Fletcher thinks Birmingham has an excellent chance of being chosen and believes the bid is currently neck and neck with Wembley.

Despite constantly commuting from his family home in Rawtenstall to attend meetings in the West Midlands he still finds time to follow his team.

He said he is impressed with the job chairman Phil Gartside and manager Sam Allardyce -- who used to clean his boots as an apprentice -- are doing at the club. THE OTHER BIDS COVENTRY:

Cost: £250 million

Capacity: 90,000

Why?: A spokesman for Coventry City Council said: "We would build something that would be inspirational. It would be built on an old industrial site and would be within a three-hour journey of three quarters of the country.

"We estimated that if Leeds played Sunderland in an FA Cup Final they would save £2 million between them, travelling to Coventry rather than London Our stadium would be much cheaper than Wembley because we would not have to spend millions on improving transport links" WEMBLEY:

Cost: Wembley estimates the construction of the stadium will cost £326.5 million excluding demolition, building of hotels and offices and complete rebuilding of the transport infrastructure. The cost could change if the project has to be redesigned

Capacity: 90,000

Why?: The stadium would remain at the traditional home of English football. The design is impressive, with a 133-metres high arch and sliding roof. Transport links will be improved with the complete reconstruction of Wembley Park Station