Plymouth's World Cup rival drops out

ONE of Plymouth’s main rivals to be a host city for the football World Cup has pulled out.

Portsmouth City Council voted on Tuesday night not to press ahead with its bid to host matches in the 2018 or 2022 tournament.

The vote was a huge boost as the Plymouth bid team set off for Wembley Stadium in London to make the official submission for the city to be a host venue.

A delegation of 16 representatives travelled to London last night for today’s presentation.

They include Olympic diver Tom Daley, Argyle and New Zealand striker Rory Fallon and the club’s women’s and disabled squads.

The bid team will give another 15-minute presentation to FA chiefs next month, and around a dozen host cities will be chosen before Christmas.

England must submit its bid to FIFA by May 2010, and the winning country will be announced on December 2 next year.

Gerald Vernon-Jackson, the leader of Portsmouth City Council, criticised councillors there, saying: “I am really sorry that the city council has shown a lack of ambition and vision.”

He added: “Although the FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, it is a difficult balancing act between ambition and cost.

“Given the current financial and legal uncertainties associated with the 2018 World Cup, the council has voted against submitting a bid for World Cup Host City status.

“The games would have brought £130million of business to the city and created thousands of jobs.”

Cllr Vernon-Jackson also attacked the Government for its lack of financial support.

Plymouth Argyle World Cup Bid promotional video.

Argyle press conference: Plymouth bid to host World Cup. Filmed August 21. 2009.