Gordon Gibb today accused the Football Association of ignoring the cash crisis hitting the Nationwide League in their obsession to build a new Wembley.

City are still waiting for their £500,000 share from the government-backed hardship fund set up following the collapse of ITV Digital.

Cash-starved Football League clubs were expected to receive the hand-outs at the turn of the year from the Football Foundation.

But they have still not received a penny because of a hold-up at the FA, who are partly funding the scheme. Chairman Gibb blamed politics within the FA and said: "When you read about the luxurious plans for a new national stadium, you feel the priorities at that particular level are all wrong.

"Some are clearly happy living in their Ivory Towers rather than visiting football's real world.

"Quite simply, the national stadium project will never be economically viable. It will never break even, let alone make money, because there are not enough fixtures in the year.

"The definitive amount the Football League clubs are waiting for is a relatively small percentage of the money we are talking about in terms of the national stadium. I did some rough calculations and all they need to do is trim two rows of seats off the top tier. The money saved would be enough to immediately solve the financial crisis that the Football League is experiencing."

Gillingham's Paul Scally predicts some clubs could face financial meltdown due to the delay. He said: "I fear the future of a number is hanging by a precarious thread which may well break if the foundation loan is not forthcoming."

Gibb added: "A number of clubs, as well as ourselves, have included this money in the cash flows and were encouraged to do so. If that money isn't realised, there is going to be a substantial hole.

"We were led to believe it was due in January and we have been awaiting confirmation ever since.

"I know the Premier League are a big driving force behind making the hardship fund available. They've made their payments in good faith and expect the FA to be able to do the same.

"But unfortunately there are a lot of egos involved. When you talk about the national stadium, you think of the peerages and life-time achievement awards that could be flying around. That seems to be the FA's priority thinking rather than what the vast majority of people in football would want."