The dream of a new £85 million sterling multi-purpose sports stadium for Northern Ireland came a step closer today.
Soccer chiefs gave their crucial backing to the proposal after a lengthy debate at the Irish Football Association (IFA) headquarters in Belfast last night.
Northern Ireland Office Sports Minister David Hanson has said securing the support of football, rugby and gaelic games's governing bodies by the end of this month is crucial if the project to build a 42,500-seater stadium on the site of the Maze Prison was to go ahead.
However, some soccer supporters had opposed the move, insisting at least two sites in Belfast be considered rather than the former prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim.
After the five-hour meeting, IFA chief executive Howard Wells said the decision was in the best interests of football.
PA