Leading FAI officials remained confident yesterday that their plans to move senior international games to a new stadium within the next five years would remain on course despite the political controversy surrounding the Government's plans for the development of Stadium Ireland.
"Lansdowne Road is not adequate for our needs or the needs of the IRFU," said FAI treasurer Brendan Menton, "and so in a worst-case scenario I'm sure if the rugby people and ourselves sat down I'm sure that with Government support we'd be capable of building a stadium between us.
"But the fact is that the provision of decent sports facilities by the Government is long overdue in this country. A new, modern stadium is one of the things that is needed in this country at present and I'm sure that that will be realised when the matter is considered."
Menton, who was a key figure in negotiating the association's deal with the Government that resulted in the promise to switch senior internationals to Abbotstown from Lansdowne Road, said whatever happened to the Stadium Ireland project, the improved grant aid promised by the Government is secure as the two bodies have already signed binding "heads of agreement".
This means the Government would be obliged to provide up to £57 million in additional funding to the association although the clawback of £16 million, which was due to be repaid from advance sales of 10-year tickets and corporate boxes, might be more difficult to recover.
If the project was delayed or even abandoned, though, there would be a considerable cost to the association which expects to generate over £5 million a year as a result of its tenancy at the proposed stadium.
Menton said, however, he remained confident that Abbotstown would proceed. However, he joked that, at a discussion of the matter at Merrion Square yesterday "somebody did suggest that if it didn't happen perhaps we could look at playing our home games at Anfield".
