FAI general secretary Brendan Menton will seek assurances regarding the future of the Stadium Ireland project tomorrow when the association meets representatives of the Government to discuss how this year's increased funding to the game is to be spent over the coming 12 months following reports that the project was to be seriously delayed because of the growing pressure on the public finances.
Menton warned yesterday that any delay to the construction of the stadium could have serious implications for the association, with more than £3 million in revenue potentially at stake annually as well as the substantial mount of cash that is expected to be generated by advance ticket and box sales at the proposed venue.
In addition, the game's leading official has warned that a growing reluctance on the part of FIFA to allow temporary seating to be used at international games might force the FAI to reduce the capacity at Lansdowne Road to less than 23,000 for the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign if no alternative is found.
"We operate on exemptions as it is and I would imagine we'll be okay with UEFA for the Portugal 2004 qualifiers, but after a couple of disasters in other parts of the world involving temporary seating FIFA is looking to clamp down on its use," he said.
Menton insisted, however, that any delay to the planned construction of Stadium Ireland would be unjustified despite reports that the slowdown in economic growth will squeeze tax revenues and cause problems for the Government as it attempts to meet its various spending commitments.
"To be honest I don't see why it always has to be sport that gets hit in these situations. From my understanding of it, it is not even that the Government is going to be running budget deficits, just smaller surpluses, and it's important to remember this is a one-off expenditure that is badly needed, not a recurring expense that is going to involve a major expenditure every year."
Mick McCarthy, meanwhile, will decide on what replacements to bring in to his squad this afternoon following the withdrawal yesterday of Rory Delap and Steven Reid through injury.
Reid had been a doubt for the Ireland manager since picking up a hamstring problem in Millwall's game against Wimbledon last week, and the midfielder admitted yesterday that, while he was disappointed not to be travelling to Dublin today, he was not terribly surprised.
"It would have been a massive bonus to me to be involved again," he said, "but I still have a slight strain and it's going to be next week before I really get training again. It was a bit doubtful even a few days ago but I held on because I wanted to make absolutely sure before I told Mick the news."
McCarthy, as it happens, said he was kept up to date with Reid's situation by Millwall manager Mark McGhee and so yesterday's news was expected. But that is more than could be said for the withdrawal of Delap, whose bruised toe, from the win over Middlesbrough, was initially thought to have been a break.
There was better news for McCarthy on the defensive front, however, with Coventry City defender Gary Breen assuring the Ireland boss the injury he picked up at the weekend is not serious enough to prevent him from travelling to Dublin this morning.
"To have Gary is good," he said, "but I'm definitely thinking in terms of who I'm going to bring in as cover although I'll wait till everyone gets together before I make any final decisions."
Stephen McPail looks a likely candidate for a call up over the next day or two, while Breen's Coventry City team-mate Barry Quinn could also benefit from the injury problems - particularly in defence where Steve Carr, Gary Doherty, Richard Dunne and the suspended Gary Kelly are all missing.
Those players named in McCarthy's original squad who are still fit and available are due to train behind closed doors at the AUL complex this afternoon and whatever replacements McCarthy decides on calling up should arrive in time to train tomorrow morning.
