Major boost for Larne as Council accept offer for Inver Park

LARNE owner Kenny Bruce has welcomed Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s decision to accept the club’s offer to purchase Inver Park and begin talks to complete the sale.

Potential investors were invited to bid on the facility in February, and elected members voted to enter into formal negotiations with the Larne Football Club (NI) Charity in relation to the sale.

The club, now with ambitious plans and receiving fresh investment from Larne man Bruce who founded online property market company Purplebricks with his brother Michael, is hoping to lay a new artificial playing surface and construct floodlights in time for next season.

Plans for Phase 1 of the development of Inver Park, at the town end of the ground, have also been put out to public consultation.

Bruce said: “We are delighted that our charity’s offer to purchase Inver Park has been accepted by the Mid and East Antrim local authority.

“We have been very impressed by the support we have received from the local authority for our project to create first class sports facilities at Inver Park for the Larne people.

“We have a charity set up to purchase Inver Park and the trustees will hold that asset for the Larne people so that it remains a centre for sporting excellence for hundreds of years.

“We hope to conclude the transaction as soon as possible so we can complete the works on a new 4G playing surface and floodlights.”