Derry City stadium headache

THE redeveloped Brandywell stadium will operate with a reduced capacity for the foreseeable future.

After a year away playing at Maginn Park in

Buncrana, Derry City are returning home to their traditional ground.

A new stand and an artificial 4G pitch have been installed in the Brandywell but works ran over time.

And that meant Kenny Shiels’ men were forced to play their first three games of the season away from home.

Last Friday’s scheduled clash with Dundalk was supposed to mark the opening of the new ground but it was postponed because of the snow.

So the Candystripes will host Limerick in the first match at the new look ground on Monday, once Friday’s trip to Shamrock Rovers is out of the way.

But Derry City &

Strabane District Council have confirmed that capacity will be capped at 2,600 - and not the full 3,700.

In a statement, the council said: “The capacity for next Monday’s game at the Brandywell will be 2,600 based on stadia licensing requirements.

“The capacity will be increased at subsequent matches as part of a review process of spectator safety arrangements.

“(They will be) agreed by the Council and the emergency services, with a view to operating at full capacity over a period.”

Before the Dundalk game was postponed, Shiels was critical his team were unable to train on the pitch.

But the squad were granted access to the stadium this week and have trained ahead of the Rovers and Limerick games.

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