Delaney sets 2021 Dalymount deadline
“I want 2021 because we’re 100 years in football then,” said Delaney, “The Government has given us a budget and what is looked at the moment I presume is the cost of that and what form of community involvement could be used for Dalymount Park.
“That’s one part of the next step for the league. We expect to make the case to government on the basis of 20 credible plans (16 clubs have submitted theirs to the hierarchy) and the overall plan for the league.”
Delaney hinted that high interest charges in 2016 – the last year of an arrangement with US-based Corporate Capital Trust (CCT) before they switched their banking business to Bank of Ireland – was an obstacle to spending in areas such as prizemoney. It remains to be seen what impact it had on the return from making the last 16 of the Euros in France.
“You’re back to prizemoney again,” he said, when pressed on the spending on the league which has been a key factor of talks with club reps. “There are a range of discussions which are confidential at the moment going across a range of things.
“The meetings we’ve had, in certain cases, would give you a real drive for the league because some of the clubs are thinking more about what they can do themselves. In the past, it used to be ‘what are the FAI doing?’ It has to be ‘what’s everybody doing?’”
Delaney said that the investigation into irregular betting patterns around Athlone Town games is still ongoing, and he also responded to criticism of the FAI’s decision to arrange a friendly between Manchester United and Sampdoria at the Aviva Stadium for Wednesday August 2.
That is a Champions League qualifying date and Dundalk could be in action if they win their first tie in next season’s competition.
Delaney suggested the FAI have made contact with UEFA, where he is now on the executive committee, to try and ensure Dundalk played on Tuesday if a clash occurred.
Meanwhile, Luis Suarez is set to miss Ireland’s friendly with Uruguay at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday week.
The Barcelona star was the big draw in the visiting camp but he has suffered a thigh injury and will be absent from his club’s Copa Del Rey final with Alaves tonight.
Elsewhere, Shay Given has been released on a free transfer by Stoke and doubts now hang over whether the 41-year-old will continue his playing career.
Corkman Stephen Ireland has been offered a new Potters deal after missing the whole of this season due to a broken leg.