Stadium Study Urged as DUP Force Stadium Plans Through
The Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs has urged the Irish FA to set up a ‘working group’ that would study the plans for a new national stadium in detail. The call was made in a presentation, yesterday, to the executive committee of the Irish FA, when the Amalgamation communicated fans’ fears to football’s governing body and called for a group to be established that would look at all the issues “likely to have an impact on football in Northern Ireland.”
Their proposed working group would consist of members of the IFA’s executive council, the AONISC, Irish League supporters’ groups and an independent member.
Gary McAllister, Amalgamation spokesman said:
“Our representatives set out our position and articulated our concerns with regard to how the Government intends to invest in football and the sporting infrastructure in Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to the Maze proposals. The Amalgamation delegation also put forward a proposal that the IFA should establish a working group to look at the National Stadium issue and other related matters. We believe that such a focus group would allow the wider ‘football family’ to look, in a collective manner, at the key issues which are likely to effect Northern Ireland football in the short, medium and longer terms. We will continue to pursue this proposal with the Chief Executive and the Executive Committee of the Irish FA to consider how it can best be taken forward.”
The calls were made the day after DUP minister designate Ian Paisley Jr, who seems to have taken on the role of Chief Maze Cheerleader now that Edwin Poots has taken the DCAL ministry and has to portray an air of neutrality, hinted that his party would take a decision to proceed with the plans for a stadium at the Maze regardless of the wishes of sports fans in Northern Ireland.
Mr Paisley said that the decision which the direct rule ministers were going to take six months to make could be made in three months by the local ministers and assembly. What Mr Paisley seems to be forgetting is that it’s no use speeding up the decision making process if you still end up with the same bad decisions. At least when the NIO were making the decisions we knew they were making bad choices deliberately to force our local politicians back round the table. What’s Mr Paisley’s excuse?
The full Amalgamation press release is available for download.