League clubs meet tonight on Stadium - March 8,
2001
The 22 Eircom League clubs meet tonight to decide their strategy for tomorrow's crucial FAI Board of Management and National Council meetings - and if it comes to an either-or decision between Eircom Park and Stadium Ireland, the League's nine delegates are almost certain to plump for the latter.
The league clubs - who represent a tiny fraction of the Irish soccer community but have a disproportionately large representation on the Board of Management - have led the opposition to Eircom Park, the FAI's planned 45,000-seater stadium, from the outset.
They want the FAI to abandon Eircom Park and instead accept the Irish Government's offer of a tenancy at the proposed 80,000-seater Stadium Ireland - with money earmarked for Eircom Park going instead to develop the soccer infrastructure in the provinces.
They have six club delegates plus three officers on the 22-strong Board of management - and although some clubs, including the progressive St. Patrick's Athletic, are firmly in favour of Eircom Park, that could be enough to sway the Board of Management to opt for Stadium Ireland if it comes to a vote tomorrow.
Waterford United's John Delaney - an implacable opponent of Eircom Park from the start - said of Stadium Ireland: "Unlike Eircom Park, there's no debt, no risk, no running costs and it provides substantial funds up front for investment in football at all levels which the Association have never had before.
"It's a win-win deal and I'll be recommending the League accept the Government's offer."
The 56-strong National Council, which represents the 350,000 amateur members of the FAI is a different matter. So far, at least, they have been 100% behind the Eircom Park plan - and a strong majority in favour tomorrow would over-ride any decision taken by the Board of Management.