Big steps forward

There have been few better days for the game here. The decision by South Dublin County Council to allow Shamrock Rovers to proceed with their new stadium at Sean Walsh Park will have positive repercussions throughout the game, but the latest rounds of grants from the National Lottery are significant too.

The money received by Cork City, Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers yesterday means all three clubs will be able to proceed immediately with major projects aimed at improving spectator facilities at their various grounds.

Two of the three will start work almost immediately, while City's board are to meet later this week with the Munster FA, who own Turner's Cross, and the FAI to decide precisely in what order the planned improvements are to be carried out.

The latest round of funding means that, of the 12 Premier Division clubs, nine are in the process of major development plans. Two of those, St Patrick's and, of course, Shamrock Rovers, are working on new stadiums, and while yesterday's vote in Tallaght clears the way for one move, Pat Dolan should know before Christmas whether his club will be building on the site of the nearby St Michael's Estate or continuing the redevelopment of Richmond Park.

Among the other prominent developments is the new 3,000 seat stand built by Bohemians, the new facility at the Drumcondra end of Tolka Park which Shelbourne are working on, and plans by Galway United, along with the local FA, to put seats into their recently opened stand at Terryland Park.

In all, if things continue to come together at the present rate, there could be approaching 15,000 new seats in Premier Division grounds by the start of next season. It's a good way short of where the league should be, but it's a very considerable step in the right direction.

What is important now is that a momentum is created to carry clubs onto another stage in their development over the next couple of years. A great deal of money and effort has been expended to get to this point, but it will count for little in the long term if, after years of decline, the league's clubs can't now be seen to be capable of steady progress.