Derry to explore move to new ground

SOCCER NEWS:TWO YEARS after a similar suggestion was dismissed as impractical by one of his predecessors, Derry City's new chairman Philip O'Doherty revealed yesterday that the club is exploring the possibility of leaving the Brandywell for a new, municipal stadium a short distance away on the Buncrana Road.

Two years ago Jack McCauley, then chairman of Brandywell Properties, the company set up to facilitate the club’s purchase and development of their ground, said that he was “amazed” that people were floating the idea of relocating to a site adjacent to the council’s Templemore Sports Complex as a viable alternative to the ambitious plans City had at that stage for their historic home.

McCauley described the Brandywell as “the only game in town” at the time. A lack of political will at Assembly level, however, combined with the dramatically changed economic climate made it impossible to raise the necessary funding and the project has since been effectively abandoned.

O’Doherty said yesterday that while the club, which is currently awaiting official confirmation it will be allowed even to play in the League of Ireland this season, has not completely ruled out the possibility of staying at the Brandywell, the Templemore option had a number of advantages and might be more easily achieved.

“At the time the Brandywell opened it was in what was pretty much the heart of the city,” he said, “but the population has moved away, northwards and there is a lack of parking at the stadium which has become a major difficulty over the years.

“Clearly we need to do something because the place is very run down and while local fans know what to expect, there is definitely a problem in terms of trying to attract sponsors and their guests, particularly from larger and multi-national companies.

“A municipal stadium elsewhere, maybe one that we share with a couple of junior clubs, might actually cost less and be easier to achieve than the sort of redevelopment of the Brandywell that we would require. Out on the Buncrana Road there is already a complex with a variety of sports facilities and additional land, the idea would be to make the most of that in co-operation with the local council while also looking at ways of possibly making it attractive for people from the private sector to invest.”

O’Doherty acknowledged the idea of City leaving the Brandywell would upset many in the area but expressed the hope that the facility might be retained for use by other local soccer clubs.

PFAI general secretary, Stephen McGuinness, meanwhile, has expressed the hope that a proposed takeover of Cork City by a group of local businessmen including Jim McCarthy and Michael O’Connor will be concluded this week while expressing the fear that his members at the club will face further pay cuts if it does go through.

“The deadline under licensing for everyone to be paid what they are owed by clubs is Friday and so hopefully it will get sorted,” said McGuinness.