Sports campus schemeTHE FAI have said they will be in a position to start work on the installation of two pitches and changing facilities beside their Abbotstown headquarters in March of next year after receiving confirmation from Fifa that the game's governing body will grant aid the project.
Fifa will give $500,000 (€388,000) towards the cost of the work, thus enabling the association to avail of €500,000 of the money set aside by the Government earlier this year in order to fund various aspects of a scaled-back sports campus scheme. “This is a great announcement by the FAI,” said Minister for Sport Leo Varadkar yesterday.
“The campus will really take shape over the next few months.”
Newcastle ownerMike Ashley yesterday placed the future of the club firmly in the hands of manager Alan Pardew when he handed him an eight-year contract.
Pardew, assistant John Carver, coach Steve Stone and goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman have all been given identical deals, with chief scout Graham Carr having signed his own eight-year contract in June.
