ALTHOUGH several obstacles remain, a significant stumbling block in the development of Shamrock Rovers' proposed new stadium opposite the Square in Tallaght was removed on Monday night when Dublin County Council relented in their previous request for a running track around the pitch.
The new directors of Shamrock Rovers, headed by Premier Group's Alan McGrath, were singularly reluctant to incorporate the athletics track in the projected 8,000 all-seater stadium.
Alternative arrangements have now been made for a local athletics track and the next step in this exciting development for the club and the domestic game is a commercial lease, which, of necessity, would have to be long-term.
"Once the commercial lease is done and signed, we own the plot of land. The next thing we have to do is put something on it," said McGrath yesterday.
The first two phases of the ground's development incorporates the construction of a pitch and a clubhouse, along with one stand which would seat 4,000 supporters, all of which has an estimated cost of £1.2 million. The phased basis of the development, to be completed some two to three years away, will ultimately add another 10 to 15 per cent onto the original estimate of £2.8 million.
However, while it sounds relatively straightforward, there remain further potential obstacles and although McGrath appears less concerned about Wimbledon's proposed relocation plans to Dublin, it remains one of them.
"Before I borrow money I will then find out what the impact Wimbledon is likely to have. If the impact of Wimbledon is negligible, then we will go ahead. If the impact of Wimbledon suggests it is a stupid thing to do, then we won't go ahead," said McGrath, adding: "The whole thing has to be done on a profitable basis. We can't keep on sinking money into it.
"I don't know whether the stadium will go ahead. It will go ahead if it's commercially viable. The banks that are supporting us are supporting us, but they'll only support us in so far as it's financially viable as well."
Thus far, an undistinguished start on the pitch and the not surprisingly poor response of Rovers' south Dublin supporters to the temporary Tolka Park base has exacerbated the day-to-day costs of the club. However, McGrath and his partner and fellow director Dave Howell have pledged their continuing commitment to Rovers, which has already commanded an initial investment of £200,000 in the club's takeover
"The details of the takeover have already been issued to the shareholders and are therefore in the public domain. It cost us £200,000, broken up by an overdraft of the old company which was in the region of £60,000 which had to be cleared from day one. The revenue commissioners were owed another £50,000 and the other £90,000 was owed in bits and pieces to various people from the RDS to ordinary creditors. We have taken on all of that and by and large discharged it. The liabilities run to £160,000, currently, which means there's about £40,000 available in cash to shareholders' funds."
As things stand, McGrath and Howell remain confident of submitting the first phase of the new ground's development late next month, having it approved in early 1997 and to be completed some time next season - "if not September, then January or February," according to Howell.
