New setback for Rovers

Soccer/ National League: The attempt to rescue Shamrock Rovers has received a significant setback with the withdrawal of the front-runners to stage a takeover, Brian Quigley and Brooks Mileson, the north of England-based businessmen who have been behind the rise of Gretna in the Scottish league in recent seasons.

The pair made the decision to end their interest in taking over the club following talks with South Dublin County Council regarding the stadium that is to be Shamrock Rovers' new home. It is believed the men wanted complete control of the facility for which, they said, they would pay the local authority a share of any profits.

Having had their fingers burnt when they simply provided land for the club to build a ground, the council made it clear that, having built the ground, it intends to operate it as a municipal stadium.

Council officials, however, are said to have offered the club a licence to play all of their games at the stadium, to provide a quarter-acre site for the construction of a clubhouse and to construct an all-weather training pitch, which the club would share with the local community.

"We have been having discussions with a party nominated by the examiner in relation to the stadium," said assistant county manager Tom Doherty yesterday, "and I have been informed today that that party has not accepted an offer in connection with the completion and use of the stadium and lands in Tallaght.

"We understand that the examiner is now in talks with other parties regarding the future of the club," he continued, "and we'll be guided by him in relation to how we proceed, although I would emphasise that we're dealing with two different things here. One is the stadium and the other is the future of the club.

"I remain confident that Shamrock Rovers will play in this stadium in the future, but I want to make it absolutely clear that we intend to proceed with finishing the stadium regardless of what any new owners of Shamrock Rovers might decide."

The club's examiner, Neil Hughes, accepted that the withdrawal of Quigley and Mileson was "a disappointment", but he said talks are continuing with some of the parties behind the other expressions of interest.

Representatives of Longford Town, meanwhile, will meet Eircom League and Shamrock Rovers officials next week to discuss what restrictions are to be imposed on away supporters for next week's game between the two clubs at Flancare Park.

The home club had considered preventing the sale of any tickets to Rovers supporters as a result of problems encountered last season, but after initial talks on the matter yesterday it seems more likely numbers will be severely restricted and Rovers officials will be obliged to assume responsibility for the behaviour of their supporters.