Soccer: Mary Hannigan talks to Fran Rooney, who looks enviously towards Wembley

Just days after expressing his frustration with the Government's delay in announcing its plans for a new national stadium, Fran Rooney, the chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, cast an envious glance towards London yesterday where it was announced work on the new Wembley Stadium was not only ahead of schedule but £150 million worth of orders for executive boxes and premium seats had been taken in - in just 140 days.

Wembley National Stadium Limited, the company which began rebuilding the home of English football a year ago, announced it was on target to meet its £757 million budget and was on course to sell out its 17,000 executive seats and 160 boxes - if that target is met the £600 million it would raise would comfortably cover the loans taken out to build the stadium.

Two years ago the Wembley project was on the point of collapse, largely due to political and financial wranglings, but it is now forecast the 90,000-seater stadium will be open for business in November 2005, six months ahead of schedule, with an England friendly against Brazil or Scotland being lined-up for the "debut" of the new Wembley.

Michael Cunnah, chief executive of WNSL, revealed yesterday over 95 per cent of the stadium's corporate boxes had been reserved (only eight remain "on sale"), as have 1,000 of the 5,000 costliest 10-year premium seat tickets. The premium seats are being sold in three, five and 10-year packages, with the current rate of sales yielding more than £1 million-a-day.

The demolition of the old stadium is complete, while construction work is five weeks ahead of schedule, with the 133-metre-high Wembley Arch, which will hold up the roof, expected to be completed by next January.

Ironically, the new Wembley may be a contender to host the Republic of Ireland's home internationals if, as expected, FIFA withdraw the dispensation that allowed the FAI use temporary seating at Lansdowne Road until the end of the 2004 European Championships qualifiers. That dispensation was granted on the understanding an all-seater stadium would be built by 2002.

Rooney has made it clear he does not expect FIFA to grant an extension to the dispensation, unless firm proposals for a new stadium are in place - hence the frustration he expressed in Athlone on Friday, when he said it was imperative the Government make clear its intentions on the national stadium issue.

"FIFA's derogation ended after our home game against Russia, when they visited us in July they made it clear there would be no extension to that derogation," said Rooney yesterday, "so what we need is a very quick decision regarding the national stadium.

"We asked the Government for a response on the issue during the summer, but we still haven't got one," he said. "It's not just the stadium, which of course is a big issue for us, but we have further plans in relation to a national headquarters and coaching centre, so the decision on the stadium will impact on our other decisions.

"We're very anxious to hear from Government, but we haven't heard from them, despite it being indicated to us that they would respond. We're just anxious they indicate clearly what their plans are. We have a world-class football team, we need a stadium that matches their level, we need a world-class stadium, but we haven't made any progress on that front.

"Yes, we look enviously at Wembley, but timescale-wise it wouldn't be ready in time for us, we're in trouble as of now. We have to look at our options, one of them is to play at Lansdowne Road in front of 22,000 people, which leaves a lot of disappointed fans and basically, for the FAI, isn't financially viable.

"Yes, I take heart from Wembley's success, but I would be strongly of the view that sport is the best investment we could make any way, from every point of view, not least that of kids going to see their heroes in a national stadium and being inspired enough to want to emulate them, an investment in a stadium like that would have huge, huge benefits.

"It would encourage participation and enjoyment in sport and probably that's the best thing we could do for our health. It would, ultimately, be the best investment we could ever make in our health service.

"All this talk of a national stadium being a white elephant . . . well, we've shown ourselves to be a great nation to put on big events, Slane Castle, the Phoenix Park, all that. I have no doubt a national stadium would be very viable. All we need now is a decision from the Government. And soon. If we don't get it we'll consider our next step, and discuss it with them, but I don't think any one would want to see our national team playing home games in Wembley. Or any where else outside Ireland."