Wimbledon for Belfast latest plan

Wimbledon could face a new challenge over their plans to relocate to Dublin with the confirmation that Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has signalled her support to bring an English Premiership club to Belfast.

In a letter to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Sports Minister Tony Banks, Dr Mowlam signalled her intent to support a multi-million pound bid by a private sector consortium that would include a new international sports stadium in Belfast. The letter also suggested that Wimbledon might be tempted to switch its attentions north of the border following their difficulties with the FAI in Dublin.

However, the Irish Football Association (IFA) have opposed any such plans. "We are not interested in Wimbledon or any other Premier club playing in Belfast," said IFA general secretary David Bowen. "Our mandate is to promote the game in Northern Ireland at all levels and having an English Premier team here would not do that."

David Curry, the IFA international secretary, added: "We are totally against any such idea. As far as we are concerned it will kill off the local game in this area." Dr Mowlam sees the project as a significant opportunity to benefit the North in terms of capital investment and international image as well as underpinning the peace process. She told Tony Blair that although the success of the project was far from certain, it would offer "substantial opportunity for cross-community participation."

Those supporting Wimbledon's move to Dublin have also dismissed the notion of Belfast as a possible location despite the ideas of Dr Mowlam. "I can safely say that any offer to go to Belfast is not going to come into consideration," according to Owen O'Callaghan, the man behind Wimbledon chairman Sam Hamman's proposed move across the Irish Sea. "All of our plans are for Dublin and nothing is going to put us off track in bringing Wimbledon there."

IFA president Jim Boyce reiterated the recent FINA motion that would make it difficult for any club to play in a foreign association on a regular basis. "The only exception to this rule is when both associations concerned have given their consent," said Boyce. "I will be calling a full meeting of the IFA should we be approached by the government on this matter."

Bowen also expressed his reservations about the manner in which Dr Mowlam approached the bid. "I am disappointed with the government attitude over this," he said. "We have not spoken to them about this issue although there has been one meeting with the entrepreneurs and they know where we stand."

At the moment, a long-term lease signed in 1980 ties Northern Ireland down to playing home games at Windsor Park for 98 years. Overcoming that obstacle will be just a small part of Mo Mowlam's plan to bring bigtime soccer to the North.