Blues dealwon’t affectBrandywell

Sports Minister Carál Ni Chuilín says the Linfield IFA talks on a new lease on Windsor Park were needed before public funding could be made available for the redevelopment of the South Belfast ground.

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey asked the Minister what implications the Windsor Park lease agreement may have for the redevelopment of the Brandywell Stadium. She said the agreement had no implications for the Londonderry ground.

“The process of developing the policy on regional stadium development has required the IFA and Linfield Football Club to have the existing financial agreement between them renegotiated before public funding is made available for the redevelopment of Windsor Park.

“The agreement refers solely to the use of Windsor Park for International football events and therefore does not impact on any other football stadium in the north of Ireland,” she stated.

The Sentinel reported last month how Sports NI has allocated no money for the upgrade of the Brandywell stadium in the current Comprehensive Spending Review period, which runs until 2015.

The Sentinel also reported how the roll-out of £36m for local stadia - including Brandywell Stadium potentially - has not yet been agreed and will not take place until 2015 at the earliest.