FAI and Munster Rugby meet on Thomond Park dates for Ireland

THOMOND PARK is likely to stage more than one soccer international prior to the FAI moving into the Aviva Stadium in August next year.

The FAI confirmed last weekend they are is in talks with Munster Rugby about the possible use of Thomond Park for a friendly on August 12th.

“We’re hoping to do one in August,” said FAI CEO John Delaney yesterday. “We’ve been in contact with Munster Rugby, in particular over the last week, and as soon as we come to an agreement, and we’re well down the way with that with them, we’ll announce who we’re playing.”

Delaney then suggested the refurbished Limerick venue would host at least one more game, probably in the spring of next year, which the FAI hope would be a warm-up for the World Cup finals in South Africa. The Aviva Stadium won’t host a soccer international until Argentina visit in August 2010.

“The Aviva Stadium is where we’ll play all our internationals going forward,” said Delaney. “But it’s a window of opportunity to play some games in Thomond Park. It’s a wonderful facility, a really fantastic facility, and it will also facilitate some of our supporters in the Munster and Connacht areas, who have been very loyal to us travelling to Dublin on Wednesdays and Saturdays, to have the opportunity to see the Irish international team on a limited number of occasions prior to the move into the Aviva Stadium. I’d be hopeful we’ll play there in August.

“I know who we’ll be playing, once we have our agreement in place. All I’ll say now is it’s not Northern Ireland. We’ll be playing them in the 4-Associations tournament (in 2011).

“I think it’s best to the get the deal done first with Munster Rugby and they’ve been very, very receptive, very good about it. When that’s done we can announce who we’re playing. I hope to have it all done within about a week to 10 days.”

Meanwhile, Delaney said it was no surprise that Cobh Ramblers have lost their league status.

Relegated from the Premier Division of the League of Ireland at the end of last season, Cobh, who are €500,000 in debt, were informed yesterday they had not been granted a First Division licence, though the club have acquired a licence to play in next season’s A Championship, pending settlement of wages with players.

“I’m glad that it’s done,” said Delaney of the licensing process. “I don’t think there were any great surprises. It’s no great surprise that Cobh didn’t get a licence. At least they’ve the A Championship, in the past a club like Cobh would have gone out of (League of Ireland) football. They may go back to the Munster Senior League, but at least they’ve got the option of playing in the A Championship.

“Of course they have the right to appeal if they want to within five days. From what I know I don’t think an appeal would be of any merit.”

Though Cork City secured a Premier Division licence, they still have arrangements regarding outstanding payments to players and former manager Alan Mathews to fulfil before the start of the season. Newly-promoted Dundalk, Athlone Town and Kildare County, who, courtesy of Cobh failing to get a licence, have earned a reprieve from their relegation from the First Division last season, also have criteria to meet.

“Dundalk have their pitch to sort out and I think that will be okay,” said Delaney. “Cork City have their financial accounts (to sort out), as you can understand coming late and having gone through the examinership process.

“You’d be hopeful they will and you’d expect they will. They’ve been given a timescale to deliver their particular issues.

“Cork have until February 27th in terms of their financial accounts.

“The Dundalk one has to be signed off in terms of the pitch meeting the criteria and that’s dependent on an external visit. So there are different dates and different criteria.”