The FAI said yesterday that they remain committed to the idea of building their own greenfield stadium, despite their involvement in a feasibility study on a proposed national stadium in Dublin.

As yet, however, they are not in a position to specify a time-scale or, indeed, a location for a project which has been the subject of recurring speculation over the last 15 years.

Earlier yesterday, the IRFU said that their participation in the feasibility talks had to be viewed in the context of their determination to present international rugby in the best possible setting.

Commenting on suggestions that they were about to abandon their plan for a purpose-built soccer stadium, Bernard O'Byrne, the FAI's chief executive, said: "This is simply not the case. We agreed to be part of the feasibility study on the national stadium and to make our contribution to a project which is some way down the line.

"But we have our own proposals and have been actively working on them for the best part of two years. At this point, we have three or four sites in mind and hope to be in a position to put definitive plans before our members in the near future.

"The concept of having our own stadium is something which I personally have pursued since being appointed by the FAI and I am pleased with the progress which we have made."

Philip Browne, general secretary of the IRFU, believes a national stadium is an attractive option. The IRFU are represented by two former presidents, Syd Miller and Tom Kiernan, on the national stadium committee.

"We cannot afford £200 million for a stadium," said Browne, "but if that kind of money is found for a national stadium we would, of course, be delighted to avail of the facility. "Lansdowne Road is in need of refurbishment and for some time now we have been actively examining all our options. One of them is to develop our own 100-acre site at Newlands Cross, but that has to be measured against the difficulties of servicing a big debt.

"Our representation on the national stadium committee is indicative of our interest in the project, but at this point it is just another option."

These comments by two of the main players may be interpreted by some as a lack of commitment to the ambitious project. The Government, one suspects, will not be impressed.

JP McManus and Dermot Desmond are understood to be two of the entrepreneurs ready to back the venture, but essentially the State would have to fund most of it. And Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has made it clear that he needs an unequivocal commitment from all the major sporting organisations to justify the expenditure involved.

To that extent, he is likely to be requesting more convincing assurances than those already on the table and, in particular, guarantees that the FAI and IRFU are ready to foot their share of the bill.

It is interesting to note that at the first meeting of the stadium committee, O'Byrne sought assurances from those around the table that it would not be used to facilitate Wimbledon or any other British club if they planned to to re-locate in Dublin. With the exception of one dissenting voice, those assurances were, apparently, forthcoming.

The disappointing news for BLE is that if the project ever comes to fruition, it will not include a running track. There may be provisions, however, whereby a temporary track can be laid to facilitate the staging of big meetings.

Better news for athletics supporters is that extra funding of approximately £6 million may soon come on stream to facilitate the construction of an indoor complex at the Morton Stadium, Santry.