New costings but future of Eircom Park still in doubt

The future of Eircom Park will be decided on January 26th rather than the 22nd after yesterday's meeting of the FAI's Board of Management was told that new costings for the entire project would be made available. It had been anticipated that the new business plan for the stadium would be sent to members of the board next week and they would then vote on whether to proceed with the project at Monday week's meeting.

At Merrion Square yesterday, however, the FAI's directors were told that no new figures would be available before the 22nd when all of the key commercial "partners" involved would be available to brief the board on the new business plan.

As a result it is now intended that the club and league representatives will gather again four days later to decide the future of the troubled project. Critics of the plan last night expressed concern over the way the timetable had once again shifted but the result is that the FAI chief executive will have four days to win over members of the board seen as occupying the middle ground.

Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson last night hit back at reports of a £160,000a-week wages request by David Beckham and insisted the Premiership champions had not even opened negotiations with the England skipper yet.

"There is no truth in that," said Ferguson. "We have never mentioned David's salary and have not even opened negotiations with the lad. I think it would be proper to wait until we start negotiations and then see where that takes us."

The Premiership leaders travel to basement club Bradford today and Ferguson revealed that longterm injury absentees Jaap Stam and Andy Cole could figure at some stage.

"They probably will both have a place on the bench and depending on how the game is going, will hopefully get a bit of the game."

Teddy Sheringham is also back in contention for a place in the starting line-up at Valley Parade. United are currently 11 points clear at the top of the Premiership, but Ferguson is not putting the champagne on ice just yet.

He said: "We have a nice lead at the moment, but I have seen that disappear before."