O'Byrne believes £65m is accurate

Bernard O'Byrne last night reaffirmed his belief to the National League's Management Committee that Eircom Park can be built for £65 million.

The FAI's chief executive addressed a meeting of the body at Merrion Square and assured them that he would obtain confirmation of the figure from international construction contractors HBG in time for a special August 10th meeting of all the FAI's affiliates where the stadium issue will again be discussed.

"He came along and answered questions and we were happy to see him," said one club official. "But the whole thing has been left until the 10th when Brendan Menton (FAI and League treasurer) should have received the documentation he feels he requires to reassure the league's clubs about the scheme's viability."

That documentation consists primarily of a letter from HBG stating that they will still build and fit out the proposed stadium for £65 million, the figure originally quoted by the firm last year when the project was launched.

The current difficulties within the association now appear to come down to a difference of interpretation regarding the firm's letter at that time, with O'Byrne feeling that the £65 million figure still stands, while Menton believes the firm would not now proceed for much less than £100 million.

Menton said at the a.g.m. that he felt that, in the event that the stadium could be built for the £65 million quoted, then the rest of the sums could, quite possibly, be made to add up.

If, on the other hand, the figure really is close to £100 million, he feels that the stadium would almost certainly be unviable.

Bohemians, meanwhile, have released three of their more experienced players ahead of next week's UEFA Cup tie in Aberdeen. Manager Roddy Collins informed Eoin Mullen, Graham O'Hanlon and Maurice O'Driscoll that they did not figure in his plans for the coming season.

Longford Town have signed Robbie Farrell from Home Farm.