O'Byrne in fighting form

FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne has insisted that both he and Eircom Park would survive today's meeting of the association's board of management in Dublin.

With FAI treasurer Brendan Menton, along with the project's other leading critics, again expected to press hard for detailed information on the finances of the troubled stadium plan, there has been much speculation that the meeting could prove a turning point, both for the development itself and for the career of its most prominent advocate.

O'Byrne insisted last night, however, he has both the internal support and external funding to see Eircom Park through. "My faith in the project is completely rock solid," he said. "I don't think that that will ever change. I believe that it remains not only financially viable but strong, although obviously there is a concerted effort being made to knock it off the rails."

Despite his confidence, this afternoon's meeting of the association's board promises to be tough for O'Byrne. With a sizeable minority amongst those expected to attend opposed to the project, and with Menton already having involved his solicitors in his attempt to chase down financial details which he believes have been kept from him, the chief executive is in for another rough ride.

His insistence, however, that he now favours the fundamental review of the project that has long been called for by his critics may be enough to keep the entire scheme alive, at least until an An Bord Pleanala hearing in February.

Menton and his supporters insist the figures are now so stacked against Eircom Park that the case for simply scrapping it is overwhelming. Tactically, they may be obliged to accept the review initiative.

Whether the proposed development could survive such a review is another thing. A great deal would depend on who within the association gets to do the reviewing.

Still, O'Byrne for one was buoyant about the prospect last night, claiming that the wrangling was a "distraction" that was preventing the association from "getting on with the reassessment of the business plan".

Asked about the association's reply to Menton's latest request for information, which was supposed to have been received last week by the treasurer's solicitors, O'Byrne said that legal advice had been received that the matter should be dealt with at today's meeting.

He also said the matter of IMG's reported commitment to Umbro that the FAI would pay the sportswear firm £30,000 after switching shirt sponsors would also be addressed today.