Tallaght Stadium: Shamrock Rovers could be playing in their new home by the start of next season if proposals to allow work to restart on the Tallaght Stadium get the go-ahead.
South Dublin County Council (SDCC) are considering an FAI-backed initiative by the club that could see builders return to the idle site at Whitestown Way.
Rovers believe their proposals will not prejudice High Court proceedings after the Tallaght-based Thomas Davis GAA club challenged a decision to develop the council-funded stadium for the playing of soccer only.
Rovers - the intended anchor tenants - maintain they are "completely open" to other sports being played at the stadium and believe some work can be carried out to open the ground during the time the court case, which is scheduled for October, runs its course.
The club insists these works, once completed, can accommodate any alterations that may be required in the event of Gaelic games being granted access to the stadium. "Once we heard there was leave for application for the judicial review we looked into how we could work within the parameters of the High Court ruling and try to get into the stadium as soon as possible," club director James Nolan said.
FAI chief executive John Delaney recently put the proposals to SDCC on the club's behalf. Rovers' directors will meet council officials later this week when an outcome could be given. These proposals focus on the completion of the existing - but only partially constructed - main stand and the addition of temporary seating.
Rovers are confident the erection of such seats would not be in breach of the terms stipulated by Mr Justice O'Neill when awarding the judicial review.
The main stand, left idle for years owing to previous financial difficulties at the club, has no roof, no seats and internal structures are incomplete. However, Rovers maintain its location and layout does not require alteration to facilitate Gaelic games, should the need arise.
"This is a simple plan," said Nolan. "We'll finish the main stand structure but not put the wraparounds at the ends. We will also finish auxiliary works around the outside of the stadium and put temporary stands on three sides of the ground.
"It is costing the council roughly €13,000 per month to maintain the stadium in its current state. We want to get into a working facility straight away."
Some 3,000 supporters would be facilitated in the main stand with another 4,000 divided between the temporary structures. Similar temporary seating is being used by Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
While Thomas Davis are entitled to seek a court injunction against the Shamrock Rovers proposal, to do so would "really show them up", Nolan believes. "That would prove to the general public Thomas Davis don't want us playing there. If really and truly they had no problem with us playing in Tallaght they would be behind this plan 100 per cent."
A Rovers delegation met Thomas Davis officials in May when the soccer club expressed a desire to play in Tallaght next season. According to Nolan, "they (Thomas Davis) had no great objection to it".
A spokesman for Thomas Davis could not be contacted last evening. Rovers will undertake structural surveys of the site and seek further legal advice prior to work restarting should SDCC give the go-ahead this week.
The club is also awaiting the thoughts of new Minister for Sport Seamus Brennan. His predecessor, John O'Donoghue, had vigorously supported Rovers in their fight for relocation.
Local Fianna Fail TD Charlie O'Connor is "satisfied and confident the (new) Minister will want to see this issue through". "It is time this was solved," he said. "There is a big, big bank of support for Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght . . . and a strong view that this issue should be put to bed."
