DERRY CITY COULD BE playing their final six home games of the 2016 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season at Maginn Park in Buncrana.
The Inishowen League is open to the possibility of Derry using Maginn, while Brandywell Stadium undergoes a redevelopment later this year.
Representatives of both parties met at the Bucnrana venue last night, when Inishowen League Chairman Laurence McColgan gave the Derry City delegation a tour of the ground.
While some upgrade works would be required to bring it into line with FAI Licencing criteria, it is not believed that they would be substantial, given that it played host to the EA Sports Cup meeting of Cockhill Celtic and Sligo Rovers in 2011, when almost 2,000 supporters attended.
“Both sides recognised that there would be issues to be resolved,” said a statement from the Inishowen League on last night’s meeting.
“Derry for their part will need Airtricity League approval especially in relation to Club Licensing criteria and security arrangements while
“The Inishowen League recognise that there are al ot of improvements to be carried out to get anywhere near League Of Ireland standard.
“Both parties have agreed to keep the channels of communication open and will revert in due course.”
The Derry City Bord of Directors confirmed a programme of works for the redevelopment of the Brandywell last Sunday in a statement on the club’s website.
The Glentoran Stand has already been demolished and a new spectator stand is to be erected in its place on the Lonemoor Road side of the ground.
A new artificial pitch is to be installed at the Foyleside venue with work to take place between August and December and the new 3G pitch will be ready for the beginning of the 2017 campaign.
During those months, Derry’s last six home games of the Premier Division calendar – games against – St Patrick’s Athletic, Cork City, Galway United, Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Sligo Rovers – will be played at an alternative venue.
City have been in talks with the Football Association of Ireland to explore the possibility of reversing the final six fixtures and having home advantage in corresponding fixtures in the middle part of the season.
With the League’s other clubs likely to kick that idea in to touch the Candystripes have been forced to look at other options.
The Inishowen League statement in full reads:
Tags:The Inishowen League met with a delegation from Derry City last night led by Chairman Mr Philip O’Doherty in Maginn Park.
Mr O’Doherty informed us that Derry City had just received the works schedule for the re-development of the Brandywell Stadium last week from Derry & Strabane Councils and, after consultation with the Airtricity League, were advised to come up with possible alternative venues.
Derry then requested to meet with the Inishowen League to investigate the possibility of using Maginn Park.
Inishowen League Chairman Laurence McColgan then took the delegation around all the facilities that were available.
Both sides recognised that there would be issues to be resolved. Derry for their part will
need Airtricity League approval, especially in relation to Club Licensing criteria and security arrangements while The Inishowen League recognise that there are alot of improvements to be carried out to get anywhere near League Of Ireland standard.Both parties have agreed to keep the channels of communication open and will revert in due course .
