Casement Park: 'Stadium development opens the door for football' - NIFL CEO Lawlor
- Published
Gerard Lawlor became chief executive of the Northern Ireland Football League in 2021
Gerard Lawlor, CEO of the Northern Ireland Football League, believes the development of GAA stadium Casement Park will be good for local football.
Casement Park was first earmarked for redevelopment more than a decade ago.
The Northern Ireland Executive allocated £36m for the sub-regional programme for local football in 2015 but the money has not been released.
"We are really hoping that will kick-start something for us," Lawlor said on Casement's redevelopment.
The redevelopment of gaelic games stadium Casement Park, which has fallen into disrepair since it was last used in 2013, has been controversial, with numerous legal challenges and financial setbacks.
It was nominated to be one of 10 stadiums in the UK and Ireland's bid to host Euro 2028, which is set to be formally ratified on Tuesday.
Initially, the estimated £77m necessary for the Casement Park project to be funded was made up of £15m from the GAA and £62m from the Stormont executive but costs have spiralled as the years have passed.
The sub regional funding for local football has also been delayed on numerous occasions but Lawlor is optimistic that progress in Casement Park's development can also boost football.
"Casement Park being built is good for us," Lawlor told BBC Sport.
"In my own opinion, the GAA deserve a stadium as much as football and rugby.
"For them to build that and for the Irish FA to bring a tournament [Euro 2028], and we have been deprived of such football tournaments in the past, I think will be wonderful for the country.
"I am happy for the Irish FA, I'll be delighted for the GAA to get their stadium and for the city of Belfast, where I am from. That now opens the door for us to try and kick that forward.
"People will talk about the uplift of Casement Park. We are in no different situation to Casement Park. Our clubs have had many a false dawn over the years but we must remember there is a commitment from the Executive, 12 years ago, and there is a commitment from the Department of Communities and that must be delivered.
"I'm all for the uplift at Casement because costs are so much different 12 years later. But if we are going to use that model then we also must use that model for football."
NIFL and Irish FA 'on the same page'
Watch: NI football manager Michael O'Neill calls for acceptance of Casement Park project
With costs now well above those initially stated for Casement Park, Lawlor believes more funding is required for sub regional stadia funding than the £36 million quoted in 2015.
While falling short of confirming the £100 million reported to be the new figure, Lawlor did admit "I don't think there would be much change out of at least £100 million for football".
He added that both NIFL and the Irish FA are "on the same page and they "will be lobbying government and the department to say 'give GAA what they need but we also deserve the same amount to move it forward'."
Lawlor did say that he had a meeting with NIFL, the clubs and the Department for Communities, who have "released a new business case" for the project.
"That will allow clubs to bid for business cases to get themselves ready to test the market, to look at the need of the market," Lawlor added. "That is a very positive step in the right direction.
"We are still in the long, slow process and we are still trying to talk to the government. Stadiums are a massive part of the infrastructure of the league, the infrastructure of our clubs and the community element of our clubs.
"We welcome the Casement development. The Irish FA and ourselves, and I know we're often not on the same page, but this is one we are totally on the same page on.
"We will be doing everything possible to deliver for football. When those strategies and surveys are finished that will give the department the true need."