Kirkwood 'cautiously optimistic' about more funds

IFA president Conrad Kirkwood was buoyed by Minister Lyons' funding announcement

Irish Football Association president Conrad Kirkwood says he is "cautiously optimistic" the sport in Northern Ireland will receive further funding in the future after £36m was announced for local football grounds.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons on Wednesday pledged cash for football grounds, grassroots football and a national training centre.

Irish Premiership clubs such as Glentoran, Cliftonville and Coleraine are among those expected to benefit from the funds.

"The Minister has delivered on the £36.2 million," Kirkwood told BBC Sport NI.

"He's telling us the plans that he has."

The Northern Ireland Football Fund, which was previously known as the sub-regional stadia programme for soccer, was first announced in 2011.

It was part of a package of measures aimed at redeveloping sports facilities in Northern Ireland.

But while the Ravenhill rugby stadium and Windsor Park football ground were redeveloped, local football grounds have been made to wait due to inaction and the repeated collapse of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government.

And Kirkwood, who said Wednesday's announcement was a "great day for football", praised Mr Lyons for delivering on his promise of the £36.2m.

"In Alice in Wonderland they talk about jam tomorrow - it's not so much jam tomorrow but he's actually given us the ingredients and has explained how he's going to mix up the jam," added Kirkwood.

"It's important going forward. He's been more positive than anybody so far and has at least articulated a vision of a longer-term plan where he'll have business cases and he'll be working towards securing funding over a longer period.

"That seems to be a measured and sensible way to do it, so [I'm] cautiously optimistic."

'The clubs are realistic'

Gerard Lawlor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL), praised Mr Lyons for making the local football funding project a priority.

When addressing clubs at Windsor Park on Wednesday, Mr Lyons said the funding was a "once in a lifetime opportunity to transform the game locally".

But while Lawlor says he hopes the money will help "change the face of Irish League football over the next five to 10 years", he was adamant that the £36.2m figure will only fund "a few projects".

"We know the needs," said Lawlor.

"The needs are obvious. The Minister has said that but some of those grounds, as I've said in the past, are now struggling to stay open.

"Some of them are close to not being fit for purpose. It means we can keep our clubs going and if it's phase one of a project, we'll look at other phases down the line, but we have to welcome money."

When asked about the reaction of the clubs, Lawlor said: "The clubs are realistic. We've been working with them to say 'look, there's no pot of money for everyone, nobody's leaving with a cheque today' but they're very encouraged by his [Minister Lyons'] words.

"A lot of people have said 'fair play to him, he didn't have to go as far as he went' but he's really nailed his colours to the mast."