Series 4 games postponed

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Nobody is doubting that Dundalk would have had difficulty travelling. I acknowledged that myself above:



That's not the issue. The match postponement was perfectly understandable. The issue is that Kenny Shiels claimed the game wouldn't have gone ahead anyway even if the weather had been good. He appeared to be suggesting that the pitch/stadium wasn't ready for a game (in spite of counter-claims by the council) and that the poor weather and postponement gave the council a convenient get-out.

I was just trying to work out how or why Shiels appeared to think the game wouldn't have gone ahead at the Brandywell had the FAI not postponed the fixture.

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can only presume it was ground related (probably H & S or access issues for crowds ?).

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Originally Posted by marinobohs

can only presume it was ground related (probably H & S or access issues for crowds ?).

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Having drove past the stadium the other day and seen builders and materials/debris at the turnstiles and inside the perimeter wall, I'd be inclined to agree this might have been an issue, but it's odd that the council would be insisting otherwise.

As it happens, the ground will be open with reduced capacity for the game against Limerick: https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/f...city-1-8403655

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Originally Posted by Kevin McLaughlin

Derry City & Strabane District Council has confirmed it may take some time before the refurbished Brandywell Stadium is able to operate at its full capacity of 3,700.

Next Monday night’s ‘homecoming’ against Limerick will have a reduced capacity of 2,600 because of safety management arrangements.

A spokesperson for the council stated: “The capacity for next Monday’s game at the Brandywell will be 2,600 based on stadia licensing requirements.

“The capacity will be increased at subsequent matches as part of an ongoing review process of spectator safety arrangements agreed by the Council and the emergency services, with a view to operating at full capacity over a period, in keeping with legislation governing designated sports stadia venues.”

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Is this fairly standard and to be be expected with new developments or does it indicate that the stadium isn't actually 100 per cent ready, after all, and won't be for a while?

The statement is also rather vague. It gives no indication as to when the stadium will be operating at full capacity.

I’d guess the new stand will remain closed for now, sounds like there’s work still needed to be done and the council don’t want to rush and want to do it properly. On the other hand seems like they’ve only got health and safety with a reduced capacity just to keep Derry happy for now. All guess work of course, but from a Derry point of view there should be a detailed statement and estimated time frame released to give them some idea. I’d nearly go as far to say the club as of yet are to get an accurate one and are probably been fobbed off to keep them off there back for now

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Is this fairly standard and to be be expected with new developments or does it indicate that the stadium isn't actually 100 per cent ready, after all, and won't be for a while?

The statement is also rather vague. It gives no indication as to when the stadium will be operating at full capacity.

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This gives a clue as to why Shiels kicked off last week. The stadium, pitch, the lot should've been finished ages ago. The fact that it's still not, that the pitch is barely bedded in, that the capacity remains limited while the council continually say 'nothing to see here hi' is beyond annoying.

Maybe they are just seeing how far they can push Kenny. I can see how that would be tempting.

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Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

This gives a clue as to why Shiels kicked off last week. The stadium, pitch, the lot should've been finished ages ago. The fact that it's still not, that the pitch is barely bedded in, that the capacity remains limited while the council continually say 'nothing to see here hi' is beyond annoying.

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The drip-feeding of news - invariably bad - is farcical at this stage. If those involved had just been up front about things from the beginning instead of repeatedly portraying things one way and then having to track back, it wouldn't be so bad.

The reason the capacity is reduced to 2,600 is because of the pitch being raised in the Southend stand side and is now only two feet from the stand ( it was 5 feet in places previously) so it's the Southend stand that has the reduced capacity. It's because theirs no exits on to the pitch in the event of an emergency.

The Mark Farren stand is good to go at full capacity.

It's all about health and safety laws, it'll be at full capacity for the Dundalk game.

P.S. you read it here first.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

The drip-feeding of news - invariably bad - is farcical at this stage. If those involved had just been up front about things from the beginning instead of repeatedly portraying things one way and then having to track back, it wouldn't be so bad.

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Derry City team have now played a friendly on the pitch on Saturday And had the full squad training on it at night on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week under the floodlights.

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Originally Posted by sulywaterfordfc

I’d guess the new stand will remain closed for now, sounds like there’s work still needed to be done and the council don’t want to rush and want to do it properly. On the other hand seems like they’ve only got health and safety with a reduced capacity just to keep Derry happy for now. All guess work of course, but from a Derry point of view there should be a detailed statement and estimated time frame released to give them some idea. I’d nearly go as far to say the club as of yet are to get an accurate one and are probably been fobbed off to keep them off there back for now

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I was one of the few that was at the game on Saturday V Coleraine. The Mark Farren stand is good to go and has already been passed.

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Originally Posted by Candystripe

Derry City team have now played a friendly on the pitch on Saturday And had the full squad training on it at night on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week under the floodlights.

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While that's good news - and I'm not blaming the club here - this is all long overdue. Anyway, onwards and upwards.