Sounds like a plan to be honest !!
I know this idea sounds a bit ambitious but it has a lot of pros and very few cons i think.
Why don't Rovers rent Lansdowne Rd. The FAI who are on good terms with the IRFU could negotiate something on behalf of Shamrock Rovers.
Lansdowne rd meets uefa licence standards regarding facilities.
Lansdowne is currently empty every friday night at present as Leinster are no longer in the Heineken Cup and they play their Celtic league games at Donnybrook
The Six Nations will not clash with any of the Eircom season as it ends on Saturday March 27th
The IRFU could charge rovers €3000- €3500 a game the same amount they were willing to pay other clubs to use their grounds. I'm sure the IRFU could do with the extra income.
If one of Rovers friday night games clashed with an Republic of Ireland qualifier on a Saturday, their could switch it to a Sunday or Monday.
It is close to Shramrock Rovers traditional fanbase of Milltown/Donnybrook area.
The FAI could offer to guarantee that Rovers will be able to meet their payments. They were willing to do this already.
Of course there are some obstacles,
IRFU might want a lot more money so financially improbable for Rovers.
Rovers will be playing their games in a virtually empty stadium, resulting in a poor atmosphere.
Possible trouble at games and security issues.
The local residents might object to Rovers playing there.
I'm sure there might be a few I missed out on but overall I think although a bit ambitious, not impossible and if they are unable to find an alternative ground it might be their only viable option. Otherwise it could be bye bye Rovers.
Sounds like a plan to be honest !!
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
Its not a bad idea at all. You never even know with the right promotion and marketing, it could be a great coup for the hoops, certainly seems to make more sense than making clubs reneage on current arrangements.
With delicate issues with the powerful residents group coming up the very last thing the IRFU need is St. Pats unruly evicted yobbo ex tenants yomping thru D4.
Complete non starter.
Also, two rugby clubs play there and on the back pitch. The quality of the grass would be even worse if 20 odd soccer games a season were played there as well.
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