Shamrock Rovers received a massive boost today when they were granted a £800,000 bridging loan to faciliate their move to Tallaght as soon as possible.
It is now expected that the Hoops will play their first game in their new home in eight or ten weeks, with the opening date likely to be some time around Christmas.
Rovers were promised the money as part of the £15m that the FAI has at its disposal through partnership with the Government on Stadium Ireland but chairman Joe Colwell pressed to get it now so that Rovers could finally move into Tallaght.
The bar will not be open at the facility when the Dubliners move into their new ground, but this will be seen as a small price to pay if the Hoops finally find a home.
Rovers are currently top of the table and it would be a dream come through if they were to move into the new ground as League leaders in their centenary year.
Colwell, who threatened to leave because of the club's failure to get enough finance on board, may yet decide to sell the naming rights of the new stadium.
Before this bridging loan, Rovers have received grant aid of £1.4m from the Government and £400,000 from the FAI, while the club has raised £1.8m.
Best of luck to the Hoops. Could any other Irish club have survived 14 years without a permanent base? Not a Cork club anyway....
Gerry
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