CONNACHT CEO WILLIE Ruane says the province is continuing to work at securing a new home but that progress has been slower than planned.
He said the conflicting timelines of other interested groups was the main factor in the delay to give an update on Connacht’s plans to build a new home either at their current base at the Sportsground or elsewhere in the region.
He admitted he would have liked to see some more development at this stage but that work on it was continuing on a daily basis
Last April Pat Lam said that Connacht needed a ‘realistic stadium of 10-15,000 people’ to grow to its full extent, while Ruane said he wanted to have a ‘clear idea by the end of this summer’ when he unveiled Connacht’s ‘Vision and Strategy’ document at the Aviva Stadium last May.
At that same event Ruane said Connacht Rugby had started discussions about a possible redevelopment with their landlord, the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB), but according to the CEO, a decision has yet to be reached as to what Connacht’s favoured option is.
“No I don’t have any update that would add an awful lot to what we would have said previously,” said Ruane. “(We will have an update) as soon as I am able to give you something that I can hang my hat on.
“I think we would all have liked to have seen it move a little bit quicker, but there is very sound reasons for that, in terms of us being clear in what we want to do. So I don’t have an awful lot more to add to it.”
A number of options have been mooted including: a move to a greenfield site at the Galway Docks or elsewhere; to the home of Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park; or the redevelopment of their current College Road base.
According to Ruane, a number of possible options have been assessed and it’s now just a matter of choosing one, while clearing some obstacles that remain in place.
It is still a very live situation. It isn’t that it is anything that is being put to the back-burner. It is one of the first things we are dealing with every day.
“But to make progress you are obviously involved with a number of other different parties, sometimes the time lines that we would like to move on aren’t matching timelines of others.
“We have a number of options and really at this stage it is simply a stage of saying which one. They are all costed, they are all scoped out. It is really a case of saying which one is the most realistic and viable option and that’s across a number of different measures.”
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The rest of the league is improving, if that continues then great. Hibs are a joy to watch for instance with a good manager. Steve Clarke has worked wonders with Kilmarnock also. Aberdeen are very consistent. Another close season and some good buys then hopefully these sides will be even stronger next year.
The most important thing is the negotiation of the new TV deal.
@Ciaran Rice: yeah hopefully Scottish football improves for all our sakes.
@Ciaran Rice: you knew I was going to comment. Jesus Ciaran I think you are a secret Hibs fan. The love in from Celtic fans towards Hibs is laughable due to Lenny being at the helm.
Now there’s you harping on about how competitive this league is and there’s MON stating this is the worst rangers team he has ever seen yet there is only 3 points separating aberdeen, Hibs and the rangers and you are singing the praises of the other two
@Mel Roberts: I appreciate the football that Hibs play. I praised Kilmarnock too. They aren’t as good to watch as they don’t have the players that Hibs do but they are very well organised and drilled by Steve Clarke.
@Ciaran Rice: Gerard is a catholic according to Wikipedia. Wonder how Rangers faithful will react?
@Ciaran Rice: awww Scottish pub football. That’s nice!
@Henry Porter: let’s not tell them for the craic.
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: fk off back to Brighton ya West brit
Just need another team to challenge Celtic, doesn’t have to be rangers. Why not have a strong Hibs team and begin a glasgow – Edinburgh rivalry which could be just as good for Scottish football
Rangers under Gerrard will slip
@Maurice Bourke: I’d say you’re the first person to ever make that joke.
@Maurice Bourke: Yep Glasgow isnt a good place for former Liverpool players to begin managerial careers as John Barnes can testify
Let rangers rot, they bring nothing to the league.
@Ray Farrell: most successful Scottish team by a bit still!
@Gavin Scott: 9 or 10 illegal Scottish titles but never kings of Europe.
@Jamie McCormack: And their fans are hated worldwide .
Martin is beginning to sound a little like the cheerleaders in the Scottish press now.Was he not bothered by the industrial strength cheating when he was up against the old club?Scotland needs a strong Aberdeen,Hibs and the like and not just this particular club which is still living way beyond its means.
I don’t see this as a poisoned chalice for Gerrard at all. All he really needs to do is establish rangers as the undisputed no2 in Scotland and be competitive with Celtic in the head to heads especially at home. Draw a few and the odd win and the majority of fans will be content. The gap in the budgets will keep all bar the headbangers realistic. They should be a clear second and above for the very same reasons they are behind Celtic though and anything less will be inexcusable.
@tim dawson: this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Rangers fans are not going to accept being second to Celtic continuously. I’m going to assume you don’t understand football in Glasgow.
@tim dawson: You obviously dont watch Scottish Football. Neill Lennon and Hibs are miles ahead of Rangers.. Rangers have no money and will start spending stupidly to stop Celtic doing the 10 in a row.. Where as Hibs have decent young players, are playing brilliant football and a potential financial windfall if they sell McGinn to Celtic..
@David Garland: ahhh no they are not. Rangers and Aberdeen are both ahead of Hibs.
@Ciaran Rice: The majority will reluctantly imo. They wouldn’t have prior to sevco but they are a lot more clued in financially now than they used to be and than the average big club fan. Yes they want to finish above Celtic but not by bankrupting the club. They will not accept finishing behind anyone else though and They will not accept second to anyone if the money is there through a new owner etc but in the current circumstances they have no choice and they know it.
@David Garland: I don’t they will. As for hibs etc that’s why Murty was sacked. I agree that hibs are playing good football. It’s great to see them getting full houses.
Puke football…and i support finn harps
@Jono: you’re speaking from experience so
O’Neill would know all about dreadful teams
a joke League at least in the LOi most of the top half are comppeting
If rangers won just 2 of the old firm games Brendan Rogers would probably be about to be replaced by Gerard
Hibs are crap. When was the last time they won the league?
Sevco are a joke and deserve to be laughed at. Relegation could be a reality for them next season.
@Trevi Fountain: what has their last title win got to do with the current Hibs team being good? Nothing?
When was the last time you watched Hibs?
One less team to pillage the rest, gives Aberdeen, hibs hearts etc a chance to build teams and not have the best ripped away from them