League of Ireland football in Donegal could be a thing of the past unless Finn Harps finally get their long-awaited new stadium - in the very near future.
That is the stark message from the Ballybofey-based club as things are coming to a head in relation to the long saga over a proposed move to a new ground, less than a kilometre away from the outdated and not-fit-for-purpose Finn Park which has been their home since they entered the League of Ireland in 1969.
Speaking at a pre-season media briefing, the club’s commercial officer Aidan Campbell did not hold back as he highlighted the seriousness of the situation.
“If we do not have a new stadium, we will not have a Finn Harps,” he declared. “The future of the club depends on getting a new stadium.”
Harps have received a number of derogations in relation to Finn Park, partly because there have been plans to move to a new stadium.
However, the process has been incredibly drawn out. The sod was cut for the new stadium back in May 2008, and there have been numerous legal and financial hurdles since then.
Campbell continued: “We have been living on borrowed time. We are at a crossroads and it is very simple. There has to be a new stadium for there to be a Finn Harps, and for there to be senior football.
"Everyone knows Finn Park is not up to spec and it has been going on for too long. Now is crunch time.”
The club is expected to announce details in the coming days in relation to a massive fundraising drive.
Last July, the club was asked by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to review its costings for revised plans for the planned new Donegal Community Stadium in light of rising prices.
The revised 5,500-capacity stadium is set to cost around €7.3 million.
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