Northern Ireland boss Tanya Oxtoby explains decision for Leicester training camp

Northern Ireland boss Tanya Oxtoby

Tanya Oxtoby has explained that the decision to take the Northern Ireland women’s team to Leicester to prepare for their crucial Nations League play-off with Montenegro wasn’t down to a lack of adequate facilities at home.

Oxtoby’s squad, which sees Lauren Perry and Rachel Dugdale both return after lengthy absences, will train at Leicester City’s Belvoir Drive base ahead of next Friday’s first leg in Podgorica rather than in Belfast.

The development of a National Training Centre has been on the Irish FA’s wish list for well over a decade and was the headline item on a Facilities Strategy published as far back as 2012.

Ironically while both the senior men and women’s teams regular train a short distance away from Stormont £36m of funding pledged in 2015 - £3m of which was designated for a National Training Centre – has yet to be released by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Michael O’Neill has also used facilities outside of the country in both of his spells as manager and the hope is that the recent restoration of the Assembly will fast track that funding and allow the IFA to provide a top class facility for their teams.

“Holistically it was a good choice from us because you look at travel, you look at facilities, all of the bits that we want from a high performing environment Leicester was able to provide that,” said Oxtoby.

“They have a fantastic training facility, the players are really excited and as well as that I want to change things up, I want to make sure that they are out of their comfort zone and they are continuing to have to adapt and continuing to have to grow.

“Changing it up and starting the camp not based in Northern Ireland is a part of that.

“Facilities is something