Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BRANDYWELL TO MISS SLIGO DATE
DERRY CITY’S revamped Brandywell stadium won’t be ready to host their first home game of the season.
And that match against Sligo Rovers has now been switched to the Showgrounds for February 23.
But the FAI are confident Derry’s next home game against Dundalk on March 2 will go ahead as scheduled at their new-look home.
Derry are returning to the Brandywell after a year playing in Maginn Park in Buncrana while construction of a new stand and the laying of an artificial pitch were carried out.
Sligo Rovers boss Gerard Lyttle said: “It’s a good thing hopefully. You want to start with a home game and now we have three to start with.”
But Bit O’red chairman Martin Heraghty said:
“We now face a period of one home league game in 10 weeks from July to September.
“We had a similar period last year and it caused significant problems financially, although there could be some FAI Cup games in the period.”
League of Ireland chief Fran Gavin outlined the reasons for the delay with the Brandywell.
“It looks really well but it won’t be ready for the first game in Sligo.” he said yesterday, “We’re confident it will be ready for the game against Dundalk.
“Some of it has been due to the weather and around the site there have been some other delays.
“It’s a bit behind time. They thought they would be in before Christmas and then early January but if it’s a couple of weeks extra it will be worth it.”