Minister's Maze Verdict Due In Weeks

The Northern Ireland Sports Minister has given strong indication that his decision on the proposed Maze multi-purpose stadium could be delivered in a matter of weeks.

Minister Gregory Campbell addressed a gathering of Linfield Football Club delegates at Stormont, earlier this week.

At the reception Mr Campbell said he had been studying the issues of a national sport stadium with an open mind.

"Now I'm the minister, I need to have responsibility for the advancement of sport in Northern Ireland per se," said the minister.

"That's football, that's rugby and it's gaelic and the other sports. But those three main sports were the sports which were going to avail of any new stadium.

"I haven't yet come to a conclusion, but I'm going to in the next few weeks and I'm then going to make an announcement in the Assembly in the autumn."

A national stadium in the Province has proved to be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the Northern Ireland Assembly since the inception of devolved powers last May.

There is currently no unilateral agreement around the Executive table on where the multi-million pound stadium should be built.

The strongest contender so far has been the Maze site, however, this proposal has received persistent dismissals from Unionist opponents.

Nationalist politicians have pledged to veto any suggestions other than the former prison base.

Belfast City Council also put forward proposals for a location in the capital, which received strong backing from the city's businesses community.

Concerns have been raised that the constant squabbling at Stormont could result in a viable facility failing to be built in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

Missing out on such an opportunity could result in millions of pounds being lost in tourism, as well as prohibiting Northern Ireland from being part of a major global event.

Any eventual stadium would house the North's three main sports – gaelic, football and ruby.

A government memo, leaked earlier this year, expressed doubts as to whether the Northern Ireland football side could play 2011 Celtic Cup home games in Belfast.

The document said there is a real possibility, in the absence of significantly enhanced stadium capacity, Northern Ireland could be playing home internationals in other UK cities such as Glasgow.

(PR/JM)