Maze Stadium Confusion Continues

Plans for a national sports stadium in Northern Ireland were marred by further confusion at the weekend, with reports suggesting the Maze site is to be dropped, and will instead be transformed into a residential area.

Reports hinted that the Stormont Executive is on the verge of completely scrapping plans for the multi-million pound development at Long Kesh.

DUP Sports Minister Gregory Campbell was expected to make a formal announcement on the state of the stadium plans later this month, however, a Sunday newspaper has suggested Mr Campbell's party held secret negotiations with Sinn Fein on the future of the Maze site.

The paper said these talks resulted in agreement on a conflict resolution centre at the site, but no stadium.

Instead, housing, retail outlets and leisure facilities will be developed on the 360-acre site.

The report also pointed to increased funding to upgrade Belfast's Windsor Park, home of Linfield FC and the Northern Ireland side.

According to the newspaper, the upgrade works will bring the pitch up to FIFA standards.

However, IFA Chief Executive Howard Wells said: "That has always been our agenda and as far as I am concerned I know nothing more about an upgrade to Windsor Park than that."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure said: "The Minister is planning to make a statement to the Assembly in the early autumn and will not comment on speculation before that."

Calls have been made by cross-party representatives to further plans for a national stadium, to ensure the Province does not miss out on opportunities presented by the 2012 London Olympics.

See: Minister's Maze Verdict Due In Weeks

See: Woodward Warns Robinson Over Maze Indecision

See: NI Squad Will Suffer From Stadium Indecision, Says Stormont Paper

See: Sinn Fein Reaffirm Veto On Scrapping Maze Plans

(PR/JM)