Derry City FC bosses have said they will “take time to reflect and discuss” after it emerged the club will not be receiving a penny from the £36.2m NI Football Fund.
On Thursday, Communities minister Gordon Lyons revealed the 20 teams which are progressing to the next assessment stage in a £36.2m NI Football Fund.
The Department for Communities (DfC) said 38 clubs applied to the fund.
However, Derry City FC and neighbouring club Institute FC were both left out in the cold when it came to awarding the much sought-after cash.
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In response to the announcement, SDLP MLA for Foyle Mark H Durkan questioned the lack of clubs from the northwest.
SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said there would be “bitter disappointment” in the city and northwest following the announcement PICTURE: LIAM MCBURNEY/PA
“There will be bitter disappointment in Derry and across the northwest at the failure to award a single penny to Derry City Football Club from the Northern Ireland Football Fund,” he said.
“Institute FC, who are desperately hoping to secure a new home in our city, and Coleraine FC, also in need of funding, were excluded – while most of the money was awarded to clubs in the greater Belfast area.
“This will come as no surprise from a DUP-led department.”
Mr Durkan added that Derry City had been waiting “nearly 15 years” since the Sub Regional Stadia Programme was first announced and assurances were made from “Sinn Féin Ministers” that the Brandywell Stadium would benefit.
“To have the rug pulled out at the last moment is utterly unacceptable,” he said.
“To put it bluntly, this funding process has been an utter farce from start to finish. Several clubs have raised serious concerns about how applications were handled and how these decisions were made.”
The communities minister said that “need and demand at club level exceeds the current available budget” and that he appreciated the “hard work” which had gone into all applications.
“I know that some will be disappointed today. But this is not the end of the journey,” he said.
“I give my commitment today to stay with you and continue to seek further funding to meet the evidenced need.”
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew said the announcement by Mr Lyons must now face full scrutiny.
“Many clubs who have been included in the announcement will rightly be overjoyed, and I want to congratulate them,” said Mr Gildernew.
“However, there will be clubs, like Derry City and Coleraine FC, who are deeply frustrated and angered by today’s announcement.
“The announcement must be fully scrutinised to ensure equality, transparency and accountability underpin all decisions.
“Sinn Féin wants to see investment across all sports and communities, including support for the GAA to redevelop Casement Park, which is long overdue.”
A Derry City FC spokesperson told The Irish News: “Derry City FC has noted this morning’s announcement from Sports Minister Gordon Lyons regarding the allocation of funding from the Northern Ireland Football Fund.
“The club will take time to reflect and discuss our options going forward.
“We will not be making any further comment until then.”