Extra £50m funding 'not insurmountable' - Lawlor

Gerard Lawlor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Football League, says the extra funding required for the Northern Ireland Football Fund is "not insurmountable".

On Thursday it was announced that 20 clubs, of 38 applicants, would progress to the next stage in a bid to secure long-awaited funding.

When announcing the successful applicants, Lyons estimated the departmental cost of all 20 projects was "just over £82m", and "estimated total project costs" came to £98m.

Those totals far exceed the £36.2 million that had been ringfenced for stadia funding across Northern Ireland, and Lyons added he was pushing to secure additional funding.

"We know what we need. We're speaking to the Minister and other political parties," Lawlor told Stephen Watson.

"The Minister has assured me he's trying to get that funding and we're trying to bring the other parties on that journey."

Lawlor added that NIFL would "continue to lobby" the British government in West minster for more funding for football in Northern Ireland.

"£50 million sounds like a lot of money, but when you break it down into some of the departmental budgets or the budgets from centralised government, it's not insurmountable.

"We are hopeful that £50 million could be delivered, even if it was over five years. That's £10 million per year, which I think is very achievable."

Lawlor added that the funding "can transform football in Northern Ireland", and he would support the redevelopment of gaelic games Casement Park, which was withdrawn from the UK and Ireland's Euro 2028 bid

Lyons said on Thursday that some of the funding for the proposed National Training Centre at Galgorm would come out of the £36.2m funding.

Lawlor said he would "continue to have those discussions" with IFA chief executive Patrick Nelson.

"We know the Irish FA are exploring other pots," Lawlor said.

"My job is to make sure the IFA don't get a lot of the cake, but I'm happy to give Patrick some crumbs if he needs them.

"Look, we have to be sensible. As long as everyone is on the same page and works together, I think we can deliver for everything."

The 20 clubs which were successful and progressed to the next stage will undergo "due diligence" before any slice of the funding would be handed over.

Lawlor says "there's a lot of work and processes for the clubs to go through" but "it's a good day for football".

When asked when he hoped building work would commence on projects, Lawlor said: "That's the million dollar question".

"Certain clubs are at different stages. Some clubs are probably ready to dig tomorrow, some clubs haven't even gone to planning yet.

"I would hope that those who are in a state or readiness, could be digging in the spring or summer of 2026, at the latest."