East Belfast Ulster Unionist Party MLA and Communities spokesperson, Andy Allen MBE, has slammed the failure to deliver on the long-overdue sub-regional stadia programme.

Mr Allen said:

“The Minister for Communities Deirdre Hargey has had ample time to deliver on the 2011 Executive endorsed sub-regional stadia programme. There have been repeated false dawns for the programme with the latest being delivered under the guise of the collapsed Executive. However, football clubs and supporters across Northern Ireland have been let down by successive Ministers.

“This is £36M that local football badly needs to upgrade facilities. The Department has bid for the sub-regional stadia funding under the budget, there is broad support for delivery on this outstanding commitment and therefore the Minister for Communities should focus on delivering the long-overdue programme.

“Northern Ireland deserves better; and local football clubs and supporters certainly deserve better than the repeated failure to deliver.”