Milebush upgrade needed to meet standards for League of Ireland football

Caoimhín Rowland

“The current stadium, Milebush, we would need to do a lot of work to get ready for it to be a League of Ireland ground,” according to Mark Scanlon, the director of the League of Ireland.

Scanlon continued: “There are a number of criteria that would have to be put in place, basic things in the first place for a stand with a minimum number of seats.”

Recent plans submitted by the FAI to the government have stated Irish football's desire for central funding to bring 'all LOI grounds up to 4,000 capacity'.

If Mayo FC’s location is at Milebush, on the outskirts of Castlebar town, it will require millions in investment from local authorities and government.

Scanlon told The Connaught Telegraph some funding would be used to bring “a minimum of 2,000 seater stand” to Solar 21 Park, Milebush.

Also, there are requirements for a better “quality of the pitch, quality of floodlights, dressing rooms, turnstiles, home and away fan entrances, media areas, PA systems around the grounds - they would be the basics for year one.”

Scanlon, originally from Meath, reiterated his desire to see LOI football in Mayo and plug a “geographic gap” on the island, much like Kerry FC have done this season.

In attendance at last night's launch, Minister of State Dara Calleary and Fine Gael TD Michael Ring endorsed the establishment of Mayo FC and confirmed their approval to seek funding for the club.