Lease deal proposed for Derry's Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Sinn Féin Council Group Leader Christopher Jackson has proposed that the local council enters into an arrangement that enables Derry City Football Club to take a long term lease of the Ryan McBride Brandywell stadium.

Commenting after making the proposal to Council officials on Friday, the Waterside councillor said the move would enable the club to proceed with a multi-million bid to extend the Mark Farren stand at the ground.

“We have been working closely with Derry City Football Club for many years now on a planned bid to the Sub-Regional Stadia Fund,” he commented.

“Those plans were effectively derailed recently when the Department for Communities announced that local authorities making such a bid would be expected to provide 40% match funding, and not the five percent that had been originally premised.

“A potential solution now would be for the club to take on a long-term lease of the ground. That would enable Derry City FC to proceed with the bid on the original terms, as well as taking forward their own significant plans for investment at the ground including a return to a grass pitch. 

“In so doing, I am confident we can reach a position where the Brandywell continues to benefit from significant investment and transformation into a first-class sporting facility.”