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Limerick FC boss bids again for Markets Field in bid to return soccer to traditional home
LIMERICK FC CEO Pat O'Sullivan has confirmed that he has made a renewed bid for the Markets Field, entering an official bid as part of the public tender process announced by the Irish Greyhound Board last week.
However, Ballylanders native Mr O'Sullivan refused to disclose the nature of the bid, whether it was an increase on his initial bid made earlier this summer, rather stating that he wished to "see what the process brings us now" in his attempt to return Limerick soccer to what is considered its spiritual home.
"What I understand to be the position now is that there is a public tender process taking place, and we are awaiting the outcome of that," explained the Limerick soccer chairman.
"We haven't changed our position on it, we have made a bid and we have to see what the process brings us now. We have confirmed and submitted a bid to them now, I don't want to say whether it is up or down, but we have made a bid," he added.
Attempts by the Limerick Leader to ascertain whether other parties had made a bid for the 5.35 acre site, which is located in Garryowen, were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.
It is not yet known either if there is a reserve price on the historic Limerick landmark, which was first used for sport by the Irish Cycling Association in 1886 and later played host to Garryowen Rugby Club and Limerick FC before being sold to the Irish Greyhound Board.
In the notice of impending sale – advertised in the Limerick Leader – the property is described as consisting of a racetrack, stand and related facilities, car parking and office facilities. The sale is being handled by Holmes O'Malley Solicitors in Limerick.
The Irish Greyhound Board, said in their announcement that the site is "zoned for a mixture of open space and industrial use", however local councillor Kieran O'Hanlon told the Leader that any other prospective buyers would not get permission to rezone the site from Limerick City Council.
"The only way the site could be rezoned would be with the consent of two-thirds of the councillors and I wouldn't see one councillor voting for that," he said.
Local community group Garryowen Community Committee, who were promised by Pat O'Sullivan that an area on the site would be allocated for a community centre, described the Irish Greyhound's Board decision not to accept Limerick FC's initial offer as a "major setback".
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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