Loan of Croker would be a godsend, says Rooney

Mr Fran Rooney, yesterday said the biggest single boost they could receive before engaging in qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup would be a GAA decision to make Croke Park available.

Mr Rooney, in Frankfurt to attend today's draw for the qualifying tournament, repeated his oft-quoted statement that the decision was one for the GAA alone.

He said he had been following the recent debate on the issue of opening up Croke Park with interest and made it clear he was quite taken by the suggestion that the GAA might lease the stadium to the Government on a certain number of dates each year. The Government might then sub-let the stadium to the FAI or to any other organisation they thought suitable.