Maze stadium could miss out on World Cup matches

Chancellor Gordon Brown hinted today there may be no place for a Northern Ireland venue if the Football Association win the bid to stage the 2018 World Cup.

He is expected to spearhead the campaign if, as anticipated, he takes over from Tony Blair as Prime Minister.

The Scot said people across the country would be very keen for the tournament to take place in the British Isles.

But the Chancellor cautioned it would be “more likely” to be in England than the North, Scotland or Wales.

It emerged today the North's proposed 42,500-seater stadium at the former Maze Prison will be put forward to the FA as it seeks to secure the tournament for the first time since 1966.

A British government spokesman said: “If the stadium is built, we would be happy to offer it as an option to the English FA.”

It is hoped the £55m (€80m) stadium near Lisburn, Co Antrim will stage at least three football matches during the 2012 London Olympics.

Earlier this week the Northern Ireland Office ruled out all hopes of the province’s new national sports stadium being moved to Belfast.

Late bids by Belfast Chamber of Trade and a sports consortium for two alternative sites in the city, at Ormeau Park or Maysfield, were dismissed as unfeasible.