Mannus lukewarm on Casement case for Euro 2028

NOT FULLY CONVINCED: Shamrock Rovers Goalkeeper Alan Mannus will retire this week. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Alan Mannus wants to see what the football legacy for the Casement Park project looks like before endorsing the GAA venue’s rebuild as beneficial for Northern Ireland.

The Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper hangs up his gloves at 41 after Friday’s trophy-lift against Sligo Rovers before going into full-time employment within the Irish FA’s coaching department.

Mannus won nine caps for Northern Ireland and was part of their Euro 2016 squad in France but has reservations about the conditions attached to their involvement in the 2028 co-hosting.

As the 18,500-capacity Windsor Park is 12,000 short of UEFA’s minimum criteria to stage tournament matches, their participation in the joint-bid with the UK nations and Ireland hinges on Casement’s availability.

Antrim’s GAA stadium remains in a derelict state, with the estimated costs more than doubling from the original £77m forecasted. 

Croke Park have reaffirmed their resistance to exceeding the €15m committed on the GAA’s behalf, leaving the outlay to be shared between the UK and Irish Governments.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently pledged financial support for the redevelopment but the matter has descended into a political football among competing parties and hardline fans of Northern Ireland are opposed to the concept.

Michael O’Neill, the former boss of Mannus for Northern Ireland and Rovers, is back at his country’s helm and foresees Casement being useful beyond staging five Euro 2028 matches by facilitating crowds that Windsor’s limited capacity can’t.

The veteran custodian, speaking in a personal capacity, requires evidence that the investment doesn’t play into the hands of a rival code.

“The reaction has been mixed,” admitted the stopper who has commuted to Dublin for training and matches since rejoining Rovers in 2018.

“I would rather it was done where football got something out of it. No matter what, people could say this is anti-GAA but it’s nothing to do with that. it could be rugby, hockey or whatever but once it’s done then it won’t be used again for football.

“Why can it not be within Windsor? There might be limitations, whether they can build on it.

“I just feel from the money spent on Casement, they’ll have the Euros there for whatever short time and then the GAA will get that from it and football will get nothing.”