Finn Harps hoping to resume stadium build in 2025

Finn Harps are hoping to resume construction of their new stadium next year after concluding talks with the FAI and resubmitting their planning application.

Harps initially had planning permission in 2008 when their stadium build in Stranorlar began.

Numerous delays owing to economic crash, Covid-19 pandemic and other factors has seen the project stall over much of the last 16 years.

Last year the club agreed a plan with multiple stakeholders that would see them emerge with €7.2m for the build, including €4.7m of a grant secured several years ago and also using the sale of the current ground Finn Park to generate €1.6m by the club itself.

Donegal County Council is contributing €0.5m, as are the FAI, and have asked the club to resubmit a planning application due to the length of time passed and changes from the initial design.

The FAI has also requested that the new stadium must be at a Premier Division standard when Harps move into the ground.

The Donegal side will make a submission the council in October.

They said: "Once we have the complete detailed drawings, we will be able to get detailed costings and complete the negotiations with our contractor and seek approval from our partners at the FAI, the Department of Sport and the County Council.

"We hope to have that process complete in time for the planning approval process to be completed which takes a minimum of 90 days after submission.

"In our planning we will submit a design capable of growing to Category 3 (UEFA standard) without having to return to planning.

"It is our intention to have a four-sided roofed stadium fully enclosed."

The capacity will be set once all the plans are approved.

Harps will aim to begin works next year but have yet to give a finalised start date for