NIFL chief Gerard Lawlor hits back at Stormont's £36m 'slap in face' for football

Gerard Lawlor has accused Stormont of “slapping football in the face” after Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey shelved a long-awaited £36m funding package for local stadia.

The straight talking NIFL chief executive also claimed local clubs were effectively blindsided by the timing of Monday’s surprise announcement in the Assembly chamber.

And he has suggested local football chiefs are prepared to bypass Stormont and take their case for essential finance to both the British and Irish governments.

“None of us have any confidence left in the current process and we have very little faith left in what we are being told,” said Lawlor.

“If we have to look at other avenues and put our case to the British and Irish governments, we will do so. That is an option we will look at.”

Hargey said she was no longer able to progress the Sub Regional stadia package, which has been in the pipeline for 11 years, following the recent collapse of the power-sharing Executive.

But the minister’s announcement was met by a wave of frustration - and some anger - from managers, fans and officials of the 43 Premiership, Championship, Premier Intermediate and Women’s Premiership clubs.

Larne owner Kenny Bruce described the latest delay in funding as a “devastation to communities” while Newry City boss Darren Mullen branded the decision “shameful”.

Lawlor, a former chairman of Cliftonville football club in North Belfast, said: “It’s about respect and the manner in which this announcement was made is hugely disappointing.

“We have been trying to engage with the Executive for a long period of time and a working group actually met last week, yet there was no heads-up on this decision. Nothing.

“Am I surprised by the decision? No, because we have had so