Hoops dampen prospects of Hammers links as Roadstone project takes centre stage

Hoops dampen prospects of Hammers links as Roadstone project takes centre stage

By Stephen Leonard

SHAMROCK Rovers are playing down reports of a possible link with Premier League giants West Ham United and are instead focusing their efforts on their proposed major development in Roadstone Sports and Social Club.

The Hoops have reportedly been the primary focus for the London club who are exploring the possibility of a partnership with an Airtricity League side by which they could loan out players and perhaps speed up work permit appli-cations for new signings.

Brandon Miele big1033212 

Rovers Marketing Officer Mark Lynch, however, dismissed such reports claiming that no contact has been made with the club in this regard.

“Right now we’re just concentrating on our possible development in Roadstone” he told The Echo.

The club’s youth section recently combined with Roadstone to secure Sports Capital Grant funding to the tune of €150,000 back in October.

Now a club EGM will be held on March 19 to see if the green light will be given for the first phase of the proposed undertaking whereby a full-size floodlit astro pitch will be developed.

Additional facilities, including a full-size grass pitch and training area are also in the pipeline.

“Roadstone as a social club is ageing a bit and this development would see it re-energised” insisted Lynch.

It would also be a major boost for Rovers whose first team would have more of a presence locally given that they current have to train in the AUL.

Rovers have been working hard to deepen their roots in the local community, running coaching programmes under Graham Gartland and Shane Robinson in local schools like St Anne’s, St Aidan’s St Kevin’s and St Mark’s.

On the playing front, Rovers will be looking to build on a very impressive start to their 2016 Airtricity League campaign that saw them dish out a 2-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

A tremendous free kick by Tallaght man Brandon Miele, who has been named in the provisional Ireland Under 21 squad for UEFA Championship qualifying games against Italy and Slovenia later this month, helped earn Pat Fenlon’s side the spoils and leave them on a sound footing ahead of their first home league fixture against Wexford Youths this Friday followed by their trip to Finn Harps on Monday.

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