South Stand future under threat

Windsor Park may not be able to host internationals

The future of Windsor Park as the national stadium is under threat with an expert report set to propose that the South Stand be closed from January.

The report could lead to the stadium capacity being cut by 4,000 to just 9,000 on health and safety grounds.

The move would heighten fears that future international games may have to be played outside Northern Ireland.

Millions of pounds are needed to upgrade Windsor as any new national stadium would take years to construct.

The report was commissioned by Linfield and the Irish Football Association and IFA chief executive Howard Wells told the Sunday Life that "it sounds as though our worst fears are about to be confirmed".

"We are still awaiting a costing on the work required to keep Windsor up to the basic standard required to host international football with no idea where the money is coming from," he told the newspaper.

"Somewhere along the line the Government and our local politicians are going to have to come to a decision on the National Stadium issue."

Debate continues to rage over the site of any new national stadium with the Maze the Government's preferred option.