Blues set to make deal on Windsor

Linfield are ready to renegotiate a contract with the Irish FA over Windsor Park, which saw the Blues get £800,000 last year from N Ireland matches.

The club is currently entitled to 15% of revenue from international games for the use of its ground - a deal which has angered other Premiership teams.

Linfield chairman Jim Kerr has now told rival clubs that they are prepared to "tear up" the existing agreement.

The IFA said on Thursday that the contract would be renegotiated soon.

A number of Irish League clubs have expressed concern about the revenue received by Linfield for the use of Windsor Park for international matches.

Glentoran protested to Uefa about the Windsor contract but the European governing body said it is "not its policy to intervene in domestic matters".

Linfield's current agreement with the IFA has around 80 years still to run.

"There will be no 15% of revenue from ticket sales, track advertising and television rights but they will have to be paid an overall rent," said IFA president Raymond Kennedy of the renegotiation.

"Linfield FC will not seek to obtain unrealistic returns if Windsor Park finally becomes the new national stadium."

Kerr has written a letter to fellow club chairmen, outlining Linfield's plans.

He said: "We have reached a point when the Northern Ireland Executive is going to make real and binding decisions about investment in stadiums for football, rugby and Gaelic games.

"If Windsor Park was to become the chosen venue (for football), Linfield has indicated that it would in principle be prepared to negotiate the terms upon which it would 'tear up' the existing agreement and put a replacement in place.

"Linfield FC will not seek to obtain unrealistic returns if Windsor Park finally becomes the new national stadium."

The ground is in urgent need of renovation and an upgrade is likely to take place next summer.

This means that there are unlikely to be any Northern Ireland international games played at the national stadium until next year's Euro 2012 qualifying series.

Until then, any friendly matches are likely to be played away from home, including the proposed game against Bulgaria next month.

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