Date set for Derry City and Crusaders Football Fund challenge

A legal challenge brought by two football clubs excluded from the multi-million pound Northern Ireland Football Fund is set to be heard in May, a High Court judge has said.

The clubs are seeking a judicial review of the Department for Communities decision to omit them from stage two of the funding programme.

Lawyers representing both clubs claim the department's decision was irrational, procedurally unfair and in breach of a policy to deal with funding bids.

On Tuesday, Mr Justice Fowler confirmed a two day hearing would go ahead in May.

Aimed at improving stadiums and infrastructure across Northern Ireland, the Stormont Executive allocated an initial £36.2m budget to the Football Fund.

Out of 41 clubs eligible to apply, a total of 38 bids were submitted during the first phase of the process.

Three tiers of potential funding were available based on the scale of projects.

In September last year Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced that 20 clubs from across Northern Ireland had been successful in reaching the next stage.

North Belfast side Crusaders, who compete in the Irish Premiership, and League of Ireland outfit Derry City, both missed out completely.

The clubs are seeking an order to have the funding decisions quashed.

During Tuesday's brief preliminary hearing the Department's barrister, Philip McAteer, indicated correspondence has now been sent to Crusaders and Derry City setting out the next stages in the process.

Counsel for both clubs, Stephen Toal KC, agreed that the case should advance to a full application for judicial review.