MOVES to rename the Brandywell Stadium after Derry City FC captain Ryan McBride who died in March have failed after councillors opted to hold further consultation.
Councillors on Derry City and Strabane Council said they would consult further on how assets run by the council are named.
Mr McBride (27) died suddenly in March. His death at his home near the Brandywell stadium sent shock waves through Irish sporting circles.
At yesterday’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council, which owns the stadium, Mr McBride’s aunt and Sinn Féin councillor, Patricia Logue proposed the ground be renamed in memory of her nephew.
“It will be a fitting tribute that Ryan’s legacy should live on through the stadium and the club that he loved so well should be remembered in this way for now and for generations to come,” she said.
However, a number of councillors expressed concern that by adopting Mrs Logue’s proposal, the council would set a precedent on the naming of major assets.
SDLP councillor, Martin Reilly proposed an amendment that the council establish a working group to consult on the issue.
He said: “This council needs to look at how we as a local authority handle the request to name key assets of our council because that in itself is something we were conscious off; that we were setting a precedent in the naming of the entire stadium through the motion to this council and that that would have ramifications for the naming for other council assets.”
Mr Reilly’s amendment was supported by all councillors.
