By Tommy Nethery
TALKS are underway to discuss the future of the beleaguered Youth Sport Omagh with the distinct possibility that Omagh District Council (ODC) could become the new body charged with the running of the sports complex that ceased trading at the end of last month.
It is understood that the privately-run sports facility has encountered grave financial difficulties and the future of the Cookstown Road premises remains up in the air since the shutters were pulled down on June 30.
The state-of-the-art facilities, which were opened in 2004, boasts flood-lit soccer, GAA and all-weather pitches, indoor changing rooms, lecture and seminar rooms and 12 months ago a new international athletics track was opened at the cost of thousands of pounds.
While in business, Youth Sport sourced funding through a number of organisations including EU programmes, Invest NI, Cooperation Ireland, Omagh College and ODC.
All the funders were notified of the closure and discussions are on-going to find a resolution going forward.
In a statement ODC confirmed it had been informed that Youth Sport Omagh Ltd ceased trading as of June 30, 2009.
"Council officers are liaising with the other project funders in respect of the implications of Youth Sport Omagh's current position," said a spokesman.
"It is expected that investigation of all the issues may take some time and a report on the matter will be brought back to the council for consideration as soon as possible.
"As a result of the closure of the Youth Sport Omagh facility on the Cookstown Road, the council is aware of an associated increase in demand for council owned sports facilities and council officers are working to accommodate as many of these requests as possible."
It is understood that at the time of opening, directors of Youth Sport Omagh Ltd had agreed a fall-back position that would allow Omagh District Council to take control of the facilities. Council grounds and maintenance staff have been placed on red alert.
When contacted by the UlsterHerald, management of Youth Sport Omagh Ltd declined to make any comment as discussions were at a delicate stage.
