But it should be heard loud and clear in the corridors of power at Stormont.

Irish Football Association President Raymond Kennedy, speaking from FIFA's 58th annual congress in Sydney, Australia last night rounded on our dithering political masters to end 30 years of football neglect in Northern Ireland.

The normally unruffled administrator has been left fuming by Government's " sweep it under the carpet and it may eventually go away" attitude to the location of a new National Stadium here.

And he has demanded that the procrastination and party in-fighting must stop and a decision on the site of a new national stadium become their top priority.

If the controversial Maze project — cost, a whopping £380 million, according to leaked reports — is to be given the go-ahead, then start work immediately — if not, Kennedy argues it is up to Government to come up with a viable Plan B and Plan C if needed.

The Irish FA are adamant that they worked in good faith with Government department DCAL and our other two major sports, rugby and GAA, for the last three years on the basis that a stadium would be delivered.

And since the DUP party of new First Minister Peter Robsinson is widely perceived to have killed the Maze project, Kennedy is calling on the head of Government here, in particular, to deliver the goods, begin construction and give the football fans of Northern Ireland a stadium to be proud of.

The IFA President, in office a year this month, fails to hide his ultimate frustration as he rages: "The time for talks and negotiations is over. It was actually over some time ago.

"We're all fed up with being told to wait — it's time for action now.

"We need a stadium ASAP. The Irish FA simply can't survive on the gate receipts that are coming in from Windsor Park at the moment — we aren't breaking even.

"These aren't scare tactics — this is fact.

"Football has been let down for 30 years by Government in terms of a lack of investment, compared to other sports — that must change.

"Government has put the game and the genuine football fan at risk by not implementing here the Taylor Report in 1988 after the Hillsborough disaster.

"Our grounds would not need the upgrades they do today if work had been carried out as laid down by the Taylor Report.

"We need a commitment to funding, not words that carry little weight."

Irish FA chiefs have always maintained their priority is a new stadium which stacks up to business scrutiny — location is of secondary importance.

And the Maze site has always been the only plan on the table as far as they are concerned.

The cash-strapped Irish FA cannot contribute financially to a new National Stadium — they insist funding must come entirely from Government.

So with the option of a free stadium on a free site, the Irish FA believed they could not have wished for a more attractive offer than the Maze.

But, of course, this is Northern Ireland so there are always snags, not least the concerns of a 'No' campaign among fans, themselves split between wanting Windsor redeveloped, a new home elsewhere in Belfast or just seeing the Maze plan abandoned, full stop.

Sympathetic Irish FA chiefs would also like a new national stadium in Belfast, our capital city. But they point to the glaring absence of a firm proposal.

It has been all talk and no action with Belfast.

Two other questions football people are entitled to ask...

If according to the leaked figures on the Maze, the proposed 35,000-seater stadium would cost double a 30,000- seater, why not build the smaller one? It would certainly meet the IFA's needs.

And what of the real sticking point in many people's eyes ... the thorny issue of the plan to preserve as a museum, out of sight of the stadium, former Loyalist and Republican jail compounds, yet only the latter was ever mentioned by unionist politicians in the opposition to the Maze project?

That will go ahead, with or without the stadium, but will they attempt to block the alternative development Peter Robinson has stated will go there, on the same basis? I think we know the answer to that one.

None of which helps football.

As President Kennedy — a pro-stadium rather than pro-Maze supporter — says: "There is no Plan B unless Belfast has a quick fix solution.

"Fans are entitled to their opinions but an Association must have the ability to sustain itself.

"The IFA has to be responsible for balancing the books and developing the game, which costs money.

"I'm aware that some fans maybe aren't happy with the current price for a Northern Ireland match ticket, but if we had a larger stadium we could adjust ticket prices.

"I would like to see a stadium which holds over 20,000 for games."

Football was always going to be the biggest loser from the binning of the Maze project.

Rugby and gaelic will be alright with money already poured into Ravenhill and Casement Park.

In sharp contrast, cash-starved Windsor Park, our current international stadium, is in urgent and dire need of a refurbishment.

Capacity has already been dramatically cut at the famous south Belfast venue due the fact certain sections of the stadium do not meet Health and Safety requirements.

Kennedy, though, has reassured supporters that forthcoming home matches in the World Cup qualifiers will still go ahead at Windsor Park. But after that in 2009 there is the real possibility that Nigel Worthington's men may have to play 'home' matches in England, Scotland or Wales.

The IFA insist this is not an idle threat and that they have evidence to back it up.

But the move will not be ordered by UEFA or FIFA, rather it will be, as Kennedy classifies it: "A Northern Ireland matter."

The impact of new Health & Safety legislation could have serious consequences and further reduce, by half, the capacity which at the moment is 13,000.

Incredible to think there were 40,000 in the ground the night Billy Bingham's team qualified for the Spain '82 World Cup Finals, beating Israel 1-0. A distant memory.

Even if the Maze was given the go-ahead this week there are no guarantees that it would safeguard Windsor Park's future as the national stadium until it is built.

A revamp would obviously still be needed with a new stadium unlikely to be ready for three years and Sunday Life has learned that it will come down to four key issues.

lThe funding available

lAn agreement between the IFA and Linfield FC over the '100 years contract' — Government has said there will be no money for a refit until the present contract is amended.

lThe outcome of the Miller Report audit on Windsor Park and the financial implications of rebuilding large sections of the stadium.

lThe impact of new Health & Safety legislation.

These four issues would also come into play if the Maze plan was abandoned and redeveloping Windsor Park became a considered option.

First major problem, though, on that front, which has been raised on countless occasions — planning permission for increased capacity at Windsor Park considering it's location in the heart of a residential area.

Yet more stumbling blocks and obstacles for our politicians and governing body to fall over.

President Kennedy, though, has made his address and it is now a question of patience, something the Irish FA have in short supply, to see if his comments are acted upon by Government.

Or will those wise words from Oz simply be lost up Yabby Creek?