Finn Harps have been given legal clearance to embark on the road to European glory in their own new ground.
The club, which returned to the League of Ireland Premiership this season, featured in a three-minute hearing at Donegal Circuit Court.
Judge John O’Hagan, who revealed he was a Drogheda United fan, was asked to formally approve the trustees of a new ground for the club.
The application was made by Desmond Murphy, B.L. who also revealed his colours - Derry City. He received his instructions from solicitor Mel Bourke, a Sligo Rovers fan.
Mr Murphy told the court that Harps’ current ground in Ballybofey - Finn Park - was originally bought by a group of men who leased it to the club in the ‘60s. They acted as trustees “in a collective rather than legal sense” and a number had since “moved on”.
The judge was told the club is moving to a new stadium across the River Finn in Stranorlar where a state-of-the art development would also include a separate pitch for a junior side.
Mr Murphy said the move was being prompted by the club’s desire to meet EUFA standards which included legal regularisation of the trustee arrangement.
Judge O’Hagan gave official legal approval to Harry McGowan, Roland Lambe and Fergus McNulty as the members of the new Finn Park Trust.