Longford are exploring the prospect of leaving Pearse Park, Balls.ie has learned.
The ground's main stand has been closed since last year, following the discovery of structural damage.
The stand was only built in 2006, but members of the Longford County Board noticed a number of cracks in the foundation of the stand last year and decided to close it.
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Croke Park officials subsequently surveyed the stand and recommended it remain closed until a full appraisal was carried out. The closure forced Longford to concede home advantage to Kildare in last year's All-Ireland Qualifiers.
The Longford county board employed Collins Boyd Engineers & Architects to survey the damage and commission a full report, in which it was revealed that the most cost-effective move was to demolish the stand and rebuild it.
The full costs involved in this were revealed last night at a meeting of the county board, and it will cost Longford in excess of 5 million euro.
As a result, Longford are now exploring the option of leaving Pearse Park and relocating to a green-field site, upon which they can build a smaller stadium but add a Centre of Excellence in a more valuable move.
For Longford fans opposed to the idea of leaving Pearse Park - scene of Longford's O'Byrne Cup victory over Dublin in January - secretary Peter O'Reilly had some positive news, saying that is "very premature" to assume that Longford will never play another Championship game at the ground they've called home since 1937.
The possibility of relocation is being seriously considered for the first time, however, with Longford forced to concede home advantage against Offaly and Westmeath in this year's Leinster Championship.
