Shamrock Rovers chairman Tony Maguire has vowed to fight South Dublin County Council's decision to deny the club extended planning permission that would potentially see the eircom League club complete the construction of its new stadium in Tallaght.
The ruling is yet another major blow to Rovers, who have struggled to fund the project since its inception.
The county planners turned down the application because they felt it was not clear that extending the planning permission would result in "the timely completion of the development".
The council was also uncertain over the precise nature of the relationship between the club and its new investor, Conor Clarkson.
Clarkson, whose financial interest in the club was revealed just last October, is seeking to add a commercial leisure facility to the development.
Property developer Clarkson, who is currently in Dubai, this evening issued a statemtent, claiming his planning advisors are examining the decision in detail - focussing on why the planning authority failed to ask for information on any issues that were unclear.
Clarkson also re-asserted his intention to assist Rovers in completing the project.
Earlier, an infuriated Maguire branded the council's decision a "disgrace" and, despite having no right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála, declared it's only a matter of time before Rovers are settled in in Tallaght.
"Shamrock Rovers will end up in Tallaght, it's just a question of when. I was hoping it would be next July or August," he said.
Rovers can pursue a judicial review of the council's decision, and Maguire believes this route could prove successful for the club. He said: "I think any judge will look favourably on our case.
"We have an investor (Clarkson) who is chomping at the bit to get this project back on track, and we were ready to get the builder back on site in January.
"It's nearly 18 years since we were evicted from Milltown and we've had very little political support since.
"People are jumping up and down to save Bewley's (café on Grafton Street in Dubin's city centre). This club is 102 years old and I'm making a public appeal to galvanise Shamrock Rovers and have this decision rescinded."
Rovers have been homeless since April 1987, when the then owners of the club sold their ground at Glenmalure Park, Milltown.
The club has since played home games at a number of venues in Dublin, including Dalymount Park, Richmond Park, the RDS, Morton Stadium and, most recently, Tolka Park.
