ANYONE in the market for some football pitches? For years developers have been greedily eyeing up football grounds and playing greens around the country.

Now is the chance to separate the men from the boys with representatives from 30 sports clubs expected to attend a conference in Portlaoise this Saturday designed to show clubs how to cash in on the value of their sports grounds.

One wonders whether it is a serious case of missing the boat. With the banks not playing ball and the buyers gone to ground builders are shy of big commitments and less likely to get all hot and bothered about the prospect of prime pitches.

That said there will be keen interest in seeing who shows up to the event, to be held at the Portlaoise Heritage Hotelwhich will be hosted by solicitors William Fry and Knight Frank.

In the last few years the rumour mill had been on overdrive naming all sorts of clubs as “in secret talks” or “seeking offers”.

Longford Slashers, OLoughlin Gaels in Kilkenny, Middleton Club in Cork and Castlegar Hurling Club were all believed at some stage to be considering a sale or swop.

And thats not to mention all the column inches devoted to the future of prime golf clubs.

Stuart Walker from Knight Frank was coy about who had registered to attend, but did admit that there would be no representatives from Foxrock Golf Club, which received offers from mystery bidders last year.

Most of those attending are from GAA, football and hockey clubs, according to Walker.

Topping the bill at the event is rugby star Mick Galway. John Hanniffy from Portlaoise GAA club will also address the meeting. Hanniffy will be working hard to keep the look of unbridled relief off his face.

His club negotiated what is considered one of the best club deals in happier times, securing €19 million for its 18-acre facility on Portlaoise’s fringes from Firestone Development.

The money is to be used to build a €10 million sports facility on a 38-acre site a mile away from its current home.