The multi-million pound redevelopment of Belfast's Windsor Park stadium has taken a step forward after the Irish Football Association (IFA) confirmed that initial funding is now in place.

A Letter of Offer has been received by the national governing body from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), which will release the first tranche of a £25.2m funding package towards the scheme.

IFA is working with DCAL, Sport Northern Ireland and Linfield Football Club on the plans, which will transform the venue into an 18,000-capacity national stadium for football.

The next stage of the project, following the appointment of a planning consultant, will see an integrated consultant team selected to draw up designs for the new-look Windsor Park.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in December, with the phased construction process to begin in August 2013. It is hoped work will be fully completed in summer 2015.

IFA president Jim Shaw said: "This is a major step in the process and we are delighted that we have been given the green light."

Details: www.irishfa.com