The franchise is a contractual commitment and a commitment is a commitment.

CNN: Getting Ready for 1997

Mr Ingram has emphasised that a contractual commitment for the third tranche "is not needed or expected before 2007", leaving open the possibility that ministers will seek to renegotiate or scrap the order altogether.

BBC: Minister fuels Eurofighter uncertainty

In a statement Linfield said that they regard "much of IFA's publicly expressed concerns about Windsor Park as being motivated less by a genuine concern over the state of repair of the ground and more as the basis upon which IFA now seeks to avoid its contractual commitment to LFC (Linfield Football Club)".

BBC: SPORT | Football | Irish | Linfield blast IFA over Windsor