QuoteRovers to play on despite club financial woes
Paul O'Hehir
06/10/2004: Shamrock Rovers players will honour their eircom Premier Division tie against Derry City this Friday night despite the financial problems at the club that have dragged morale among the playing squad to an all-time low. The players, who refused to train last night following lengthy delays in their payment, issued a statement today condemning the club for its "failure to honour the recent agreement regarding the payments of outstanding wages".
The squad will train tomorrow and play Derry City at Richmond Park on Friday. However, the players said today they would reassess their position after that game and have agreed to "escalate their industrial action" if the club does not meet its financial commitments.
The players, already entangled in a relegation scrap, need the board to stump up the required finances immediately; otherwise the prospect of boycotting one of their seven remaining league games is on the cards.
But such a measure could mean forfeiture of points - a situation the club cannot afford with just nine points separating them from bottom-of-the-table Dublin City. The team that finishes 10th and last in the Premier Division will ply their trade in the First Division next season.
It is not the first time this season that Rovers players have gone weeks without payment. A number of players are three to four weeks out of pocket.
Just three months ago, the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFAI) criticised the club for signing goalkeeper Russell Payne while other players were awaiting outstanding payment. Now the American keeper is one of those awaiting payment of wages.
"The players have honoured their side of their contracts," PFAI general secretary Fran Gavin told ireland.com today. " The board must accept responsibility for the state they have put the club in. They need to be seen to be doing something about it."
He added: "These problems are ongoing and the players are really, really chewing at the bit. The financial reality is beginning to hit them as lads have bills and mortgages to pay and they're finding themselves more and more in debt."
Gavin has called on the Football Association of Ireland and its chief executive officer, Fran Rooney, to intervene.
"The FAI has a responsibility to sort this situation out. They know what's going on but have chosen to leave their heads stuck in the stand. If they can be of any help they should be and not wait until the last minute."
The Shamrock Rovers players have requested a meeting with club chairman Tony Maguire.
A spokesperson for Shamrock Rovers could not be contacted by ireland.com this afternoon.
© The Irish Times
Originally Posted by ccfcman
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