Cork City denied a licence; club to be wound up; FORAS to enter First Division

[bennocelt]

Job well done? They courted and propped up Coughlan, dragged this process out forever, jumped into bed with the third bunch of "saviours" to wander along, held a gun to the FAIs head on licencing, only agreed to save CCFC if they were kept in the Premier against all the rules, fought tooth and nail to buy 20% of a couple of millions worth of debt, along with giving 80% of the say of what happens in their club to these unknown investors, wanted to create a situation where todays situation would almost certainly recurr again in a short period, and only ended up with their own club because a judge made them have it.

Well done indeed.

I pretty much agree with that, Foras dragged it out a bit too far in the last few days

[peadar1987]

Sorry if I've missed the answer to this in the depths of this thread, but have FORAS secured a lease on Turner's Cross for the season, or do they intend to do so?

[Pablo Escobar]

I've no doubt Tommy is crying. His company is about to be wound up, which will bar him from being a company director for 5 years (I think). I understnad he's a director in multiple companies as it is...

Eagle Entertainment Ltd. - Disovled
E-Hive Centre Ltd. - Disolved
Sevenville - Disolved
Momento Ltd. - Struck Off
Emirates Investments - Director

[Real ale Madrid]

I pretty much agree with that, Foras dragged it out a bit too far in the last few days

Rubbish - FORAS and the consortium did everything humanly possible to get this this sorted - the blame lies squarely with Tom Coughlan.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0223/corkcity_foras.html


Sorry if I've missed the answer to this in the depths of this thread, but have FORAS secured a lease on Turner's Cross for the season, or do they intend to do so?

Yes afaik Turners Cross will be made available to the new club.

[pineapple stu]

Rubbish - FORAS and the consortium did everything humanly possible to get this this sorted - the blame lies squarely with Tom Coughlan.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0223/corkcity_foras.html
They didn't have to get involved in takeover talks; could have just let the company die and take the First Division licence, which is what they have now in any event.

[Mr A]

Isn't there some sort of MFA rule that Turner's Cross must be available to senior football in the city?

[Leeside Swagger]

They didn't have to get involved in takeover talks; could have just let the company die and take the First Division licence, which is what they have now in any event.

The company wouldnt have died if they had gotten the premier licence, FORAS wanted to be a part of the club no matter what. They did a great job if you ask me.

[centre mid]

I feel sorry for FORAS, Cork City supporters & our own supporters. This could have been sorted out a long time ago. Coughlan has dragged Cork, the league and the fans through the gutter, spat on them & then dragged them through the mud again. The league had been a laughing stock since the end of the season, it took a judge to restore some order. Shame on you Tom Coughlan, shame on you.

[bennocelt]

Rubbish - FORAS and the consortium did everything humanly possible to get this this sorted - the blame lies squarely with Tom Coughlan.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0223/corkcity_foras.html

.


Yeah look its great that you can start again in the First and all but what would have happened if you were given the license, it would have dragged it out for another few months and we would be back to square one, you would still have had Coughlan around the place, with Rod, and bringing the LOI down with you. It was never going to work
You didnt deserve a premier license so why did Foras think they were entitled to one?

[pineapple stu]

The company wouldnt have died if they had gotten the premier licence, FORAS wanted to be a part of the club no matter what. They did a great job if you ask me.
But TNB would never have received a licence (hindsight is great, I know) and you'd have been in this position this time last week.

(And I'm aware that TNB shoulders 99.9999999999999999% of the blame for what went on).

[Real ale Madrid]

They didn't have to get involved in takeover talks; could have just let the company die and take the First Division licence, which is what they have now in any event.

They fought to save the club, in an effort to secure the clubs future and to try to save monies for those that have now no re-course to get whats owed and to help save the jobs that are now lost. They were magnificent over the past few weeks - the amount of time and effort ordinary people have put in, in my view, is incomprehensible, TC refused to engage with these people - dragged this out until the very last minute in a ridiculous effort to try and wrangle something for himself. He will now go and face the music this afternoon, disgraced.

I'd urge everyone to let the dust settle for a few days and let all the facts emerge before people start having a go at FORAS.

[pineapple stu]

Absoulely agree FORAS have done sterling work, but I think they'll always be slightly tarnished by their demand for a Premier Licence.

And as noted elsewhere, there's no reason the new FORAS company can't take on CCIFL's debts.

[jebus]

Absoulely agree FORAS have done sterling work, but I think they'll always be slightly tarnished by their demand for a Premier Licence.

And as noted elsewhere, there's no reason the new FORAS company can't take on CCIFL's debts.

Agree fully with that.

There's no doubt FORAS have done great work for Cork but they were part of a process that tried to hold the LoI to ransom when they demanded a Premier Licence for the new consortium to take over the debts owed by CCFC.

Anyway can I just make a final plea for you lot to not call yourselves Cork City Foras Co-op....please

[Town Legend]

I've been hearing a few rumours that Sligo could get Cork's European spot ahead of Dundalk because Foster doesn't have the required coaching badges.

[SÓC]

Absoulely agree FORAS have done sterling work, but I think they'll always be slightly tarnished by their demand for a Premier Licence.

FORAS never demanded a Premier Licence pineapple stu. FORAS were quite happy to go ahead with their own licence application all by themselves.

Now what the FAI's role in all of this was, well lets just say watch that space. I'm sure Tommy is going to sing like a bird when he gets wound up today ;)

[John83]

FORAS never demanded a Premier Licence pineapple stu. FORAS were quite happy to go ahead with their own licence application all by themselves.

Now what the FAI's role in all of this was, well lets just say watch that space. I'm sure Tommy is going to sing like a bird when he gets wound up today ;)
I'm sure you're satisfied with that answer, but try to see it from an outsider's perspective too - FORAS were part of a takeover bid which (indirectly) pressured the FAI to fudge the licencing process and award a Premier licence by making their bid conditional on a Premier licence.

[pineapple stu]

Yep. FORAS voted to be part of the bid demanding a Premier licence, therefore FORAS demanded a Premier licence.

[Mr A]

The recriminations begin... http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0223/corkcity_foras.html

[Dodge]

I've been hearing a few rumours that Sligo could get Cork's European spot ahead of Dundalk because Foster doesn't have the required coaching badges.

Rubbish. They can just hire someone and denote him as manager. If Dundalk don't get a european licence, it won't be because of their manager (who more than likely has the same level of badges as most LOI managers)


(oh and I'm not trying to suggest there will be any other eason why they won't get one. I'm sure they'll be fine)

[Real ale Madrid]

Absoulely agree FORAS have done sterling work, but I think they'll always be slightly tarnished by their demand for a Premier Licence.


Don't think thats completely fair,I'm specualting a little now but i think when O'Connell and Gray started this process they wanted a Premier licence, Foras rode in with this, as it was an attempt to have a say in matters going forward, not allow another set of people run the thing into the ground, and to row in behind efforts to pay creditors and save the jobs that were there.

If Coughlan had engaged with these people properly this process could have been sorted 2 weeks ago (at least) and the new consortium would have had the time to get a proper application together ( albeit a late one which would have had the possibility of some sanctions attached for missing the deadline )

Perhaps the FAI misled the consortium into thinking that the Premier licence might have been available up until the last minute, I think if the Prem licence was available then they were right to chase it . ultimately the ILC disagreed.

Again this is just my own opinion - i'd again urge people to let the dust settle - wait until all the facts emerge before slating FORAS.

[Dodge]

Sorry Real Ale, but as late as yesterday counsel for the new consortium claimed the club was "worthless" without a premier licence. The FAI issuesd a statement saying they made no indications to Cork that it was likely to get a licence, and even casual observers of the requirements could've told you that any appliction was likely to fail

If the consortium truly wanted to be white knoight saviours, and pay off creditors etc. They could still have done that in the first division.

Instead they chose to walk away.

[Real ale Madrid]

Sorry Real Ale, but as late as yesterday counsel for the new consortium claimed the club was "worthless" without a premier licence. The FAI issuesd a statement saying they made no indications to Cork that it was likely to get a licence, and even casual observers of the requirements could've told you that any appliction was likely to fail

If the consortium truly wanted to be white knoight saviours, and pay off creditors etc. They could still have done that in the first division.

Instead they chose to walk away.

Fair enough but FORAS don't have the financial clout to be white knight saviours - Grey / O'Connell can't be forced to pay the debts. They wanted the Prem licence and I think FORAS rowed in for reasons outlined above.

Another point: Casual observers of requirements on this forum last night, to a man, thought that CCIFL would get a licence last night. There was great surprise on here yesterday. It was shaping to everyone that the FAI / ILC were bending over backwards to ensure Cork City were in the premier.

As I said earlier if a Prem licence was available then the consortium was right to chase it - any other club would have done the same.

[sheao]

This aint over quite yet .


Cork City Football Club confirms that the club intends to appeal the decision not to award the club a licence.
It is the understanding of the club staff & management that a deal had been confirmed for the transfer of ownership of the club, however this has now failed to materialise. Club management will today endeavour to resolve the outstanding issue with the Revenue at the High Court and to save the jobs of over 30 employees.

We understand that the licence application was recommended for approval by the FAI & we appreciate all assistance given by all parties in trying to keep the club alive.

It is the belief of the club that the jobs of club employees are the key issue here, and given the number of jobs involved, the club calls on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the FAI, the Munster FA and all other parties who may be able to assist with saving these jobs to act swiftly.

The club also hopes that any parties who show a willingness to take over the club will engage with the club should an appeal result in the club achieving a League of Ireland licence, & not just that of a Premier Division Licence.

32 Cork jobs hang in the balance and we need all assistance to save them.

[Dodge]

Fair enough but FORAS don't have the financial clout to be white knight saviours - Grey / O'Connell can't be forced to pay the debts. They wanted the Prem licence and I think FORAS rowed in for reasons outlined above.
Yep. fair point on FORAS.


Another point: Casual observers of requirements on this forum last night, to a man, thought that CCIFL would get a licence last night. There was great surprise on here yesterday. It was shaping to everyone that the FAI / ILC were bending over backwards to ensure Cork City were in the premier.
True, but mot of that came from a) Cork confidence and b) historical uselessness within league administration. Looking at the facts, there could be no surprise (and yes I was surprised)


As I said earlier if a Prem licence was available then the consortium was right to chase it - any other club would have done the same.Unquestionably. its the "premier or bust" attitude I dislike

The appeal by CCFC is beyond laughable. particularly when they'll be wound up today

[Frank76]

Cork should be just happy to get a First Division licence, because if the licencing committee were doing things right they'd be in the A championship. If Cork had to of got a PD licence it would of been a complete and utter joke. If that were to of happened I think all PD clubs should refuse to play them.

[Real ale Madrid]

The appeal by CCFC is beyond laughable. particularly when they'll be wound up today

A typical Tom Coughlan action these days - laughable.

Calling on the Minister for Trade enterprise and employment? To do what exactly?

Yet more bluster.

[marinobohs]

before slating FORAS[/B].

I dont think people are slating FORAS in fact most recognise the trojan effort that they made to keep Cork City alive. The apparent attempt at "blackmail" by the consortium was not a good idea and made a lot of people less sympathetic to those involved but it was all happening against a backdrop of deadlines and High Court apperances.
Hopefully the circus is now over and we can get back to matters onfield. The departure of tom and Roddy should bring a bit of much needed stability (sanity) to Cork football.

best of luck to FORAS and the new club BTW.

[razor]

Unquestionably. its the "premier or bust" attitude I dislike
Michael O'Connell was on 96 FM this morning saying that he had made good contacts in Barcelona and that they were due to come over and play us, he even got a text last weekend from Johann Cruyff asking him when were they coming over.

He also mentioned that he had been in contact with some wealthy families in Bahrain who were willing to invest in the club and would fly into Cork in their private jets.

Surely we'd need a Premier licence & European football to attract these investors. :D

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Schumi]

Michael O'Connell was on 96 FM this morning saying that he had made good contacts in Barcelona and that they were due to come over and play us, he even got a text last weekend from Johann Cruyff asking him when were they coming over.

He also mentioned that he had been in contact with some wealthy families in Bahrain who were willing to invest in the club and would fly into Cork in their private jets.
You shouldn't joke about that sort of thing!

You are joking aren't you? :eek:

[Rocketman]

At least now all concerned finally know where they stand and can move on.

[razor]

You shouldn't joke about that sort of thing!

You are joking aren't you? :eek:I wish I was.

[tippex]

You shouldn't joke about that sort of thing!

You are joking aren't you? :eek:

I heard it too.

I thought I was hearing things when he said it.
Although if he had all this up his sleeve why wasnt it brought into the public domain before now.

[Longfordian]

Sounds like something Tom would come out with in all fairness. FORAS are better off on their own.

[EalingGreen]

So CCFC FC??

Why not "Cork Co-operative - The Community/Locally Owned Football Club"?

Or "CoCo The CLOwn FC" for short? ;)

[Dodge]

He obviously flicked through the Sports pages of the 'paper today.

"portsmouth seek Middle East backers" - "ooooh good idea"

"barca set to play in Champions league" - "We can get a friendly there. Sure the manager Johan Cruyff won't be contacted by 96fm to confirm"

[Mr A]

Just listened to the Coughlan interview on 96fm this morning.. one of the funniest and most outrageous rants I've ever heard. But sad as well.

Apparently it's all Sinn Fein's fault!

[Frank76]

Michael O'Connell was on 96 FM this morning saying that he had made good contacts in Barcelona and that they were due to come over and play us, he even got a text last weekend from Johann Cruyff asking him when were they coming over.

He also mentioned that he had been in contact with some wealthy families in Bahrain who were willing to invest in the club and would fly into Cork in their private jets.

Surely we'd need a Premier licence & European football to attract these investors. :D

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Oh jaybus I've never laughed as much in my life!!! ;)

I also heard that the sheiks in charge of Man City and Abramovich are selling their 2 clubs and buying into Cork City and are employing Sven Goran Eriksson as their Director of football and that their buying out Jose Mourinho's contract at Inter to hire him as assistant manager to Roddy!!!!;)

[corkharps]

Michael O'Connell was on 96 FM this morning saying that he had made good contacts in Barcelona and that they were due to come over and play us, he even got a text last weekend from Johann Cruyff asking him when were they coming over.

He also mentioned that he had been in contact with some wealthy families in Bahrain who were willing to invest in the club and would fly into Cork in their private jets.

Surely we'd need a Premier licence & European football to attract these investors. :D

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Thank Jebus they didn't get control! There really are some headbangers with more money than sense out there!

[Schumi]

I wish I was.

Unbelievable, another nutter looking to take over? I always know Corkies were a bit odd but this is ridiculous.

[marinobohs]

:D
Michael O'Connell was on 96 FM this morning saying that he had made good contacts in Barcelona and that they were due to come over and play us, he even got a text last weekend from Johann Cruyff asking him when were they coming over.

He also mentioned that he had been in contact with some wealthy families in Bahrain who were willing to invest in the club and would fly into Cork in their private jets.

Surely we'd need a Premier licence & European football to attract these investors. :D

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

what ? did he forget about the "magic beans" he was offered ?:D

[LK37oldskool]

thank god its all over and welcome to Foras FC to Div1,really lookin forward to these Munster derbies.Div1 is shapen up to be pretty decent this year,certainly far more competitive than in previous seasons.

[pineapple stu]

True, but mot of that came from a) Cork confidence and b) historical uselessness within league administration. Looking at the facts, there could be no surprise (and yes I was surprised)
It also came from the fact that the new consortium had demanded a licence. Had that demand not been made, you'd have been much more certain TNB would have failed to get a licence, particularly given how annoyed he's clearly made the FAI.

[EalingGreen]

The Munster bit is shocking, but the Ulster bit isn't when you think about it. AFAIK, there was never an Ulster team in the LOI until Harps joined in the 70s. Then once a 2nd tier was introduced, again there was no Ulster team in the Premier until Derry got promoted a few years later, and most seasons since they have been the only Ulster team in the top flight.

So over the history of the LOI, the top division has more often than not had no Ulster teams. At the end of the day, only 3 counties in Ulster fall within the FAI's jurisdiction, and all of them have small, primarily rural populations. If anything, Ulster is punching well above its weight by having any teams at all in the LOI.

Munster is a very different matter though.Not in any way meaning to be controversial (or drag thread off topic), but when researching a wee bit of Irish football history a while back, I came across a statistic which surprised/shocked me.

At the time of the secession by the FAIFS from the IFA after 1921, there were only 10 football clubs in the whole of the Munster FA. (By contrast, the County Antrim FA had around 200 member clubs).

Indeed from what I have read, the disagreement in the early 20th Century might originally have been described as an internal struggle for influence by the (Dublin-based) Leinster FA within the (Belfast-based) IFA.

However, following political developments on the island (1916, Partition etc), this local disagreement assumed a "national" character, with the Leinster FA campaigning for the IFA effectively to be moved to/controlled from Dublin. As such, they look to have enlisted support from the Munster FA (and Connaught?), as well as from Nationalist football strongholds in Belfast. And when this takeover failed (primarily due to the IFA being supported by the other "Home" Associations?), they broke away entirely to form the FAIFS.

Anyhow, my point is that as far back as the history of football in Ireland goes, the North was more of a stronghold of the game than the South, and by the time of the split, Dublin/Leinster was still by far the strongest footballing region within the the new Free State, along with a few Garrison/Railway towns etc, while whole swathes of Munster and Connaught were "football-free zones".

Which, in a sense, reflects the present make-up of the LOI (and IL) and emphasises just how difficult it is to spread the game (any game?) outside traditional heartlands.

But as I say, I'm genuinely not trying to stir things, nor in anyway disparage the efforts and loyalty etc of LOI football fans outside Dublin and the East.

[Hairy Bowsie]

This aint over quite yet .

Are FORAS part of this appeal? Or who exactly is behind this appeal?

[pineapple stu]

I'd have a wild guess that it's TNB.

[Frank76]

Hallelujah Cork City FC are now a defunct club according to the reliable wikipedia!!!

[Candystripe]

Hopefully no-one from the Cork forum mind me posting this link to the audio from this morning.

Award winning stuff.

http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010parta.mp3

Part B - Jonathan O'Brien http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010partb.mp3

Part C - Jim McCarthy, Peter Grey, Tom Coughlan & Jonathan O'Brien http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010partc.mp3

Part D - Michael O'Connell http://www.ccfcforum.com/audios/96fm24022010partd.mp3

[ifk101]

Which, in a sense, reflects the present make-up of the LOI (and IL) and emphasises just how difficult it is to spread the game (any game?) outside traditional heartlands.

But as I say, I'm genuinely not trying to stir things, nor in anyway disparage the efforts and loyalty etc of LOI football fans outside Dublin and the East.

The popularity of the game outside traditional strongholds is not reflective of the geographical spread of LOI clubs. There's a thread on the Athlone section of the forum that links to an Irish Independent article that might interest you.

[KUFCMan]

So can we take it that Bray Wanderers are defo playing Premier football and Cork are in the 1st Division?

[higgins]

So FORAS were willing to accept 20% of a club with this guy Michael O'Connell involved ???
We'd of had another year of madness!!!

What were you thinking...