GUST apply for first division licence

[Terry]

The AGM of Galway United Supporters Trust (GUST) held on Mon 12th Dec 2011 unanimously agreed to

(i) End its agreement with the directors of Galway United Football Club in relation to its day-to-day
management of the club.
(ii) Submit an independent licence application for membership of the 2012 Airtricity League in the
name of Galway United Supporters Trust Football Club.

The Supporters Trust chair, David Flaherty, told a well-attended meeting that the challenging experience
of the 2011 season had prepared the Supporters Trust well for the demands of fielding a vibrant,
sustainable club in next season’s First Division.

The Trust’s objective is to return Galway senior soccer back to its roots as a community club run and
directed by its members.

Secretary Mike Daly told the meeting about the significant backing afforded by the UEFA-funded
organisation “Supporters Direct”. The mission statement of Supporters Direct is to promote sustainable
spectator sports clubs, based on supporters' involvement and community ownership. A representative
from this organisation recently travelled to Galway and has thrown their considerable weight and
expertise behind the efforts of GUST in preparing the licence application.

www.galwayunitedfc.net

[gordongekko]

http://www.galwaynews.ie/23196-galway-utd-fans-go-it-alone

[El-Pietro]

What is it that I'm missing here? Why are GUST choosing to take this path, when we did it it was only because it was the very last resort and the only way to keep football going in Cork

[gael353]

So by ending the relationship between the directors of galway united who just happen to be your main financial constrains your applying to have a new licence under a new name? What does Nick have to say about this

[Patrick Dunne]

What is it that I'm missing here? Why are GUST choosing to take this path, when we did it it was only because it was the very last resort and the only way to keep football going in Cork

GUST are taking this option because it is the very last resort, and the only way to keep what we will always regard as our club - belonging to the people of the city, county, and West of Ireland - alive.

[WoodquayBoy]

Not too pushed about what Nick Leeson thinks. This was the only option to ensure the survival of the club. No guarantee a licence will be awarded to either application, but this allows us, the fans, to start afresh, put proper structures in place and build the club into a sustainable one, rather than continue with the financial basket case it was.
'By the fans for the fans'

[Pablo Escobar]

Not too pushed about what Nick Leeson thinks. This was the only option to ensure the survival of the club. No guarantee a licence will be awarded to either application, but this allows us, the fans, to start afresh, put proper structures in place and build the club into a sustainable one, rather than continue with the financial basket case it was.
'By the fans for the fans'
If it does go to that, I wish the fans the best of luck. A city like Galway should naturally rise up under a supporter-run club.

[passerrby]

Is the closing date for licence applications passed?

[Macy]

Several years too late imo (how much money and effort gone down the drain so far?), but good luck to GUST.

[Patrick Dunne]

Yes, the date set by the FAI for receipt of licence applications has passed. Galway United Supporters Trust FC have submitted our application already, last nights meeting was called to get approval from our supporters for the completion of that application.

[geezer]

Will also be putting out the hand of friendship to the other two senior clubs in the city to represent the region as 1

[Mr A]

It was always inevitable that something like this would have to be done I think. Best of luck with it.

[culloty82]

I suspect that as with FORAS in '09-'10, this just proves that the situation at Terryland Park is beyond salvaging - best of luck to the supporters' trust, the priority must be to ensure that the club remains in senior football, regardless of ownership.

[Jofspring]

Will also be putting out the hand of friendship to the other two senior clubs in the city to represent the region as 1

Would Mervue or Salthill have any interest though? They are doing pretty well by themselves (Mervue more than Salthill) so it doesn't seem like they would need any help. The only thing ye could probably offer them is a better fan base.

[El-Pietro]

I suspect that as with FORAS in '09-'10, this just proves that the situation at Terryland Park is beyond salvaging - best of luck to the supporters' trust, the priority must be to ensure that the club remains in senior football, regardless of ownership.
i really dont understand. we did everything we could to avoid going down this route - we didnt do it because of debt, we did it because Tom Coughlan wouldn't sell the club to us in time for license to be obtained

it sounds like GUST are doing this to avoid the debt

[Dodge]

we did it because Tom Coughlan wouldn't sell the club to us in time for license to be obtained
In fairness, the Galway situation seems the exact same

And its not like Cork didn't avoid some of their debts either...

[Mr A]

If they can't get a license under the current entity (because of debt or whatever), what choice do they have beyond starting afresh? Seems pretty similar to the Cork situation to me. GUST have made massive efforts to save the old version, haven't been able to and are now looking to start again.

[passerrby]

But the elephant in the room is 3 clubs in Galway is not sustainable so something has to give . Best of luck gust

[Sean South]

So GUST members are going to stop supporting the club they have done all their lifes and let Galway United Football Club die. Setting up a new club with no identity or history and hope it works. I understand the Corkies doing it as they have a history of letting football clubs die but I would have thought that Galway had more backbone.

[Mr A]

The club is as good as dead anyway as it won't receive a license, what choice do they have exactly?

[PartySaint]

So is there a possibility of 4 Galway clubs now or will Galway United just fold?

[Mr A]

Presumably they won't get a license and will then fold.

[passerrby]

Only surmising but I suspect the gust wil get a licence if. One of the other clubs Salthill or mervue don't apply , can't see the league allowing any more than two teams in Galway

[WoodquayBoy]

The directors of Galway United have, on the evidenec of the year just gone, no interest in running a club in the LOI. Therefore I would imagine they will wind up the operating company, and the club will fold, which is when GUST will move to buy the name if that is how these things are done

[Dodge]

Galway United (ye know, the old one) have withdrawn their 2012 license application

[culloty82]

So will GUST be able to buy the legal rights to the name "Galway United FC" straight away, or will they have to go under a name such as GUST FC for a season?

[pineapple stu]

Galway United (ye know, the old one) have withdrawn their 2012 license application
And yet they're still planning on applying for 2013 (http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/7156/)!

I was just thinking this was the most blood-free coup ever in the LoI, but maybe not...

[Mr A]

I love the implication that somehow GUST, who have run the whole show for them for a year and provided massive help previous to that are somehow the bad guys in this, rather than the idiots who ran the club into the ground.

It's almost as if there is some sort of delusional person involved whose public pronouncements have little connection to reality and a tendency towards not telling the truth.

[Redzer]

Just what the league needs, a 4th team from Galway:)

What about the season tickets ye were selling for Galway United FC? Where do these supporters go?

[passerrby]

Just what the league needs, a 4th team from Galway:)

What about the season tickets ye were selling for Galway United FC? Where do these supporters go?

I just hope they do a better job on there dvd

[Guitd]

I just hope they do a better job on there dvd

omg think that record has been played out

[passerrby]

the finest tunes are played at funerals and besides ya gotta laugh

[bluemovie]

I love the implication that somehow GUST, who have run the whole show for them for a year and provided massive help previous to that are somehow the bad guys in this, rather than the idiots who ran the club into the ground.

It's almost as if there is some sort of delusional person involved whose public pronouncements have little connection to reality and a tendency towards not telling the truth.

I hear Ewan McGregor has already signed up for the sequel!

[corkery]

Since Galway United have not gone bust, is it possible that ye'll never get the GUFC name. Like Belfast Celtic?

[pineapple stu]

If they're not going to apply for a licence, they'll go bust fairly quickly. They've a million of debts; someone will call that in.

[Mr Maroon]

What about the season tickets ye were selling for Galway United FC? Where do these supporters go?GUST will be contacting everyone who purchased tickets to inform them of the options open to them.

[legendz]

I'd like to wish GUST all the best anyways. They've been backing the club recently, if they are choosing a new route, good luck to them. GUST are Galway United, the club goes with them. Hat's off to Cork as well for the way they went about their business. Like will look back well on them.

[MagicMon]

So extinct LOI teams since 2000:

St Francis
Dublin City
Kilkenny City
Kildare County
Sporting Fingal
Cork City mkI
Derry City mkI
Galway United mkI
Limerick mkI

Have I missed any out? And there are at least half a dozen that nearly went.

Will this mean that Limerick are first in the queue if Bohs don't get a Premier Licence?

[Jofspring]

Will this mean that Limerick are first in the queue if Bohs don't get a Premier Licence?

Only if we apply and get a premier license. Can't see Bohs not being in the premier next year despite their troubles.

[MariborKev]

Technically it was Derry City Mk II that went bust. Mk I had gone bust in 94.

[bluewhitearmy]

Only if we apply and get a premier license. Can't see Bohs not being in the premier next year despite their troubles.

I really hope that we dont go up like that anyway.

[Sean South]

GUST will be contacting everyone who purchased tickets to inform them of the options open to them.


Which are?

[Sean South]

Shamrock Rovers MK I

[L.T.F.C.]

Only if we apply and get a premier license. Can't see Bohs not being in the premier next year despite their troubles.
What are the chances of getting Limerick getting a Premier licence?

[Macy]

So extinct LOI teams since 2000:
Cork City mkI

I think it was Cork City MkII or MkIII, well certainly the 2nd or 3rd club to use the name anyway. I also think there was previous time that Rovers folded a holding company as well.

GUST could always go back to Galway Rovers...

[Jofspring]

What are the chances of getting Limerick getting a Premier licence?

Probably have a good chance if we can show we have the intention of moving into the Markets Field. Then the club can make a bigger push to speed up the move which has slowed down since we are still in the First Division. The first phase of developement should be enough to bring the Markets Field up to a premier licence standard.

Time is of the esence though. The longer we are left waiting the less and less likely it is we would be in a position to move I would think.

[HulaHoop]

Shamrock Rovers MK I

Wrong

[Macy]

Probably have a good chance if we can show we have the intention of moving into the Markets Field. Then the club can make a bigger push to speed up the move which has slowed down since we are still in the First Division. The first phase of developement should be enough to bring the Markets Field up to a premier licence standard.
The plans should be enough for licencing. Drogs got away with United Park for years on the basis of the pie in the sky plans for their stadium tagged onto a shopping centre.

[gufc2000]

The plot thickens...rumours of the current directors wanting to sell the name Galway United to Salthill Devon...for a euro

[Charlie Darwin]

Rumours they'll loan the name to Nick Leeson, who'll split it up into derivatives and sell it on the Asian market.