carrickharp
08/06/2005, 7:24 AM
Omagh Town have folded after failing to overcome financial problems.
The St Julian's Road club had been in existence for 43 years and won the Budweiser Cup in 1991 after moving up to senior football a year earlier.
Omagh were already struggling financially before they were relegated from the Irish Premier League in April.
The club said the drop from the top flight and the recent closure of its social club were the two major factors behind the decision to fold.
Manager Paul Kee was saddened by the news but he hopes to make a quick return to the game.
"The club has found it difficult in the last number of years mainly through lack of support in the area," said Kee.
"From a footballing point of view it is disappointing as there were only two senior clubs in Tyrone.
"Most of the players were out of contract anyway and only one or two had contracts.
"I am a football person, a football manager, a coach and I am out of work now.
"I will be keeping my head down now and seeing what is available in the coming weeks."
The Co Tyrone club's management committee released a statement on Monday outlining the background to Omagh's demise.
"Over many years the management committee of Omagh Town has struggled to keep senior football alive in Omagh but unfortunately in recent times it has become too difficult to keep operating," they said.
"A number of major problems have beset the club this year, the two most difficult being the dropping out of the Premier League and the closure of the social club some months ago.
"The management committee cannot sustain the club in its present format or structure because of an accumulated financial deficit which means there are no resources to keep the club going given that there is no current income coming into the club.
"Regretfully, the existing Omagh Town Football and Athletic Club has to declare that it cannot continue operating and therefore ceases to trade or operate."
The St Julian's Road club had been in existence for 43 years and won the Budweiser Cup in 1991 after moving up to senior football a year earlier.
Omagh were already struggling financially before they were relegated from the Irish Premier League in April.
The club said the drop from the top flight and the recent closure of its social club were the two major factors behind the decision to fold.
Manager Paul Kee was saddened by the news but he hopes to make a quick return to the game.
"The club has found it difficult in the last number of years mainly through lack of support in the area," said Kee.
"From a footballing point of view it is disappointing as there were only two senior clubs in Tyrone.
"Most of the players were out of contract anyway and only one or two had contracts.
"I am a football person, a football manager, a coach and I am out of work now.
"I will be keeping my head down now and seeing what is available in the coming weeks."
The Co Tyrone club's management committee released a statement on Monday outlining the background to Omagh's demise.
"Over many years the management committee of Omagh Town has struggled to keep senior football alive in Omagh but unfortunately in recent times it has become too difficult to keep operating," they said.
"A number of major problems have beset the club this year, the two most difficult being the dropping out of the Premier League and the closure of the social club some months ago.
"The management committee cannot sustain the club in its present format or structure because of an accumulated financial deficit which means there are no resources to keep the club going given that there is no current income coming into the club.
"Regretfully, the existing Omagh Town Football and Athletic Club has to declare that it cannot continue operating and therefore ceases to trade or operate."