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

[tiktok]

Roddy Collins was just on the news clearing Tommy's good name with the Maltese Side by admitting that he approached Cork City about the Vacancy and not the other way around.

Statement from the FAI expected in time for SixOne news [and is unrelated to Roddy Collins comments in the media a couple of minutes ago]

[Doomofman]

Roddy Collins was just on the news clearing Tommy's good name with the Maltese Side by admitting that he approached Cork City about the Vacancy and not the other way around.

Statement from the FAI expected in time for SixOne news.

Huh? So is that what the statement is to do with or is it something else?

[Doomofman]

Statement on Cork site

With regard to speculation in the media regarding the position of manager, Cork City Football Club wish to put the following facts on the record:
The club was approached by representatives of Mr. Roddy Collins to express his interest in the vacancy at the club, and subsequently by Mr. Collins himself. Chairman Tom Coughlan and General Manager Liam Meaney have met once with Mr. Collins with regard to the vacancy. At this meeting, it was acknowledged that Mr. Collins is the existing manager of Floriana FC and before any formal discussions could take place, he has been requested to confirm his existing contractual status.

We would like to stress at this point that neither Mr. Collins nor anyone else has been appointed as manager of the club.

While it has been alleged that representatives of Floriana FC have been unable to contact Cork City Football Club at various times over the past week, the club office is staffed from 9 am to 6 pm every day, and at no point has an email, phone call or fax, or indeed any correspondence, been received from Floriana FC.

With regard to the personal and hurtful remarks attributed to an “official” spokesperson of Floriana, having contacted the club directly, we sincerely doubt the integrity of the released statement.

Cork City Football Club hope to announce the appointment of a new first team manager within the next 48 hours.

[tiktok]

FAI DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE DECISION

UNDER THE RULES OF THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

SITTING IN DUBLIN THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER 2009

FAI HEADQUARTERS, NATIONAL SPORTS CAMPUS, ABBOTSTOWN.

BACKGROUND

Whereas the Disciplinary Regulations Officer (“DRO”) initiated Disciplinary proceedings against Mr Thomas Coughlan (“the Respondent”), Chairman of Cork City FC in respect of allegations that Mr Coughlan did bring the game of football or FAI into disrepute.

Whereas the documentation relied on by the DRO having been circulated to the Respondent in advance of the hearing and the Respondent having been notified in advance of the time date and venue of the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee did convene a hearing at the FAI Headquarters on Thursday 17 December 2009.

Whereas the Respondent and his legal representative did initially attend FAI Headquarters prior to the commencement of the hearing but left after forty minutes citing having other business to attend to.

Whereas the Respondent’s solicitor having been contacted by the Chairman of this Committee immediately after their departure, did confirm to this Committee that the Respondent would not be attending the hearing. And the Respondent did decline the opportunity afforded by the Secretariat to have any deliberations conducted via teleconference. Having afforded the Respondent two prior adjournments this Committee deemed it appropriate to proceed to hear the evidence against the Respondent in the absence of the Respondent.

PROCEEDINGS

The Disciplinary Committee received oral submissions from Mr David Casserly, Mr Fran Gavin and Mr Padraig Smith together with documentation and visual recordings which were opened to the Committee. The Respondent failed to produce written submissions and failed to attend.

DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

The Disciplinary Committee having considered the evidence before them and all relevant factors in this case make the following decision.

(I) The Respondent is found to have brought the game of football or the FAI into disrepute as per FAI Rule 93.

(II) The Respondent is banned on performing any football related activity for a period of twelve months from the date hereof as per FAI Rule 117.

(III) The Respondent is fined €5,000 in accordance with FAI Rule 110. Such fine to be paid within thirty days from the date hereof.

The Disciplinary Committee advises both parties of the possibility of appeal pursuant to the FAI Rules.

[pineapple stu]

So TNB is banned, but he still owns the club. What practical difference does this make? Or is it to be taken as the first sign that Cork will be denied a licence for 2010?

Also -

the Respondent [...] did initially attend FAI Headquarters prior to the commencement of the hearing but left after forty minutes citing having other business to attend to.

Ouch!

[WoodquayBoy]

Surely it means he has to sell the club? Or else there will be no Cork City FC in next year's LOI?

[Longfordian]

Isn't his partner/wife a director?. Mrs No Bobs will be named Chief Executive until they don't get a licence for whatever reason the FAI needs to come up with. There's bound to be loads of things.

[pineapple stu]

Surely it means he has to sell the club?

I don't think the FAI have the power to compel someone to dispose of an asset.

He could in theory appoint a relative as director. Kind of the way Medvedev is President of Russia, but he's not really. I think there's a similar case at Chester City where the owner got banned, but passed control to his son, so nothing's really changed.

[HammerNThongs]

This leaves gateways and loopholes...I'm scared

[Réiteoir]

FAI calls on Tom Coughlan to consider his position at Cork City FC

The Football Association of Ireland today (December 17) confirmed that the Independent Disciplinary Committee has issued a €5,000 fine and a ban against Mr Tom Coughlan from football related activity for bringing the game into disrepute. The ban takes immediate effect for a period of 12 months. The ban will exclude Mr Coughlan, as Director of Cork City FC, from FAI Council membership and all privileges will be withdrawn with immediate effect. In addition, Mr Coughlan will be banned from representing the club under the participation agreement as well as nomination to any FAI committee, under any capacity.

Commenting on the Independent Disciplinary Committee’s decision, Fran Gavin Director of the League of Ireland said,

“The majority of League of Ireland clubs operate as independent companies and their Directors are responsible for ensuring that they are run in accordance with Irish company law. The FAI cannot dictate who owns clubs as this would conflict with company law and is purely a matter for the club or limited company. When Mr Coughlan was selected last year by the examiner to bring Cork City FC out of examinership, the move was welcomed. While we acknowledge that Mr Coughlan invested money in Cork City FC at that difficult time, his subsequent actions have damaged the credibility of both the club and the League. Although Mr Coughlan is presently owner and Director of Cork City FC, we now call on him to consider his position in the interests of the fans and the players, as well as the long term future of the club.”

ENDS

[tiktok]

FAI calls on Tom Coughlan to consider his position at Cork City FC

The Football Association of Ireland today (December 17) confirmed that the Independent Disciplinary Committee has issued a €5,000 fine and a ban against Mr Tom Coughlan from football related activity for bringing the game into disrepute. The ban takes immediate effect for a period of 12 months. The ban will exclude Mr Coughlan, as Director of Cork City FC, from FAI Council membership and all privileges will be withdrawn with immediate effect. In addition, Mr Coughlan will be banned from representing the club under the participation agreement as well as nomination to any FAI committee, under any capacity.

Commenting on the Independent Disciplinary Committee’s decision, Fran Gavin Director of the League of Ireland said,

“The majority of League of Ireland clubs operate as independent companies and their Directors are responsible for ensuring that they are run in accordance with Irish company law. The FAI cannot dictate who owns clubs as this would conflict with company law and is purely a matter for the club or limited company. When Mr Coughlan was selected last year by the examiner to bring Cork City FC out of examinership, the move was welcomed. While we acknowledge that Mr Coughlan invested money in Cork City FC at that difficult time, his subsequent actions have damaged the credibility of both the club and the League. Although Mr Coughlan is presently owner and Director of Cork City FC, we now call on him to consider his position in the interests of the fans and the players, as well as the long term future of the club.”

**********************
This is the follow on release.
Licencing decision on the way on Monday

[Doomofman]

Coughlan claiming the meeting was delayed so he couldn't attend...

[blue til i die]

Statement of James Riordan and Partners, 50 South Mall, Cork. Thursday December 17th 2009

We were consulted by Tom Coughlan Chairman of Cork City in relation to his hearing at FAI Headquarters, Abbotstown, Dublin at 12.00 today.

Having confirmed our attendance, as requested by the FAI, we arrived with Tom Coughlan at 11.45 a.m. and were shown to a waiting room by Mr. Vincent O’Flaherty FAI. At 12.00 we were informed that the Chairman of the hearing had been delayed for 5 minutes.

At 12.45, having had no further contact, we spoke with the receptionist and asked for Mr. O’Flaherty but the receptionist was unable to locate him anywhere and accordingly, Mr. Riordan gave the Receptionist his mobile number and asked her to have Mr. O’Flaherty contact him as soon as possible to re schedule the hearing. In the absence of anything further, Mr. Coughlan and I then left the building to attend to other business.

Approximately 15 minutes later Mr. O’Flaherty telephoned me and referred the Chairman of the committee on to me. I asked the Chairman to re schedule the hearing as soon as possible. The Chairman said that the meeting would proceed and he asked me to return with Mr. Coughlan but I responded that I had other business to attend to and could not immediately return but that he was anxious to have the hearing re-scheduled quickly. The Chairman refused to countenance this and said that the hearing would proceed immediately in our absence.

Mr. Coughlan is now questioning this decision and has serious reservations about the FAI's attitude to him, based not alone on today's events, but also recent comments made in the national media by Fran Gavin FAI League Director and FAI Chief Executive John Delaney.

Mr. Coughlan is extremely disappointed that he did not get his personal hearing, despite the fact that he was present at the correct time for the hearing and also waited for over an hour in an attempt to facilitate the meeting going ahead. Mr. Coughlan travelled to Dublin in order to attend the hearing and incurred the cost of hiring a solicitor to travel with him, yet he was never given a chance to defend his name.

In very difficult economic times Mr. Coughlan has expended enormous time, energy and personal funds (more than €800,000) to ensure the continued existence of a prestigious football club in Cork capable of challenging for the highest honours. While the club has experienced difficulties this year, Mr. Coughlan is determined to ensure that the club honours all of its commitments and moves forward on a sustainable footing. The commitments that have been honoured have not been of his making, and after his experience of the last 12 months he is currently restructuring the club to facilitate its survival in these difficult times.

A further statement will be released once a copy of the FAI's findings have been digested by Cork City Football Club and Tom Coughlan.

[John83]

Coughlan claiming the meeting was delayed so he couldn't attend...

I love this league.

[Doomofman]

The article I referenced...

We were consulted by Tom Coughlan Chairman of Cork City in relation to his hearing at FAI Headquarters, Abbotstown, Dublin at 12.00 today.
Having confirmed our attendance, as requested by the FAI, we arrived with Tom Coughlan at 11.45 a.m. and were shown to a waiting room by Mr. Vincent O’Flaherty FAI. At 12.00 we were informed that the Chairman of the hearing had been delayed for 5 minutes.

At 12.45, having had no further contact, we spoke with the receptionist and asked for Mr. O’Flaherty but the receptionist was unable to locate him anywhere and accordingly, Mr. Riordan gave the Receptionist his mobile number and asked her to have Mr. O’Flaherty contact him as soon as possible to re schedule the hearing. In the absence of anything further, Mr. Coughlan and I then left the building to attend to other business.

Approximately 15 minutes later Mr. O’Flaherty telephoned me and referred the Chairman of the committee on to me. I asked the Chairman to re schedule the hearing as soon as possible. The Chairman said that the meeting would proceed and he asked me to return with Mr. Coughlan but I responded that I had other business to attend to and could not immediately return but that he was anxious to have the hearing re-scheduled quickly. The Chairman refused to countenance this and said that the hearing would proceed immediately in our absence.

Mr. Coughlan is now questioning this decision and has serious reservations about the FAI's attitude to him, based not alone on today's events, but also recent comments made in the national media by Fran Gavin FAI League Director and FAI Chief Executive John Delaney.

Mr. Coughlan is extremely disappointed that he did not get his personal hearing, despite the fact that he was present at the correct time for the hearing and also waited for over an hour in an attempt to facilitate the meeting going ahead. Mr. Coughlan travelled to Dublin in order to attend the hearing and incurred the cost of hiring a solicitor to travel with him, yet he was never given a chance to defend his name.

In very difficult economic times Mr. Coughlan has expended enormous time, energy and personal funds (more than €800,000) to ensure the continued existence of a prestigious football club in Cork capable of challenging for the highest honours. While the club has experienced difficulties this year, Mr. Coughlan is determined to ensure that the club honours all of its commitments and moves forward on a sustainable footing. The commitments that have been honoured have not been of his making, and after his experience of the last 12 months he is currently restructuring the club to facilitate its survival in these difficult times.

A further statement will be released once a copy of the FAI's findings have been digested by Cork City Football Club and Tom Coughlan.