Ramblers in line for Airtricity League return

Cobh Ramblers could be re-admitted to the First Division next season as talks continue over the club’s outstanding debts.

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COBH RAMBLERS ARE in line for a return to Airtricity League football next season. The mid-season collapse of Monaghan United has left the unappealing scenario of just seven teams competing in the First Division in 2013. That void could be filled by Ramblers and talks with the FAI and players’ body the PFAI are ongoing with a view to granting the Cork club a licence.
The news comes following a report todaythat the plan to create unify Galway’s existing teams into a a single club will not happen until 2014 at the earliest. The Galway City Tribune reports that Galway United Supporters Trust (GUST) will not be granted a licence for next season. Ramblers, who number former Irish internationals Roy Keane and Stephen Ireland among their past players, were demoted to the “A” Championship in 2009 as the Independent Club Licensing Committee sought to crack down on financial irregularities within the league. Although they were optimistic that they would be green-lighted for a return in 2012, the FAI pressed ahead with an eight-team structure, rejecting the applications from Cobh and from Tralee Dynamos. It is understood that Cobh still have outstanding debts in the region of €24,000 owed to former players and others, and it is this sum which will be the key issue in negotiations. Speaking to TheScore.ie, PFAI chief executive Stephen McGuinness confirmed that discussions were ongoing with a number of the league’s former clubs but declined to identify the teams involved.
“We’re in discussions with the FAI at the moment and I would be surprised if there’s not more teams in the First Division next season,” McGuinness said.
“We’re in discussions with them currently on some teams that owe money to former players and that might be a stumbling block to them coming into the league. We’re in discussions with the FAI to try and overcome some of those problems to ensure that there is another one or two teams in the division. That ultimately will give employment to some of our members and also make that league more attractive for supporters and sponsors and people in general. He added: “With seven teams, you don’t need to be a rocket scientists to see that it doesn’t work. It’s in our interest to get teams that may have fallen out in the last couple of years back in, but that has to be done on the premise that monies that are owed to former players are honoured.
“We would be open enough to discuss them with the FAI and with the individual clubs involved. Hopefully we’ll see more than seven teams in that division in the next couple of weeks.”

Don't suppose there's any further movements toward re-entering the League since?

Funnily, saw an article in today's Mail saying that Ramblers were in ongoing discussions towards settling the debt, and that Fran Gavin was confident they would secure a licence - then again he led both Cobh and Tralee up the garden path last year by saying the exact same.

FAI to appoint someone to over see the running of the club during the season, basically to watch what way any monies are generated and spent. A totally amateur based squad primarily using the u19's and the promotion of youth structures.

Whether anyone will want to play with Cobh under these conditions.........?

It may suit any young players in the local Cork soccer scene who are hoping to be scouted and go over to England although I reckon anyone with any talent are being checked by Cork City with the agreement they now have with all the clubs in the schoolboy leagues.

I suppose it will be based on the Wexford Youths system.

Which agreememt is this that cork city have with csl clubs?

I'd imagine they'll run a trial with local players the same way Wexford did in their first season. Great to hear that it's looking likely they'll be in the league.

Davin O'Niell is not re-signing with Cork City, I wonder is he considering playing with Cobh Ramblers if they are successful in being part of the First Division in 2013?

Wasnt Davin with Cobh in 2008 in the top flight?

Unless Cobh have decided they're going to start paying the players as opposed to the original idea of an all amateur team, I'd imagine it's unlikely.

Cobh Ramblers awarded a 2013 Airtricity League First Division licence Created on Thursday, 24 January 2013 12:06
The Football Association of Ireland today (January 24) announced that Cobh Ramblers has been awarded a licence by the Independent Club Licencing Committee to compete in the 2013 Airtricity League First Division.
The return of the Co Cork club is a welcome development for the Airtricity League after they failed to meet the first division criteria on previous occasions.
The decision paves the way for an eight team Airtricity League First Division subject to licences being issued when the committee meet again in mid-February after the January 30 deadline for final financial submissions from other clubs.
As a new applicant, Cobh Ramblers requested an early decision in their case. This was to facilitate the registration of players prior to the January 31 amateur transfer window deadline in the event of a successful application.
Fran Gavin, Airtricity League Director said,
"Cobh Ramblers has a tradition of League football for many years. This is a new beginning for the club and the people of Cobh. We encourage everyone locally to get behind the club and we look forward to their Airtricity League participation in the 2013 season.

Provisional 2013 Airtricity League First division fixtures will be released on airtricityleague.ie at midday Friday January 25.