I told ya it would get worse !

http://www.soccercentral.ie/viewstor...&viewstory=yes

The time for talking is over as the players of Shamrock Rovers have finally run out of patience with the club. The players have requested the PFAI to issue the following statement.


Following the failure of the Club to honour the recent agreement regarding the payments of outstanding wages, the players informed team manager Noel Synnott that they would not participate in last night's training session (5/10/04).

The players expressed their disappointment and frustration with the club for failing to honour their commitments to pay outstanding wages due to them.

The squad will train on Thursday and will fulfil their fixture against Derry City on Friday (8/10/04).

However, following the game, the players will reassess the situation and have agreed to escalate their industrial action if the club do not honour their financial commitments which are increasing as the weeks go by.


Fair play to the Rovers players for taking a stance though, much respect !

Rovers to play on despite club financial woes

Paul O'Hehir

06/10/2004: Shamrock Rovers players will honour their eircom Premier Division tie against Derry City this Friday night despite the financial problems at the club that have dragged morale among the playing squad to an all-time low. The players, who refused to train last night following lengthy delays in their payment, issued a statement today condemning the club for its "failure to honour the recent agreement regarding the payments of outstanding wages".

The squad will train tomorrow and play Derry City at Richmond Park on Friday. However, the players said today they would reassess their position after that game and have agreed to "escalate their industrial action" if the club does not meet its financial commitments.

The players, already entangled in a relegation scrap, need the board to stump up the required finances immediately; otherwise the prospect of boycotting one of their seven remaining league games is on the cards.

But such a measure could mean forfeiture of points - a situation the club cannot afford with just nine points separating them from bottom-of-the-table Dublin City. The team that finishes 10th and last in the Premier Division will ply their trade in the First Division next season.

It is not the first time this season that Rovers players have gone weeks without payment. A number of players are three to four weeks out of pocket.

Just three months ago, the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland (PFAI) criticised the club for signing goalkeeper Russell Payne while other players were awaiting outstanding payment. Now the American keeper is one of those awaiting payment of wages.

"The players have honoured their side of their contracts," PFAI general secretary Fran Gavin told ireland.com today. " The board must accept responsibility for the state they have put the club in. They need to be seen to be doing something about it."

He added: "These problems are ongoing and the players are really, really chewing at the bit. The financial reality is beginning to hit them as lads have bills and mortgages to pay and they're finding themselves more and more in debt."

Gavin has called on the Football Association of Ireland and its chief executive officer, Fran Rooney, to intervene.

"The FAI has a responsibility to sort this situation out. They know what's going on but have chosen to leave their heads stuck in the stand. If they can be of any help they should be and not wait until the last minute."

The Shamrock Rovers players have requested a meeting with club chairman Tony Maguire.

A spokesperson for Shamrock Rovers could not be contacted by ireland.com this afternoon.

© The Irish Times

We need Rovers to stay up and keep life in the eL, friendly banter is a must and no disrespect to any of the division1 clubs a better laugh will be had with the rovers boys!

Graham

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ccfcman

We need Rovers to stay up and keep life in the eL, friendly banter is a must and no disrespect to any of the division1 clubs a better laugh will be had with the rovers boys!

Graham

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Fully agreed, the premier division needs Rovers in it, but ONLY if they are run properly - like all other premier division sides. If they keep failing to pay their players and staff they must be punished

Unfortunately this is not news. This has been going on for a few seasons now. The board have their heads in the sand. One player is playing for nothing, fans are paying a few others. It's an absolute farce.

Tallaght is dead in the water. If we cant pay the players how can we finish a stadium? We HAVE to stay up and get rid of the present board. No future with them there.

KOH

Agreed. The premier Division needs Rovers. The atmosphere at the cross is always electric for Rovers games. I hate to say it but ye add colour and character to the league with a bit of boyish mischief too ;)

Good luck with your woes