Some positive news regarding rovers...
PRESS STATEMENT ON CURRENT POSITION ON SHAMROCK ROVERS - 24th June 2005
South Dublin County Council’s position since it sought to recover the Stadium Grounds has been that it will complete the stadium and also wishes to see Shamrock Rovers playing there.
To be clear the stadium will be completed from public funds and therefore will always remain in the ownership of the Council. Having regard to the level of public investment involved and in line with government policy, exclusive use of the stadium facilities will not be given to any single entity but the Council is committed to allowing Shamrock Rovers F.C. preferential use of the stadium.
An Examiner was appointed by the High Court to Shamrock Rovers F.C (T/A Branvard Ltd ) on 11-04-05 with a view to putting together a financial package to prevent the liquidation of the Club.
The Council is engaged in ongoing discussions with the Examiner with regard to the completion of the stadium and it’s use by Shamrock Rovers F.C. when completed, while at the same time arranging to finalise the contractual details for its completion.
The following terms have been offered and embody the Club’s needs for playing facilities as well as assisting its income stream and delivers on the Council’s commitment to Shamrock Rovers.
• The pitch and stand to be made available to the Club for up to 40 home games per annum
• Advertising revenues derived from within the stadium will be shared 50/50 between the Club and the Council.
• The Council to retain ownership of the stadium following its completion from public funds and will also maintain and manage the stadium grounds including the pitch.
• The Council will make available a site within the grounds to enable the Club to provide its own Clubhouse.
• The Council to purchase the Clubhouse at cost in the future should the Club decide to re-locate.
• The Council will also construct or provide financial assistance to enable Shamrock Rovers to provide modern changing facilities (to include 2 changing rooms, showers, toilets, referees room, some storage facilities) on off-site grounds to assist in the promotion of soccer. The Council will require a deed of covenant for a period of 10 years protecting this investment in the event of the lands being sold within that period.
• In addition to the above the Club will have the following options:-
a) The use of the adjacent training pitch which will be upgraded to all-
weather specification
b) The Club will be at liberty to negotiate, on a match per match basis or for
specific other functions, the use of the main pitch and/or facilities
contained within the stand.
c) The use, subject to demand and availability, other soccer pitches provided by the Council in its public parks.
The Council will conclude contractual arrangements with the existing contractor as quickly as possible – the target date for completion is currently set for July 2007 and the Council will take all reasonable steps to bring forward this date.
The Council is continuing to work with the Club’s Examiner in his endeavours to bring forward a successful formula.
APPENDIX
FACTS ON SHAMROCK ROVERS AS PER PRESS RELEASE OF 23rd December 2004
• Planning permission was granted to Shamrock Rovers on 14th January, 1998 on the 13 acre site and had a life of 5 years
• The Council made available 12.18 acres at the request of Shamrock Rovers by way of lease to a company called Mulden International Limited on the 24th March 2000 and the lease was expressed to assist the provision of a stadium
• Work was required to be commenced by Mulden within 6 months of 24th March 2000 in accordance with the planning permission already granted.
• Mulden International Limited leased a portion of the land comprising 8 acres to a company called Slonepark Company Limited for the provision of community, recreational, leisure, social and sporting facilities and associated retail activities on the 20th October 2000 in essence transferring the obligation to build the stadium.
• Work was required to be commenced by Slonepark within 6 months of their lease dated 20th October 2000.
• Work on the stadium commenced in October 2000 and progressed well for the initial period of 12 months.
• Work then stopped on the site some three years ago and no work has since been done
• One year ago the club applied for and was granted an extension of the duration of the planning permission for 1 year to complete the stadium up to 31st October 2004.
• This allowed the Club therefore a total of 4 years and 1 month from the date of the most recent lease to complete the project.
• No work was carried out on the site during the one year extended period to 31st October 2004.
• In October, 2004 the Club applied for a further period of 1˝ years to complete the stadium.
• The Council examined the application in the context of the requirements of the planning legislation governing further extensions of duration of planning permission and decided that the application did not satisfy those requirements and accordingly refused the further extension applied for.
• The Council also separately considered the legal arrangements entered into with the Mulden and Slonepark and decided that the objective of the Council in making the site available had not been met.
• The Council considers that the best interests of the Club and the Public Interest will be served by repossession of the lands and by leading the formulation of a separate arrangement for the completion of the stadium.
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