Originally Posted by
harps1954
Why did the FAI not release the money?
Had Galway United monies outstanding to the FAI that prevented them from doing this? This is not unheard of, where the FAI withhold part/all of prize money because clubs owe them money for fines, fees, international tickets etc.?
If the FAI had the money for over a month, and Galway United knew this, why did they not demand this was released? A simple letter from a solicitor would have achieved this.
As was pointed out, the FAI were withholding money due to Galway United for one reason or another.
As I said in an earlier post, whatever about these monies it was the responsibility of Galway United and ONLY Galway United, to ensure they got a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners.
The other point, which seems to have disappeared since Monday, was the money due to a former player who wasn't prepared to accept that all was cleared with him until such time as a cheque issued by Galway (as late as last Thursday) was cleared by the bank. The player was therefore admitting that he was still due money from Galway United. Again, technically no agreement (between both parties) had been reached with this player prior to the deadline.
Galway seem to be blaming everyone from the FAI to one employee in the Revenue Commissioners for this. The fact is, if they had been paying their taxes all along, they wouldn't have had the problem with the Revenue commissioners so late in the day. There is no point in blaming the FAI, the previous Galway board, an employee of the Revenue Commissioners who was on holidays just because GUST have now taken on the day-to-day running of the club. Galway United IS Galway United regardless of who was in charge at the time of the deadline(s) or indeed now.
Earlier in the week, there was laods of sympathy out there for Galway United. But this constant blaming of everyone other than the club itself is starting to see that sympathy disappear.
Galway United - the club - failed to have vital documents with the FAI on the deadline. Up until a day or two ago, they still hadn't got a Tax Clearance Certificate for fecks sake - this was after all deadlines had passed and the Licenses had been issued.
If, and it's a BIG IF at this stage, Galway win their appeal tomorrow, it's another fudge from the FAI for failing to adhere to their own rules.