The Indo are reporting that CCFC's licence is safe regardless.
That seems ridiculous, even to me.
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By Neil Ahern
Monday March 02 2009
THE FAI confirmed last night that Cork City are in possession of a full Premier Division licence for 2009, despite the fact that some players did not receive the back wages promised to them last Friday.
There was confusion among fans as to the club's Premier Division fate after it emerged over the weekend that Cork's players did not receive their monthly salary for February, which in some cases was to include an instalment of back payments owed from 2008.
But the Irish Independent learned last night that the Leesiders' 2009 licence is in no danger as the agreements reached on the back-paid wages before last Friday's deadline were enough to put them in the clear under UEFA licensing laws.
Three players did request that they be paid up front and the FAI has confirmed that they have been paid in full.
Punishment
Therefore, the only immediate punishment City may receive for reneging on agreements with the remaining players is a transfer embargo -- a mere slap on the wrist considering that the full transfer deadline closed last week.
Any embargo before July's transfer window would merely result in the club being unable to sign any out-of-work players.
Speaking about the situation last night, an FAI spokesperson said: "Cork City have told us that they have issued the payments to the players.
"However, if the players have issues, they have every right to write to League director Fran Gavin and necessary actions will be taken."
FAI internal compliance officer Padraig Smith and PFAI secretary Stephen McGuinness will travel to Cork this week for crunch talks with Cork City owner Tom Coughlan to clarify the reasons for the recent problems at the club.
Indeed, club captain Dan Murray was contacted by FAI representatives on Saturday to discuss the worsening situation, which resulted in one anonymous player expressing his anger to a Sunday newspaper.
"We had a meeting with the club a couple of weeks ago when they asked certain things of us regarding training, and we asked things of them with regard to wages," the player is quoted as saying.
"They wanted us to act in a professional manner and we expected the same of them.
"Last month the cheques didn't arrive until after 5pm on the last Friday of the month, when it was too late to lodge them to our bank accounts.
Wages
"This month's wages were due to arrive in the bank on Wednesday, but we waited until Friday and nothing arrived.
"It seems we are no better off now than we were under the old owners last season," he continued.
It is understood much of the confusion has arisen from a switch in payment methods at Cork, from a cheque system to an electronic system, as well as a change from weekly to monthly payments.
"We are very disappointed players weren't paid on time," said McGuinness yesterday.
"But at the moment we're working with the FAI and Cork City to make sure it is cleared up and it does not happen again."
