Rovers fate in balance after talks
Rovers fate in balance after talks
Thursday May 5th 2005
THE meeting of the Club Licensing Committee to discuss Shamrock Rovers' problems broke up without agreement late last night.
The committee met for a marathon four and a half hour session at Dublin's Mont Clare Hotel to consider Rovers' response to questions from the FAI relating to accounts submitted by the club as part of their club licence application in December.
Rovers' accounts for the year ending 2004 showed losses of over €1.7 million but, three weeks ago, the club revealed debts in excess of €2.3m as part of the High Court petition to go into examinership.
The board of Branvard Limited, who trade as Shamrock Rovers, along with their legal representatives attended the Licensing Committee meeting to answer the FAI's queries and after two hours left to allow the committee to consider their response.
But after a further two and half hours, the committee had failed to come to a decision and will meet again and an, as yet, undecided date, to consider the matter further.
Meanwhile, Rovers supporters also met last night to discuss a potential takeover of the club.
The supporters' trust, the 400 Club, which is bank-rolling the club during the current examinership, is looking to assume total control of the company that owns Rovers, Branvard Limited.
The 400 Club estimates that they will need to raise €500,000 to satisfy the examiner, Neil Hughes, that a supporter-owned club is the way forward.
Owen Cowzer
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