"We all know the work Vincent is doing with Sligo Rovers, and if there was a Vincent Nally in every club the league would be in a healthier position" (P.Smyth FAI Treasurer)
And so say all of us, this was at a fans forum in Abbottstown a few years back when I mentioned that we were a club heading in the right direction under the guidance if Vincent Nally. We have possibly missed out on the best signing for the club.
This loss is huge and cannot be understated. Vincent always was in the background with fundraising through the golf classics or the 400 club but we never really saw his influence until he became heavily involved as financial controller. At the time he stepped into the role he brought all his years of experience of running Brooks Hanlys to assist the club in getting onto a stable financial footing. We saw the club facing a crisis over unpaid taxes and with the support of the fans and the guidance of Vincent we came through the crisis. He was always astute with finances and realistic with budgets and costing. The club always came first and at no point would he ever jeopardise this. A modest man never seeking praise or plaudits for his time spent working on club finances he would often deflect praise onto all who helped with working with the club, as he said in his own words he "simply managed the finances brought in by the fans and the club management".
On a personal note through dealings with the Trust and the club through Vincent I always found him to be straight talking no bull**** and told you exactly where we were and where we were going, what was done and what needed to be done.
Unfortunately there is an undercurrent of mistrust among some supporters when it comes to finances, some believing that our finances are sometimes mismanaged or monies spent frivolously, such suggestions can be very wide of the mark.
However this was never the case once Vincent was involved he brought a trust, which was needed between the fans and the club, and when he told you "not one penny is squandered" it carried weight with it.
It is a huge loss to the club and cannot be understated but hopefully he will still be available to assist if needed.
Rumours are abound as to why he may have stepped aside and lets hope a clash of personalities or ideas, (which is one of the so called reasons for his departures) are unfounded.
So all we can say is thanks to Vincent for all his hard work in getting us onto a sound financial footing and bringing a professionalism to the club at a time when we badly needed it.
Also lets not forget the other management committee members who stepped down at the AGM and who also volunteered their time to help run the club. Fergal Davy and Jeffery Rainey are 2 that spring to mind who gave up their free time and were always approachable with any issues or queries you may have had and willing to give you a hand when needed.
And to those who still remain to run the club, its easy to criticise but if you walk in their shoes you will change your mind and not be as quick to criticise as its a 24-7 effort to keep the club alive and remember these are volunteers doing a days work and them more.
Quote
Bookmarks