Report on the future of Galway football

**culloty82** · 02/10/2012, 11:09 AM

So, with 48 hours until the official recommendations are made public, how likely are the various scenarios to actually be acted upon?

1. The status quo

Both Mervue and Salthill appear to be financially prudent, but the FAI has been attempting to secure mergers since February. Still, if no agreement can be reached, there may very well be no change in 2013. 5/10.

Mergers:

2. Mervue and Salthill

Both clubs have had intense rivalry since playing in the Connacht Senior League, so while not totally implausible, it's rather unlikely. 2/10

3. Salthill and GUST

After the SD Galway rebranding in March, the likelihood of this appears virtually nil. 1/10

4. Super-merger (GMS FC)

The FAI's aim before the 2012 season began, but amalgamating three boards seems unwieldy at best, and both Mervue and Salthill would fear a GUST takeover. 5/10

5. Mervue and GUST

This actually appears the most realistic scenario, as separate youth structures were discussed in February, and if board structures could be agreed, it could well prove a partnership of equals. 6/10

**NeverFeltBetter** · 02/10/2012, 11:25 AM

Looking at Galway and the FAI over the last few years, it'll probably be #1.

**Mr A** · 02/10/2012, 11:32 AM

Given the shortage of clubs surely all three being in the league next year is a possibility?

Sure I was thinking of entering a Galway club of my own just for the hell of it.

**Macy** · 02/10/2012, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Given the shortage of clubs surely all three being in the league next year is a possibility?

This - the FAI need all the clubs they can get for the first. Mr A United would even stand a chance, given how much licencing will have to be fudged.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 02/10/2012, 12:17 PM

If they need all the clubs they can get, they could probably do better than SD or Mervue.

I mean, this is going to be the third straight season where Salthill finish last. There is no improvement being shown. I know the licensing doesn't really focus on competitiveness but I think it should be a bigger factor.

**Mr A** · 02/10/2012, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

This - the FAI need all the clubs they can get for the first. Mr A United would even stand a chance, given how much licencing will have to be fudged.

Thanks for your support Macy. I take it I can count on you to buy a season ticket to Ill-Conceived Abomination (ICA) Galway?

**Macy** · 02/10/2012, 1:25 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Thanks for your support Macy. I take it I can count on you to buy a season ticket to Ill-Conceived Abomination (ICA) Galway?

Only if the colours are Maroon, and you're playing in Terryland. I think the aim has to be to have Friday, Saturday and Sunday night football in Terryland.

**Olander** · 02/10/2012, 3:01 PM

Interesting topic....

my own totally out of the loop guess is that the fai will make some sort of offer to gust of involvement in the clubs, which i'd imagine will be rejected. i don't feel they'll offer gust anything substantial really.

i have very low expectations of the outcome, a part of me would like to believe the fai would show enough common sense to see how poor a state galway football is in, two very poor teams, two clubs that have no attendances at their games, absolutely no buzz around the city for football whatsoever. but then i remember it's the fai we're dealing with here...

most likely outcome, #1 for me.

**Partizan** · 02/10/2012, 3:07 PM

I never thought of Galway was one of the strong provincial football towns like Waterford, Sligo, Limerick or Athlone though if it is Option #1, that is effectively squeezing GUST out permanently.

**Olander** · 02/10/2012, 3:17 PM

Originally Posted by Partizan

I never thought of Galway was one of the strong provincial football towns like Waterford, Sligo, Limerick or Athlone though if it is Option #1, that is effectively squeezing GUST out permanently.

That is your opinion and you're entitled to it, although I wouldn't agree. Out of the clubs you listed, I'd agree on Sligo, the rest, is a bit laughable IMO. I would also add Dundalk to the list of football towns. To me Sligo & Dundalk are really the only two football towns in the LOI at present.

I agree with you that the likely outcome is #1, but I don't think GUST is going to go away if we don't get into the League next year.

**Terry** · 02/10/2012, 3:23 PM

lets not forget that Galway United LTD were involved in the talks also, so we could be seeing Leeson and co back next year.

Personally, I believe we will see mervue, salthill and GUST all in the first division next season 8/10

**nigel-harps1954** · 02/10/2012, 3:35 PM

I'd have to agree with the 3 clubs thing.

The FAI will pretty much bend a few rules to get a few clubs into the First Division next season as a quick fix to a bad problem.

The First Division next season will include 7 current LOI teams, as well as Cobh, Tralee and GUST.

Increasing the amount of local derbies for Harps of course.

**gufcfan** · 02/10/2012, 4:36 PM

Originally Posted by Terry

lets not forget that Galway United LTD were involved in the talks also, so we could be seeing Leeson and co back next year.

Personally, I believe we will see mervue, salthill and GUST all in the first division next season 8/10

This is an opinion formed with no knowledge of anything that was discussed or in the report etc, but I think after all is said and done this winter, we will have one (just Mervue) or both of Mervue and Salthill in the FD and no senior team representing the county playing out of Terryland in the league next year either.

This report is likely nonsense, directed to find what suits the FAI, so they can try the same nonsense as last year. I'd love to be wrong, but I would be very surprised.

Any talks of a merger will never amount to anything in the end. As far as I can see, Gust are trying to be part of the solution. Any sort of merger or partnership with either club would alienate all of Galway football against them after all the groundwork they have been doing on that front. Meetings specifically excluding Mervue and Salthill have happened between junior/juvenile clubs in Galway to discuss how best to deal with their poaching of players etc. Clubs in Galway will always be the enemy of a club that competes against them at every level of local football.

Forgive the pun, but a united club that represents everybody is the only way forward in Galway.

**Jofspring** · 02/10/2012, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by Olander

That is your opinion and you're entitled to it, although I wouldn't agree. Out of the clubs you listed, I'd agree on Sligo, the rest, is a bit laughable IMO. I would also add Dundalk to the list of football towns. To me Sligo & Dundalk are really the only two football towns in the LOI at present.

I agree with you that the likely outcome is #1, but I don't think GUST is going to go away if we don't get into the League next year.

Waterford and Limerick are some of the strongest football counties in the country throughout the past number of years going by the FAI Junior cup with teams like, Fairview rangers, Pike Rovers, Carrick United, and clonmels success/competitiveness. Athlone Town, Limerick and Waterford are all past champions of Ireland which have had strong histories. Just because they haven't had recent success in LOI terms doesn't mean they are not football towns/cities and certainly doesn't make the notion of them being so, laughable.

At the moment I agree we are not big football towns at LOI level but there is more to Irish football than LOI.

I can actually see the FAI allowing GUST, SD and Mervue to all compete next year even if for the soul reason to fudge a first division for next season.

**gufcfan** · 02/10/2012, 5:04 PM

Originally Posted by Jofspring

I can actually see the FAI allowing GUST, SD and Mervue to all compete next year even if for the soul reason to fudge a first division for next season.

As much as I'd like a united Galway team back in the league, that would be an absolute disaster.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 02/10/2012, 11:23 PM

Making up the numbers will be important to the FAI though. Salthill and Mervue can struggle on within their tiny budgets and limited aims, and GUST can make a new go of it. But they'll all suffer from the others existence in the league, and from the same general lack of fans in the area anyway.

How many people are GUST getting at the U-19 games?

**nigel-harps1954** · 02/10/2012, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

How many people are GUST getting at the U-19 games?

Already more than Mervue and Salthill combined I'd imagine.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 02/10/2012, 11:43 PM

Wouldn't be terribly difficult...

**JC_GUFC** · 03/10/2012, 9:47 AM

I think the FAI had indicated that there would be only one Galway team next season, this may well have changed given the size of the Division.

Mervue seem keen to press on with LoI - they haven't had a good season but had been showing signs of life before that. The 'SD Galway' experiment was to be reviewed at the end of the season by people involved in Salthill Devon. It's hard to imagine they will deem it any sort of success, the team has hardly improved and despite moving to play in Terryland they haven't picked up any new fans. Even looking at their website it seems like they've given up on the LoI side of things. That said if they are to be replaced by Galway United Supporters Trust you'd imagine that they will want something in return.

Regarding the Supporters team there has been good backing from Junior clubs around the county and beyond. The crowds at the u19 matches have been over 200 so there are definitely signs of life. The application last year wasn't even looked at by the FAI so from that point of view it's hard to know where the application stands.

My guess is that the FAI might try and make GUST and SD form some sort of agreement. It's difficult to see how this would actually work and if it would be accepted by either party. If none is reached it could just be Mervue in the League next season.