FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

**Kiki Balboa** · 20/08/2013, 6:26 PM

Can Mervue survive if GUST enter the first division ? It could just be a straight swap with Salthill and Galway United.

Two ways to make the first division viable, let teams make the move up from Junior/Intermediate to the First Division (which would be a miracle for a team to want to do it, and a miracle for it to last more than two seasons) and to add 'B' teams from already established teams which is also miles away.

**Sam_Heggy** · 20/08/2013, 9:29 PM

So how is Supermac's FC's chances looking for the upcoming season??

**Trainee** · 20/08/2013, 9:35 PM

Originally Posted by Kiki Balboa

Can Mervue survive if GUST enter the first division ? It could just be a straight swap with Salthill and Galway United.

We will never know as FAI wont give GUST an U19 licence and are not allowed to apply for a first division licence. Talks in Galway seem to have staled so GUST have called a meeting for next Monday so we should no more then

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29511889.html

**adamd164** · 20/08/2013, 10:04 PM

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...ue-240452.html

Hopes dim of ‘united’ Galway team in Airtricity League

...

Both Mervue United and Salthill Devon have competed in the First Division since Galway United left the league in 2011, but with Mervue still battling for promotion to the Premier Division, it seems unlikely that an agreement will be reached in the short term.

It is believed that, to date no team structures have been put in place, that no legal entity has been formalised and that no team name has been agreed upon.

Yes Mr. Delaney, everything's on track, everything's on track...

**wonder88** · 21/08/2013, 12:10 PM

not looking great for the trust supporters in Galway. Anyone who was at the Mervue/Athlone game last friday can see that Mervue are unable to attract a decent level of fans. For me it looks like "the one team in Galway" idea is not going to happen; looks good on paper but those outside Galway soccer do not understand that it was always unlikely to work. My own suggestion for what it is worth, is rather than reduce the number of teams in Galway is to increase them to 3 (if Salthill still want to stay in LoI). This means increasing the first divison to 10 teams by getting another team from munster in, eg Tralee. Also make it a condition that the team that finishes last must re-apply for membership the following season and also that they must increase their playing budget by a certain figure 15-20k for example so that they show a commitment to improve. Then maybe a trust backed team with a supporter base of around 500 could field a team that would be able to secure promotion.
It is not a lack of local players that is the problem in Galway but a team that those who are interested in LoI in the city and county feel they can support. There was a Galway lad playing for Athlone the other night.

**Charlie Darwin** · 21/08/2013, 1:27 PM

Galway Union

**Terry** · 21/08/2013, 5:34 PM

It doesn't matter what the club is called as even with the u19 team from last season it was the FAI that made them call the team that, as there was a different name on the team from the outset. I would agree that it is now looking unlikely that GUST will ever be allowed near any league under the FAI grasp,as there is constant road blocks being put up rather than taken down. Any new club that does emerge next season out of Galway will be 100% run by the chairman of the league of Ireland.

Come on United (Manchester that is!).

**citybone** · 21/08/2013, 5:55 PM

Sack John Delaney!

**bluewhitearmy** · 21/08/2013, 6:01 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

In fairness now, if it's just another show run by Naughton and his cronies then I don't blame them in the slightest.

This is meant to be a club run by Galway football in the best interests of football in the region. If the people in the region don't get a say in things then whats the point in the first place?

How is the name having to be "Galway United" going to make any difference on whther or not its run in the best interests of football in the region? And who are GUST to say that it has to be a co-op surely all parties should agree on or compromise on the structure not just a matter of it being GUST way or no way at all.

**TommyT** · 21/08/2013, 6:35 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

I wouldnt imagine Bohs will go through any greater challenge than any other side who spent time in the FD if they went down. I understand the Zurich position, but crowds might actually pick up if they are leading the FD (if they did get relegated)

That doesn't really apply to Dublin clubs because of the derbies

**nigel-harps1954** · 21/08/2013, 6:47 PM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

How is the name having to be "Galway United" going to make any difference on whther or not its run in the best interests of football in the region? And who are GUST to say that it has to be a co-op surely all parties should agree on or compromise on the structure not just a matter of it being GUST way or no way at all.

My post was nothing to do with the name of the club. They can call themselves The Old Age Pensioner Prostitution Agency FC for all I care.

The idea of a club not actually run by the people involved in the wider circles Galway football is what would infuriate me.

**Terry** · 21/08/2013, 7:42 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

My post was nothing to do with the name of the club. They can call themselves The Old Age Pensioner Prostitution Agency FC for all I care.

The idea of a club not actually run by the people involved in the wider circles Galway football is what would infuriate me.

the club being formed is turning out to have nothing to do with football, but personal finance and political gain by half of the people involved, and until these people are removed or exposed football is dead in Galway.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 21/08/2013, 8:05 PM

Have Mervue's crowds increased at all this year, given their run of decent form? Is there any potential there for building a club with even a 400-500 average?

Edit: According to attendance thread, their average number has actually gone down on previous years. You can't win.

**Terry** · 21/08/2013, 9:13 PM

Mervue, like Salthill are local estate football clubs. There is almost no estate in Galway city or town/village in Galway County that doesn't have a local football club. Mervue and salthill are their league opponents every Sunday morning at a junior level so why should they support them at a senior level?

The support for senior football from my point of view is gone. The support of senior team sports have moved on to the emergence of Connacht rugby and the GAA. For these supporters to come back it is going to take a very long time, with an open honest board who are dedicated to running a football club not a political party.

**Trainee** · 21/08/2013, 9:41 PM

The problem is a lot of Galway utd fans got annoyed when Our former CEO decided that it was a good idea to charge €25 into Terryland for a LOI game, GUST put up a fight but the board ignored the protest, these fans will refuse to support a club if run by a board and supports have no say in the important issues such as prices etc.

Funny is FAI fully backed Cork when they set a supporter run club as said it the future for LOI, in Galway FAI want a limited company of 3 or 4 people picked by FAI to run club, I can see an other SD Galway where GUST will be offered an opportunity to set up an supporters club with no say in the running of the club.

**Sean South** · 21/08/2013, 10:27 PM

Maybe the FAI are wary of the GUST running a LOI club as they weren't exactly professional in the final year before Galway United died. Then the whole walking away and letting GUFC die, when their club needed them most. But instead they thought they could set up a new club debt free but it backfired. The u19s set up was a bit of a joke too, more about massaging egos then anything else. So your guess is as good as mine why the FAI don't want GUST running a club on their own.

**Charlie Darwin** · 21/08/2013, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Maybe the FAI are wary of the GUST running a LOI club as they weren't exactly professional in the final year before Galway United died. Then the whole walking away and letting GUFC die, when their club needed them most. But instead they thought they could set up a new club debt free but it backfired. The u19s set up was a bit of a joke too, more about massaging egos then anything else. So your guess is as good as mine why the FAI don't want GUST running a club on their own.

This is a bit disingenuous. GUST were never in control of Galway United - they were just paying tens of thousands of supporter-raised money to bail out the board of a private company that was no longer a going concern. It would take a remarkably cynical person to use this as a stick to beat GUST with, although I guess both the FAI and Sean South have plenty of form in this regard. Leave this one to the adults, Sean.

**wonder88** · 21/08/2013, 11:10 PM

Are Mervue much involved in this new proposed club ?

**Trainee** · 21/08/2013, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Maybe the FAI are wary of the GUST running a LOI club as they weren't exactly professional in the final year before Galway United died. Then the whole walking away and letting GUFC die, when their club needed them most. But instead they thought they could set up a new club debt free but it backfired. The u19s set up was a bit of a joke too, more about massaging egos then anything else. So your guess is as good as mine why the FAI don't want GUST running a club on their own.

GUST when running Galway Utd had the toughest year ever anyone running a football club could ever have, everyday new debts arose, we had a manger who refused to train the players (and we coud'nt sack for a long as his contract was gufc), we lost 26 games in a row yet we managed to keep the club alive till end of season. GUST would be still running GUFC today only for a person on the board of GUFC put in a claim again our licence and wanted GUST to pay him crazy money, so GUST meet with Supporters Direct (they helped Cork City FORAS) and we took the risk to go it alone & GUFC withdrew from the league.