Shamrock Rovers Examinership Thread

**�anna** · 27/04/2005, 1:56 PM

Originally Posted by kevincronin2000

I know shamrock rovers fans have got some bad publicity in the past, but the way they are supporting the club now i find amazing. Most supporters would have just shouted there discontent and did fcuk all, but rovers supporters are actually getting up off there @ss and doing something about it.

I do think Rovers should be peanilised some how maybe relegated, but don't punnish all the good supporters they have by killing the club.

I for one will make the game friday night, but maybe at the final whistle when we have the three points, i might force myself into a round of aplause for the genuine shamrock rovers supporters.

agreed kevin. the rovers fans have been amazing.

**Mr A** · 27/04/2005, 9:28 PM

Today's article in the Indo:

FAI must take hardline action

Wednesday April 27th 2005

THESE are anxious times for Shamrock Rovers and that is not talking about the examinership process that the club is currently under, but another matter which could have huge repercussions for the club.

Examiner Neil Hughes, in tandem with Shamrock Rovers 400 Club, has made a tremendous impact in the first 14 days of the examinership and proved to the High Court that the club is capable of being saved.

There are seven potential investors waiting in the wings with the possibility of more coming on board between now and the May 4 closing date for expressions of interest. In addition there has also been tremendous interest in the advertisement for a commercial manager.

South Dublin County Council is confident that it will soon repossess the leases for the Tallaght site from Mulden International and Slonepark which will enable it to complete a fast-track planning permission within three months and get the builders back on site.

Fingal County Council has reacted positively to approaches about Rovers using Morton Stadium next season thus giving the club a ground of its own until Tallaght is ready.

So, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter for Rovers and its viability as a football club. Every soccer fan in Ireland will rejoice at that because the eircom League does need a successful Hoops side.

However, it does not need any club that abuses the club licensing system which was set up to bring regulation to a cowboy industry. If it is proved that Shamrock Rovers rode a coach and four horses through the licensing system then they have no right to expect any leniency from the FAI's First Instance Committee which is made up of seven independent individuals with no connection to any of the 22 eircom League clubs.

Those within Rovers who argue that those who eventually take over the club should not be penalised for the sins of the previous owners are offering an emotional argument that ignores the seriousness of this particular misdemeanour.

UEFA set up the club licensing system to ensure that the financial affairs of clubs were conducted properly and if it is proven that Rovers supplied the wrong information when they submitted their audited accounts then European football's governing body is likely to take a very dim view if the FAI overlook such a serious breach of the financial criteria.

Rovers submitted audited accounts for 2003 and 2004 when they submitted their licence application even though they only had to supply the 2004 accounts. As they were not required at that time, the 2003 accounts were filed away and only the 2004 accounts were assessed.

It was only when accounts prepared by an independent auditor to support the High Court petition to go into examinership were unveiled that the FAI realised there was a serious discrepancy and this was subsequently borne out when Hughes met with the licensing department.

Last Friday, the FAI wrote to Shamrock Rovers giving them nine questions to answer regarding the financial documentation they supplied to support their application for a Premier Division licence last January. Rovers chairman Tony Maguire said on Monday that he was confident they would be able to provide adequate answers to the FAI's licensing department's queries and suggested that the only sanction which should apply should be a "slap on the wrists."

By last night no answers had been forthcoming but there appears to be no way Rovers can duck this extremely serious issue.

Look at a club like Finn Harps which has turned in a surplus for the past four seasons, significantly reduced its debt and is currently preparing to build a new stadium in Stranorlar.

They have done things by the book, cut their cloth to measure, and are currently languishing at the bottom of the eircom League Premier Division with one point after six games.

If Rovers are found guilty of supplying incorrect information with their licensing application, are the FAI going to say there is one law for Dublin clubs and another for those in the sticks?

A guilty verdict must result in a sanction, be it a points deduction or automatic relegation to the First Division at the end of the season.

That won't harm the long-term viability of this once-great club, in fact it may even help the new investors find their feet, but it will send out a loud and clear message that licensing must be taken seriously by all clubs.

Gerry McDermott
The Bootroom

**Ringo** · 28/04/2005, 6:57 AM

PFAI want probe into Kelly wage hitch

Thursday April 28th 2005

THE PFAI has asked the Eircom League to investigate Shamrock Rovers' decision to stop paying one of their players because he is injured.

Striker Liam Kelly, who has undergone two groin operations, was told in January by his doctor that he needs six months rest to clear up his troublesome pubic bone injury before he can resume playing.

Rovers' response was to stop paying the player in January and he has only been fully paid three times over the past 17 weeks. One cheque, which he received for outstanding wages, before Rovers went into examinership, bounced.

Although the other Rovers players have been paid since the examinership process began, Kelly has not.

The matter was brought to the attention of Neil Hughes, the examiner appointed to run the club by the High Court, yesterday by the PFAI.

But the examiner told the players union that Kelly was not a priority because he couldn't play and is now considered to be a creditor of the club.

The Irish Independent understands that no medical evidence was sought before the examiner arrived at this decision.

PFAI Chief Executive Fran Gavin said he had asked the Eircom League to investigate because the examiner's decision sets a dangerous precedent. "What happens if another player gets injured this Friday against Cork or in a subsequent game? Will that affect him getting paid in the future?" he asked.

"Liam Kelly is not a creditor but an employee. He is under contract until the end of the season and, while we appreciate the difficulties the examiner is operating under, we have asked the League to investigate."

Legal sources indicated last night that the examiner would have to apply to the High Court if he wanted to remove Kelly from the payroll. Liam Kelly declined to comment last night while the examiner was unavailable for comment.

Manager Roddy Collins had earlier talked of his relief that the 400 Club had agreed to bankroll the payment of wages to players.

Collins admits that since the start of the season he's been on a permanent pub crawl as he toured Dublin hostelries trying to get players' cheques cashed.

As a player and a manager he has found himself in some sticky financial situations in the past but admits that what he has been through at Rovers is by far the worst.

"The only thing I can compare it to is when I employed fellows on a building site in the days when there was no money in the building trade.

"You would be due a cheque of six grand at two o'clock on a Friday to pay the lads with the banks shutting at three and the builder wouldn't turn up. You'd have to scramble round borrowing money to make up the wages which thankfully I always did," said Collins.

"The stress of being responsible for players' well-being and their financial situation is horrendous. It is the worst stress in the world."

With a massive crowd expected tomorrow night at Dalymount Park for the visit of Cork City, Rovers fans are rallying around the club in its hour of need and Collins is aware that he and his players also have to do their stuff on the pitch to keep the ball rolling.

Gerry McDermott

� Irish Independent
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/ & http://www.unison.ie/

**joeraki** · 28/04/2005, 6:35 PM

I find it a bit strange that the Kelly and FAI issues are both coming to light in the same time period. Seen as both would of been known in January.

Anyone best of luck to Rovers from an ex Oriel boot boy and not the type that collects the ball

They've been the most loyal fans in the league by far and are putting their money their mouths are. If all clubs fans where the same then lord only knows what achievements some clubs might have done by now

**Ringo** · 06/05/2005, 6:47 AM

Rovers chairman quits after debts row

Friday May 6th 2005

A CHAPTER in Shamrock Rovers' history came to an end yesterday when it was announced that chairman Tony Maguire had resigned after two and a half years at the helm of the club.

Maguire, along with fellow director, Paul Boyle, took the decision to resign following a meeting with the FAI Club Licensing Committee that had sought answers to a number of questions relating to Rovers' Club Licence application.

The FAI requested answers to a number of questions after discovering that the company which owns Rovers, Branvard Limited, had revealed in a High Court petition for Examinership that it had debts of over �2.3 million; over �600,000 more than previously revealed to the Club Licensing Department.

The Club Licensing Committee broke up their meeting on Wednesday night without agreement though a decision on whether the club should be punished or not is expected today as is an official statement from Maguire and Boyle.

The two directors' decision to resign will not affect the FAI's position nor will it affect the continued day-to-day running of the club by the Examinership steering group.

"The Examiner needs two directors in situ and Branvard still have two directors, John Breen and Tony Ennis," a source said.

Maguire was chairman since October 2002 during one of the most tumultuous times in Shamrock Rovers history.

During his tenure, there was no building work at the club's proposed new home in Tallaght as the club stumbled into greater and greater debt.

In the last two seasons, the club's players contemplated strike action after wages were not paid and, even this season, the club was struggling before going into Examinership.

Maguire has long been unpopular with Rovers' supporters after pledging to hold regular meetings with them upon his appointment, though only a handful of meetings were held while the supporters' representative on the Branvard board, Mark Lynch, resigned after a brief stint.

But also during Maguire's tenure, the 400 Club was launched, a supporters trust which has grown to such a size that it is now bankrolling the club and has begun a takeover bid.

It is understood that Maguire and Boyle decided to resign to allow prospective new investors a clean slate when they eventually do take over Shamrock Rovers, believing that a new full-time regime with no debts from the past, is the best way forward.

Along with the 400 Club, a number of other names have been mentioned as potential investors including Gretna chairman Brooks Mileson, former FAI CEO Fran Rooney and former Shamrock Rovers manager Liam Buckley.

However, one of those reported to be a potential investor, former Republic of Ireland striker John Aldridge has emphatically denied that he is interested in joining the club.

Reports yesterday suggested Aldridge was fronting a bid backed by Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler and Liverpool building tycoon Steve Morgan though Aldridge's agent Dave Lockwood refuted the claims.

"It's absolute garbage," he said. "It sounds like someone is trying to generate cheap publicity for Shamrock Rovers."

Meanwhile, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney hoped to meet members of the National League Supporters Association yesterday to discuss the cut in tickets available to eircom League supporters' clubs for international matches.

However, the meeting was cancelled after NLSA members were unable to attend because of work commitments.

Owen Cowzer

� Irish Independent
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/ & http://www.unison.ie/

**dfx-** · 20/03/2006, 12:02 PM

Hmmm...I've been perusing this thread in and out all morning and since it was before I joined here, so it was all new or perhaps just a new place for the same old same old to be talked about from some..

A thoroughly good read, if only to confirm the level of progress that nearly one year has seen and since Shels are in a spot of bother, how will they be in a year's time... The doomsday predictions for Rovers would've been enough to drag anyone into depression..

Rovers thrown out of the league, Rovers owe too much, how can they pay back 2.5m, how could the 400 club possibly run the club, "enjoy your next few games they'll be your last"..

Yep, it's been some year, alright

**dfx-** · 20/03/2006, 1:06 PM

*puts on scouser accent, perm and dodgy moustache*

Ok ok calm down, calm down....

My enjoyment of the thread had nothing to do with Shels or any other club and I'm not gloating - it's just this thread shows to me how far Rovers have come so far - that in comparison to some parts of this thread every little thing is progress. It was an interesting read for a morning since I hadn't read it before...as a Rovers fan reading a Rovers thread that I literally accidentally stumbled upon..

Sheesh...

**paudie** · 21/03/2006, 8:44 AM

Originally Posted by d f x-

*it's just this thread shows to me how far Rovers have come so far - that in comparison to some parts of this thread every little thing is progress. It was an interesting read for a morning since I hadn't read it before...as a Rovers fan reading a Rovers thread that I literally accidentally stumbled upon..

Ye've come so far because 95% of your debts were written off, legally I know, and ye were left with a clean slate.

Lot of work done by the 400 club of course.

Also a lot of work done by Finn Harps, who have made a profit for the last 5 years and are building a new stadium and have never been in examinership.

And Dundalk who installed an all weather pitch last year and did a lot of work to the ground. Not without difficulty but without any major debt write off as far as I know. in fact I think they sold their training pitch to finace some of the work.

Rovers fans are so anxious to start history with the 400 club takeover I think the FAI honours list should be changed to show
Shamrock Rovers (1899-2005) 15 league 24 cups
Shamrock Rovers (2005- ) 0 leagues 0 cups

Rant over

**pete** · 21/03/2006, 11:04 AM

I think Rovers level of debt was overstated as maybe 50% was owed to Directors who spent the money they "loaned" the club. IMO Directors like that are not entitled to a cent.