Article in Today's Star

[drummerboy]

So what you're saying is that Irish football could benefit enormously from this fiasco. Wouldn't that be magic

It would be a huge benefit to everybody involved in football in this country if UEFA decided to appoint a new body to run the game here. The FAI have had long enough to make a go of it and have continuously failed.

[manic da hoop]

My main concern is whether or not the individuals responsible for this fiasco will get off scott free. By individuals I'm talking about the directors of our club whose shoddy, illegal and reckless manner of administering SRFC over the past couple of years has landed us in this mess. I genuinely believe that while the FAI must be seen to be taking action, if just to attempt to up hold whatever integrity is left of the Licencing Manual, they do not wish to hand out a punishment that would be detrimental to the club's very future existance. The last thing the FAI wants is to be branded as the ones responsible for killing the biggest name in Irish football! IMO a ten point deduction would not be the end of the world even if it means relegation. Provided there are no further sanctions imposed I would reluctantly accept such a punishment now given the circumstances. It might just prove to be the kick-start Roddy's lads need to get this season's campaign in order.

[pete]

Who were the auditors who signed off on the what seem to be have essentially been false accounts? Are there some angry accountants body out there?

[Clones Road Cas]

Interesting no one picked up on the Roddys last match in charge comment.

I've no great desire to see Rovers put out of business, but if the situation was reversed and it was Shells we would be calling not only for sanctions on Ollie but also the club. if licensing is to mean anything then there is no way that on the basis of accounts rovers could have qualified for a license. While the harps fan is being very noble about staying up on merit, there is damn all merit in fielding a team you cant afford to pay, its happened to fecking often in this league.

One word of caution to rovers fans, dundalk reckoned their stay in the first division would be short, they also had a very solid fan base when relegated and for the first few seasons down. Division One is a grimy cess pit thats harder than you think to escape.

CRC

[joeSoap]

.. when Limerick got a licence last year, along with Shamrock Rovers, the charade was exposed. Clubs like Sligo, Galway, Kilkenny and Monaghan are effectively being punished for adhereing to UEFA guidelines.

Limerick had a temporary licence last year due to the shambles the club was in at the time. Since then, it has been radically rectified, with our own ground, new team and management, and decent support. We are a prime example of how a horror story can come good in a short space of time. Perhaps 'martyrs' such as yourself should be a little more supportive and considerate of clubs going through hard times, as you never know when they're going to hit your own club.

Is there any sanctions in the licencing that state that you cannot employ a convicted multi-million pound fraudster as your chief fund-raiser?? I hope not for your sake....

[bluemovie]

One word of caution to rovers fans, dundalk reckoned their stay in the first division would be short, they also had a very solid fan base when relegated and for the first few seasons down. Division One is a grimy cess pit thats harder than you think to escape.

Well said. UCD did very well to bounce straight back up last year. When we went down, we thought each season that we'd be promoted. Look at how close Harps kept coming before last year. Division One is a horrible place that I never want to see again.

[CollegeTillIDie]

As regards the First Division here's a few cautionary tales.

Finn Harps went down in 1985 and did not get back up again till 1996.
U.C.D. went down in 1986 and did not get back up again till 1989 and on that occasion lasted 1 season before going back down again in 1990.
It took 5 more years to get up in 1995. We remained there till the end of the 2003 Summer season and were fortunate to be able to bounce right back to the top flight after spending one season in First Division.

As regards the plight of Shamrock Rovers, given that they have huge debts and an almost half finished stadium requiring completion
A few seasons as Amateurs might be required to get the finances back in order !

[Ringo]

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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