Galway United manager Tony Cousins was last night handed a 1.1 million budget to beef up his squad for the club's 2007 Premier Division campaign - and new signings could be announced as early as tomorrow.
The champagne corks popped in Galway on Monday night after the FAI announced that United had gained promotion to the top flight, but the board of the club have already moved into top gear as they plan to establish themselves as a Premier Division club.
"We have given Tony a budget of 1.1 million, which is 500,000 more than we had planned for if we didn't get Premier Division status. In recent weeks, we set out two budgets, one for Premier and one for First Division, and we are delighted to have to roll out the larger one now," said United chairman John Fallon.
And they expect an immediate return when season tickets go on sale this week at the special pre-Christmas price of 150 in the club offices and at selected outlets around the city. "Last year, we sold 450 season tickets, while this year our target is 1,000. That's what we need to sell to stay within our projected budget for the year," he said.
Cousins yesterday met with the United squad from last season and it is inevitable that he will sign a number of players as the club sets about proving the FAI right in their controversial decision to promote them.
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