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Cork City flags at Turner's Cross. Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Cork City takeover hits the rocks and club faces possibility of move away from Turner's Cross

Grovemoor Ltd were unable to agree a lease with the Munster Football Association, who own the club’s home ground, and have thus pulled out of the move.

LAST UPDATE | 17 Dec 2020

GROVEMOOR LTD WILL not be taking up its call-option to take over Cork City FC, the club has been informed.

The company, which owns English Championship club Preston North End and is run by Trevor Hemmings, came to the League of Ireland side’s aid earlier this year when City’s prospects of being granted an SSE Airtricity League licence were called into question. Grovemoor purchased the sell-on clauses in the contracts of former City duo Alan Browne and Seán Maguire, both of whom joined their current employers from City who would otherwise have received a portion of any future fee paid by another club for either player’s services.

Amid these negotiations, the prospect of Grovemoor purchasing Cork City as a whole — including their liabilities — was mooted and later acted upon.

The board of Cork City’s supporters’ trust, Foras, favoured the deal, and in October members agreed to sell the club to Grovemoor for €1.

Crucially, however, the proposed sale did not include City’s home ground at Turner’s Cross, which is owned not by the club but by the Munster Football Association (MFA).

In a statement released this evening, City confirmed that Grovemoor Ltd has been unable to agree terms with the MFA over a lease agreement and, as a result, will not be completing its takeover of the club at this time.

“Grovemoor Ltd has informed the Board of Management that due to being unable to agree terms on a lease agreement with the Munster Football Association (MFA), Grovemoor Ltd will not be proceeding with their option to purchase Cork City Football Club at this time,” the statement began.

“Friends of the Rebel Army Society Ltd (FORAS) will now be proceeding with our own plans for 2021 and implementing a budget which will give us a stable and sustainable team for the 2021 football season.

We can confirm that FORAS has lodged a license application in accordance with the deadlines laid out by the Licensing Department and we remain in constant contact with the FAI with regards our the status of our application. We may seek to negotiate reduced rates with the MFA for Turner’s Cross in line with our budget, which if unsuccessful will result in us exploring alternative venues for playing behind-closed-doors for next season.

“The Board will not be making further comment at this time but will send a full update to our members on our plans, for Tuesday, December 22nd.”

City were relegated to the SSE Airtricity First Division after a shortened but woeful season during which they won only two of their 18 games.

The club now faces a period of increased uncertainty following the fall-through of the long-mooted takeover.

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    Mute James
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    Dec 17th 2020, 7:02 PM

    I remember the big battles with Dundalkfc only a couple of years ago. The people of Cork should get behind there team before it’s to late

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    Mute running man
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    Dec 17th 2020, 7:55 PM

    @James: Might be too late at this stage, no money and looks like no ground either for next season. No one signed up for next season either, can,t see a team of youngsters getting City out of the 1st division. Pity Munster fa did’nt come to some agreement with takeover people. They could have poured thousands into club, bought some new players and got back into premier league. Unfortunately club could now be forced to fold…unless someone with deep pockets and an interest in Cork soccer suddenly appears.

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    Mute James
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    Dec 17th 2020, 9:29 PM

    @running man: would you believe it, I dont like the people that’s running Dundalk FC, the club the let some good players go this week nothing done to the ground. Shamrock Rover will have any player the want big support from the media money behind them, Cork Gaa were in trouble with there ground the gaa sorted it, where is the FAI to help Cork City FC

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    Mute alphasully
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    Dec 18th 2020, 12:26 PM

    @James: they poured all their money into Delaney

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    Mute Ollie McBurnie
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    Dec 17th 2020, 8:57 PM

    Would love to know the terms of the lease that were rejected. We should be giving them the ground based on their willingness to help. Cork city has too much history to go away like this and I hope the real people get involved soon to rescue the club.

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    Mute Lad
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    Dec 17th 2020, 10:53 PM

    @Ollie McBurnie: Cork City FC don’t own the ground, how could you expect someone to just give it away. Unfortunately this is an outcome of what was years of forced short term planning. The sad thing is that Cork City FC have contributed so much to the redevelopment of the stadium by leasing it.

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    Mute Bernard Mc Donnell
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    Dec 17th 2020, 8:58 PM

    Getting used to flip flopping as a club and an entity, hard to feel sorry for a club and a county who dont care.

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    Mute Eric Murphy
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    Dec 17th 2020, 9:18 PM

    @Bernard Mc Donnell: dont care? Theres bigger things going on right now mate than locals to be financially carrying a football club

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    Mute IrishOwl
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    Dec 17th 2020, 9:29 PM

    @Bernard Mc Donnell: and you know this of everyone in the County yea ? Clown.

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    Mute alphasully
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    Dec 18th 2020, 12:28 PM

    @Bernard Mc Donnell: why should the county care, take a look at the clubs name.

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    Mute cork rebel
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    Dec 17th 2020, 11:25 PM

    I wanted to make a. Commetnhere about the mfa but im not allowed as. Its don3d as toxic. Toxic is a very good word for the mfa. It says it all

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    Mute Barry Looney
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    Dec 17th 2020, 10:21 PM

    What a s@&t show !

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