FRAN GAVIN HAS labelled Bray Wanderers’ financial problems “unforeseeable” and defended the structures in place that award licenses to SSE Airtricity League clubs.
The Seagulls were flying high in the Premier Division when the club was thrown into turmoil three weeks ago.
At half-time in their league fixture against champions Dundalk, then-chairman Denis O’Connor released an ominous statement revealing the current owners wouldn’t be able to continue the same level of investment — citing poor attendances at the Carlisle Grounds as the main reason.
There has been huge uncertainty among Bray players, staff and supporters in the weeks that have followed and just last Wednesday, O’Connor stepped down from his position.
The first-team squad are looking for reassurances that their wages will be paid for the remainder of the season. If that doesn’t happen, the likelihood is many will leave for other clubs before the transfer window closes on 31 July.
However, speaking yesterday, FAI director of competitions Gavin was eager to stress his belief that a resolution can be found.
“There has been a lot of communication between ourselves and the club and it’s an absolute priority that the players’ contracts are secured and that has always been a priority,” he said after the FAI Cup first round draw.
“By everybody working together that can be done. That’s where we are and we’ll continue the discussions next week and look to resolve everything for the long-term.
“The players have been paid this month and the club have said they will secure future funding. We need to receive assurances on that, club licensing are around that and if everybody works together there can definitely be a positive resolution.”
He added: “Denis has delivered on all the stuff he said. The manager’s comments were very interesting, as he actually confirmed that Denis has never let him down. Denis has now taken the decision to retire.”
The FAI’s Independent Club Licensing Committee, which awards League of Ireland clubs with licenses on an annual basis, has received criticism for failing to see this coming despite Bray’s heavy spending in recent times.
But Gavin batted away such claims.
I think licensing is one of the best things that has happened in the league over the last few years in that it’s starting to get stability among clubs,” he added.
“We do work with the clubs in pre-season, we do work around their budgets, we look for assurances and we got assurances. The club got the assurances at that time.
“But sometimes, unforeseeable things do happen in any industry. We need to make sure there is a responsibility on everybody to resolve it and that’s what we want to do. It’s a very delicate situation at the moment and we just want to make sure there’s stability with the club and the players.”
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Surprised we’re even allowed to comment on this tbh
@William Motley: yep
A historically bottom to mid table club, with a small fanbase & very modest turnover, suddenly go full time and start splashing cash like a lotto winner. Sure nobody could have foreseen a problem there. Now if they had examples of this in the not to distant past, then I’m sure that might have raised a few red flags. Keep up the good work Fran!
Note to Fran Gavin – ‘everything is unforeseeable when your head is buried in the sand’
@John O Sullivan: Everything is unforeseeable when the FAI don’t give a flying fcuk about the LOI. How could Bray sustain the contracts they were dishing out? They don’t have a big enough fan Base. Questions need to be asked of whomever passes the licences to clubs. But it will never change until the FAI takes an interest in their / OUR national league. Their failure to promote our league and constantly try to make stupid changes ie the 10 team league adds fuel to the fire for the general public who won’t support our league.
@John O Sullivan: well said
@Niall Hearty: totally agree, FAI don’t give a shite
The sad thing is Gavin believes what he said.
Is he for real!? Seriously
@Keith Ryan: you can fool some of the ppl all of the time,but u can’t fool all the ppl ,all of the time.
So we will probably end up with a ludicrous outcome where Bray stay up despite lying about their ability to pay players and effectively cheating while 3 clubs who adhered to the rules and honoured the players contracts will be relegated. Surely the FAI will deduct Bray points? And what happens next year when Bray again apply for their license?
You can’t spell failure without FAI. Bray’s behaviour has been deplorable throughout this fiasco.
Bullshit,unforseeable,,,, problems have been there for yonks, now the FAI comments,that’s a major flaw
Unforeseeable my hole