A club in crisis
Bray’s future hangs in the balance
BRAY Wanderers’ present and future hangs in the balance as their players yesterday issued notice of their intention to strike.
It comes as a result of the players going 54 days without receiving wages and leaves their proposed match against Cork City on July 27th in jeopardy as the first-team players have confirmed that they will not fulfil the fixtures unless they receive the monies that they are owed.
Having missed numerous self-imposed deadlines, the club were ordered to have settled debts to players by 5pm on Monday.
They failed to do so and as punishment; the FAI have removed the Seagulls from the IRN-BRU Scottish Challenge Cup and the club will also not be able to register any new players for the remainder of the 2018 season.
In announcing their intention to strike, Bray Wanderers’ players released a statement in which they expressed how difficult a decision it was to make but they felt that it was the only option available to them.
“It is now seven weeks (25th May 2018), since we have been paid with no prospect of payment of these arrears or realistic proposals for future wages in sight. We are all players who rely on our weekly wage to pay our bills, mortgages and every day living expenses.
“During the above time frame, players who required operations due to injuries were forced to pay for their own operations, as the club was unable to pay for same. Issues around rehab and physiotherapy for players have also been an issue.
“This is, of course, the second season that contract issues have arisen and it is hugely disappointing that the club have allowed this situation to arise. We have now lost all trust in the club to respect our contracts. We had hoped, in vain, that the FAI would attempt to resolve the problems but in spite of the obvious signposts erected during last season’s uncertainty, the FAI and their licensing department have failed to address a very obvious red flag and do not appear to have any plan to resolve this crisis.
“With no prospect of this appalling situation being resolved, we have balloted to strike and by overwhelming majority, we will be providing seven-day notice to the club on Tuesday. Coming to this decision last night was one of the hardest of our professional careers and reached with the heaviest of hearts.
“This is very much a last resort action but we feel we have been left with no choice.
“To the Bray Wanderers supporters, our fellow League of Ireland players and clubs, and to the wider League of Ireland community we sincerely hope that you understand that we have been left with no other option than to take this action.”
Bray’s vice-captain, Hugh Douglas, was one of the players forced to pay for his own operation and he posted a poignant message on social media to express his feelings.
“I’m extremely proud to be a Bray man playing for his home- town club, I have stuck with Bray through thick and thin over the past number of seasons but when I needed them the most, they let me down. Having to seek my own medical treatment for my knee injury such as surgery and physiotherapy has been (an) extremely stressful period combined with no income for the past seven weeks.
“It has been a horrible and disgraceful situation for myself and the squad to be in. Unlike our English counterparts, we don’t earn huge amounts of money. We earn enough to get by each week to pay for bills and provide for our families.
“Hopefully this matter is resolved as soon as possible”.
Douglas’ words were posted five days ago but still no resolution appears to be forthcoming.
With Bray unable to registers new players, and their squad free to leave, the situation could arise where more follow the paths of Aaron Greene, Cory Galvin, Ronan Coughlan, Craig Walsh and Daniel Kelly and the club are left with no choice but to call upon youth to see out the rest of the season.