Sligo fans vent fury as Seagulls park troubles to land shock win
MARTIN RUSSELL last night revealed that both players and staff are victims of Bray Wanderers’ latest financial crisis.
But Sligo boss Gerard Lyttle conceded his side owed their fans an apology after yesterday’s 2-1 loss to the basement side.
In front of the smallest crowd of the season at the Carlisle Grounds of just 271 fans — which included Republic of Ireland star James McClean — Rhys Gorman swung in a 76th minute free-kick from the left right footed. And Sean Heaney powered a header to the roof of the net.
‘It’s been tough for everybody. Everyone has been a victim of it. You just have to make the best of it,’ said Russell as his side moved to within six-points of Limerick in the race to avoid relegation. With Aaron Greene having joined Shamrock Rovers and both Rónán Coughlan and Cory Galvin departing, skipper Gary McCabe didn’t feature having been linked with a move to Linfield.
With the Wicklow teams squad not having trained and six weeks wages now owed since June, the Bray manager explained: ‘We’ll see what happens this week. The chairman (Gerry Mulvey) came in and spoke honestly to the group last Thursday. He said he’d like to have things up to date by Tuesday this week. And he also made promises that if it doesn’t, more lads will be available to move on.’
The match saw no printed programme — although it was sent to media digitally — which made it the first time in since the Wicklow club entered the League of Ireland back in 1985 that no programme was available to supporters on the day in the ground.
But the Seagulls has a massive slice of luck taking a 15th-minute lead.
Ger Pender appeared to be well offside when latching into Daniel Kelly’s ball over the top.
However, assistant referee Wayne McDonnell kept his flag down.
That allowed Pender to register his first league goal since October 2016 when placing a close range half-volley past Mitchell Beeney. But the Bit O’Red levelled 10 minutes after the interval. Raffaele Cretaro started the move in midfield, and took a return pass off debutant Mikey Drennan.
From the left of the penalty area, the veteran dinked a cross into the box for ex-Seagulls player Adam Wixted to nod in from six-yards.
With boos by the away support at full-time, some Sligo officials were involved in a verbal spat with fans after the game which continued to the dressing room later.
‘I think a lot of our players owe our fans an apology, because we had quite a few coming to support us. We’ve left them down. We’ve let club down. And we’re massively disappointed” remarked Lyttle who saw his assistant manager Kevin Deary sent to the stands with 10 minutes to go.