POWER: FAI MISLED WATERFORD OVER EURO LICENCE

WATERFORD claim they were ‘totally misled by the FAI’ after failing to secure a licence to compete in the Europa League this summer. Lee Power (right), the club owner and chairman, reacted angrily to UEFA’s decision late on Thursday night to prevent the Blues from a Euro return and has vowed to appeal to the European governing body. The UEFA decision, he predicted, would have a significant financial impact on the club who miss out on a minimum €240,000 payout. Instead, St Patrick’s Athletic, who finished one place behind the Blues in fifth last season, are set to take the vacant Europa League spot and pocket the hefty cash windfall. ‘We feel we have been totally misled by the FAI and were given assurances throughout this fivemonth process by them that the licence would be granted,’ said Power in a statement yesterday. ‘We will be asking for a full investigation into the FAI handling of this matter. ‘I have instructed my UK lawyers to lodge an immediate appeal with UEFA and will pursue any legal avenue we have with regards to compensation and/or any wrong doing against a number of parties.’ The Blues were re-formed when Power took over in December 2016, changing their name from Waterford Utd to Waterford FC, and reverting to a crest similar to the first worn by the club when formed in 1930. The impact under Power was immediate as the Blues won promotion in 2017 and finished fourth under head coach Alan Reynolds in the Premier Division last year. Under UEFA rules, clubs less than three years in existence cannot compete in European competition without a special exemption. A re-formed Derry City found themselves in a similar situation in 2012 and were also denied an exemption to compete in the Europa League. But Power’s is adamant that Waterford were ‘assured’ all would be in order since last October when the league finished. ‘As a club, we entered into substantial commercial agreements and invested heavily again into the team and also budgeted for the qualification money due in November. ‘This will now have a serious financial impact on the club going forward,’ Power said.