NO BRAY REPEATS

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE BRAY bosses have been told there can be no repeat of the damaging antics that occurred last season.

Fran Gavin, FAI director of competitions, expects the licensing process to be completed on February 6 and several clubs are still working on them.

As for Bray, who dished out big contracts ahead of the 2017 campaign and had to scramble to honour them, the same people remain in charge behind the scenes.

“They fulfilled all their commitments last season, honoured all their contracts,” Gavin pointed out. “It was a quite difficult time, it was not the greatest hour for the league and we made that known to them very strongly. They will address that.”

Gavin added that the issue of allegations of betting irregularities in Bray’s clash with Waterford that involved the Garda visiting the Carlisle Grounds will be “coming to a conclusion very shortly”.

A delegation will visit another of last season’s crisis-hit outfits - Athlone Town - in the next few days.

Meanwhile, concerns over Limerick’s future following owner Pat O’sullivan’s declaration that he is willing to sell the club have been allayed by Gavin.

Gavin (above) said: “He’s looking to work at a level to get into Europe. They’ve a good pitch, a good ground, they’ve a lot of good underage players coming through.

“I think he just needs someone to give him a hand there and support them financially because it is a big commitment for the clubs now.”

FRAN GAVIN was talking at the launch of the More Than A Club programme, an Eu-funded partnership Bohemians and Cork City and the FAI. SHAMROCK ROVERS have signed former Raith Rovers winger Joel Coustrain.

The 21-year-old former Irish youth international (inset) left the Scottish club in March and has been playing junior football with Ballynanty Rovers in his native Limerick.

He previously spent four years with Sheffield United. Hoops boss Stephen Bradley said: “I don’t think there have been natural wingers here for a long time – wingers that want to get at people, commit defenders and get crosses in the box, I think the fans will like him.”

Meanwhile, Cork City have loaned defender John Kavanagh to Waterford until the summer.