WEXFORD YOUTHS IS NOW WEXFORD F.C.
THE RE-BRANDING of the club formerly known as Wexford Youths has ensured that League of Ireland soccer will continue to be played by the Ferrycarrig Park crew for the coming season.
The word ‘Youths’ has been dropped from the title, and from now on they will be known simply as Wexford FC.
The finer points of the change are set to be revealed at a press conference next Sunday, but already a new crest has been unveiled via social media and the first game under the abridged version of their name took place against Drogheda United in I.T. Carlow on Friday.
The future of the club appeared to be in some doubt earlier this month when it emerged that Youths owed a sum in excess of €206,000 to M& J Wallace, a construction company currently in receivership and liquidation.
However, from the day the story was revealed club officials were determined to carry on as normal, with Secretary Barry Devereux stating that it was ‘business as usual’ at the time.
And now it seems that a way to negotiate the difficulties has been arrived at, so it will be Wexford FC and not Wexford Youths playing away to Cobh Ramblers in the season opener on Friday, February 24.
They are the second south-east team to re-brand recently, as neighbours Waterford United are now known as Waterford FC.
Meanwhile, there was a very strong Wexford presence on the Cork City side which defeated Blarney United 5-0 in O’Shea Park on Friday to qualify for the final of the Munster Senior Cup.
Ryan Delaney, signed on loan from Burton Albion until July, made his debut at centre-half and was joined in the starting eleven by fellow New Ross man Greg Bolger in midfield, as well as ex-Curracloe United player Kevin O’Connor at left-back. Cork will face Limerick or Wilton United - 3-0 winners over Waterford - in the final.
Another familiar face for the Leesiders was Jimmy Keohane, formerly of Sligo Rovers, who featured as a Ferrycarrig Park regular before pursuing his career in England for a few years.