O’Connor resigns from Wanderers
DENIS O’CONNOR has resigned as chairman and director of Bray Wanderers, after three years at the helm and amid a financial crisis.
He also resigned as a director of Milway Dawn Limited, a body which held shares in Bray Wanderers.
The investor who recently pulled funding, Gerry Mulvey, announced that he will step in as interim chairman.
‘My involvement with the club has been driven by a desire to resolve legacy issues and get the senior squad in the top half of the League Table which can only be achieved by putting the necessary support structures in place,’ said Mr O’Connor in a statement last week.
‘My decision is driven by personal reasons. That is all for another day.’
He thanked his fellow directors, officers in the club, ‘and the extremely hard working and loyal people who give of their time freely – all with the interest of the club at heart. He mentioned the manager of the senior team.
‘It would be remiss not to refer to Harry Kenny – a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Someone with whom I developed a very close friendship – we talked or met nearly every day. More importantly he brought a business sense to the role of head coach as well as a football knowledge and I will forever regard him as a true friend.
‘Finally I wish all the teams and coaches the best of luck for the remainder of the season and it goes without saying I will always be available to help the club when feasible and where possible if asked.’
He thanked the media for fair and balanced reporting, and said ‘to the true fans - keep up the good work and support your club at the stiles.’
In a statement released by Gerry Mulvey, he said ‘we thank Denis for the immense work and effort he has put into the club over the past three years. In 2014 the club was close to extinction and would have collapsed without his intervention. He gave 100 per cent dedication to save it and for the past three seasons he has given up a tremendous amount of time and energy for the good of the club and football.
‘People have no idea of the amount of personal and family time, effort and resources Denis put in for the benefit of the club, for which the club is and should be grateful.’
SEE SPORT FOR MORE I flew back from holidays thinking Michael O’Leary should probably start weighing passengers instead of baggage. He’d make far more money. I packed on at least half a stone in the three weeks I was away. Can you imagine if everyone on the plane did the same? He’d make a bloody fortune!
The kids have started calling me ‘squidgy’ with The Youngest proclaiming that her favourite part of my body was my bingo wings, ‘because they’re so soft and squishy!’
So after 21 days of total and utter over indulgence, there’s a seat with my name on it at my local Slimming World. Bring on the Muller Light. I can guarantee I will last approximately a week and lose 1lb. There is a pattern to this behaviour. It’s called having no willpower.
On a positive note we are still talking to each other after spending three weeks, 24/7 in each other’s company. There were no major rows although I did get slightly miffed when the 15-year-old starting counting my gin and tonic consumption. You’d think he’d know an adult’s alcohol intake is allowed be endless on holidays.
He on the other hand decided three weeks was way too long to be spending with one’s parents and maybe next year he might just come for one week. His patience wore extremely thin when myself and Himself failed to grasp the concept of
Snapchat streaks, (can anyone enlighten me?) and he refused to post what I considered a decent photo.
‘Why are you taking pictures of the corner of your head and the floor?’
I asked him. He explained it was a streak and when
I asked him what the purpose of it was he informed me it was to snap someone everyday for as many days as you can.
‘Why would you send someone a picture of one of your eyes though? Why not send them a nice photo of you. Or better still take one of me!!’ I was never one to shy away from the camera.
He looked at me in horror, shrugged his shoulders and went back to his phone, tapping away and ignoring us.
That’s when I knew we’d lost him! This was more than likely our last family holiday together. The truth of the matter is we sort of bore him and no matter how hard we try to entertain him or make him laugh, he’d much rather spend time with his friends.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, knowing your own child no longer finds you witty and fascinating. I’m not sure he ever did but it was a hell of a lot easier to impress him when he was seven. There’ll be no more trips to the Aqua Park, no more games of cards on the balcony at night, no more Lucky Lucky men calling him Del Boy while he tries to stop me buying fake handbags. Next year he says he might stay at home with our friends and hang out with the gang.
Still, at least he won’t be there to count my gin and tonics. Every cloud!
IT’S A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW, KNOWING YOUR OWN CHILD NO LONGER FINDS YOU FASCINATING, THOUGH I’M NOT SURE HE EVER DID