More questions than answers for Bray fans
IN recent times, we have attempted to contact Bray Wanderers chairman Gerry Mulvey to discuss the current state of the club and what the future will hold for Co. Wicklow’s maiden soccer club.
After multiple failed attempts over a prolonged period, an e-mail was sent to Gerry Mulvey with a list of questions that we requested he answered.
Mulvey did then make contact with us but has revealed that he is not in a position to comment on the questions at the moment.
The questions put to Mulvey are below.
How have you found the role as chairman of a League of Ireland Premier Division club?
Does it take up much of your time?
What are the issues that you deal with on a day-to-day basis?
The financial situation in July proved extremely detrimental to the club’s on-field fortunes. What was your involvement with that?
How are you preparing for next season?
What are the plans for a new manager? Has the search begun? Has anyone expressed interest in the job?
When will be players be signed/ re-signed? Who will be doing so on behalf of the club?
Will the club be looking to sell any players? Aaron Greene and Keith Buckley are both heavily rumoured to be sought after by other clubs.
I understand that the process for applying for licenses from the FAI has commenced, do you envisage any problems in obtaining a license?
Will you be seeking new investors?
Has Greg Kavanagh got any involvement with the club or will he in the future?
Is it true that you halted an attempt at fundraising by volunteers recently?
What are your thoughts on some supporters recently beginning an “O’Connor’s Out” campaign? Do you believe the O’Connor’s are bad for the club?
The U-15 and U-17 squads both enjoyed fine seasons whereas the 19’s finished last in their table. How do you feel about the progress and development of the underage squads?
Is the long-term plan for you to remain as chairman?
Where is the five-year plan at currently? WHILE the off-field problems may have dogged Bray Wanderers, the squad stuck together and showed incredibly unity even if it wasn’t always reflected in the results.
After the financial hiccup in July, their form plummeted but the vast majority had admirable seasons and should have no problem attracting new suitors in 2018.
Below, we offer a brief on all 25 players that were part of the Bray Wanderers playing squad at the end of the season.
Name: Peter Cherrie.
Squad Number: 1.
Age: 34.
Appearances: 36.
Clean Sheets: Eight.
Bio: His sending off against Finn Harps stopped him setting a new club record for consecutive appearances. May be 34 but he isn’t finished yet.
Name: Hugh Douglas. Squad Number: 2.
Age: 24.
Appearances: 20(2).
Goals: One.
Bio: Won’t be in the running for Player of the Year this time around. Started the season at right-back but finished at centre half. Reliable.
Name: John Sullivan.
Squad Number: 3.
Age: 26.
Appearances: 32(2).
Goals: One.
Bio: The hard-hitting but slow-moving midfielder is very trusted by Harry Kenny. It was an average season by his own high standards.
Name: Conor Kenna.
Squad Number: 4.
Age: 32.
Appearances: 34.
Goals: 0.
Bio: The captain continued to show his quality again this year in difficult times. He is 33 this month but there’s a few more years left in his legs.
Name: Derek Foran.
Squad Number: 5.
Age: 28.
Appearances: 10(4).
Goals: One.
Bio: His second spell at the Carlisle Grounds was a frustrating one for the Dubliner. He only made 10 starts all season but proved a capable back-up.
Name: Keith Buckley.
Squad Number: 6.
Age: 25.
Appearances: 30.
Goals: 0.
Bio: The ex-Bohemians ace joined Bray as one of the highest-regarded midfielders in the league but was converted to a right-back by April. Odd conversion but fine player. Name: Ryan Brennan. Squad Number: 7.
Age: 25.
Appearances: 27(7).
Goals: 7.
Bio: An injury meant it was a slow start to the season for him but what a fine player. Player of the year in our book. Will be sad to see him go.
Name: Mark Salmon.
Squad Number: 8.
Age: 29.
Appearances: 25(4).
Goals: One.
Bio: He is the most under-rated player at the club. He is a 7/10 every single week and a massive leader on the pitch. A superb defensive shield.
Name: Aaron Greene. Squad Number: 9.
Age: 27.
Appearances: 34(1).
Goals: 12.
Bio: He was the club’s talisman. He led the frontline brilliantly and scored goals of every type. Will Bray be tempted to cash in on him?
Name: Karl Moore.
Squad Number: 10.
Age: 28.
Appearances: 16(10). Goals: 0.
Bio: Mr. Versatile. Can play anywhere across midfield and, as per the latter part of the season, left-back. He is impossible to get the ball off. Was underused this season.
Name: Gary McCabe.
Squad Number: 11.
Age: 29.
Appearances: 30(3).
Goals: 14.
Bio: Started the season like a man on fire and was leading the goalscoring charts but his form fizzled out after the mid-season break. Very hit-and-miss.
Name: Shane Heffernan. Squad Number: 13. Age: 19. Appearances: (1).
Goals: 0.
Bio: Broke into the first team as the injuries and suspensions piled up on the back of a good campaign with the U-19’s. One for the future.
Name: Jamie Aherne.
Squad Number: 14.
Age: 19.
Appearances: 1(7).
Goals: 0.
Bio: He was frequently used at the start of the campaign but seemed to fall out of favour as the season progressed. Looked promising.
Name: Luke Rossiter.
Squad Number: 16.
Age: 19.
Appearances: (1).
Goals: 0.
Bio: Made his debut against Cork City on the final day of the season. He’ll be hoping to feature more in 2018.
Name: Ger Pender.
Squad Number: 17.
Age: 23.
Appearances: 6(13).
Goals: 0.
Bio: He set club records in 2016 but moulded a place on the bench this year. The striker couldn’t hide his frustrations as he went from top scorer last year and didn’t manage a single strike this time around.
Name: Calvin Rogers. Squad Number: 18.
Age: 17.
Appearances: 2.
Goals: 0.
Bio: Made two appearances in the final few weeks of the season. Hs squad number is older than him – hopefully he’ll be hungrier for more outings next time around.
Name: Kevin Lynch.
Squad Number: 19.
Age: 25.
Appearances: 16(6).
Goals: 0.
Bio: His first full season at the club wasn’t as fruitful as his first
Name: Darragh Noone. Squad Number: 22.
Age: 20.
Appearances: 14(9).
Goals: 3.
Bio: The youngster proved that he has quite the eye for goal as he made himself a fixture in the Bray team. He played all over midfield and has bags of potential.
Name: Jason Marks.
Squad Number: 23.
Age: 28.
Appearances: 17(9).
Goals: 3.
Bio: As loyal and honest as they come if slightly lacking in quality at times. A brilliant squad member but doesn’t make an impact often enough despite managing three goals.
Name: Lee Steacy.
Age: 24.
Appearances: 2(1).
Clean Sheets: 1.
Bio: Cherrie’s understudy only got one opportunity all year and marked it with a clean sheet. Will he fancy another year of bench warming at Bray?
Name: Jake Ellis.
Squad Number: 24.
Age: 16.
Appearances: (4).
Goals: 0.
Bio: Bray’s youngest ever player. He doesn’t seem to have any fear about mixing with the big boys. Watch this space.
And the rest:
Conor Earley started twice and made two substitute appearances before switching to Cabinteely.
Dylan Connolly made 21 appearances – one off the bench – before signing for Dundalk for an alleged €40,000. He managed five goals before departing for the Lilywhites.
Full-backs Ryan Robinson (two starts) and Alan Kehoe (three starts, three sub appearances) also featured briefly.