Clubs keen for concrete news
Will season be completed?
THE PROJECT Restart clock is ticking on the Wexford Football League as clubs await a decision on whether the 2019-’20 league and cup campaigns will be completed.
Many of them are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of direction from the powersthat-be, as the weeks and months since they were last in their natural environment of regular Sunday action continue to pass.
While a circular was issued to clubs asking for their opinions, many do not envisage completing the season given the current situation, although nothing official has yet emerged from the local league officials.
With social distancing in place, and soccer being a contact sport, many clubs do not see matches taking place as long as the current situation is the norm.
The league and cup campaigns have been in lockdown since March, but it now seems as if the majority of clubs and players are not willing to take any further risk.
With the leagues down to their final series of games, there is also the question of the respective cup competitions.
Many clubs are already aware of their league fate, so have little interest in completing their games, but the destination of titles can still be decided in final round games.
That fact, along with issues relating to promotion and relegation, is creating the most serious problems for the league.
‘The players have been left to their own devices training-wise since the lockdown,’ one club spokesman said.
‘They are becoming increasingly frustrated at the moment as they do not see the league season finishing out, while now they are also casting doubts on a September start to the new season.’
Finance is also becoming an issue for clubs as their money-raising projects have also been stalled since March, with even the weekly club lotto hit, depriving the clubs of much-needed cash flow.
And even should the league decide on a return, while being guided by the health experts, many clubs could face a real finance dilemma having to meet match fees to complete the season.
‘While it would be positive to get back playing, for some clubs it could be a costly exercise, given the number of games to be played, midweek and weekends, given the lack of a cash flow over many months,’ the spokesman said.
‘Take a Premier Division club, for example. Should they have two midweek games along with a weekend game, the home side would be met with a €60 referee’s fee, along with €30 for each linesman, a sum of €120.
‘Over three games in a given week that would be €360, while many clubs would also be faced with another €60 referee’s fee for subsequent teams in lower divisions.
‘The expense does not end there, with schoolboys and youths games too. The referee’s fee for schoolboys is €40 dependent on age, with a fee of €30 for Under-12 and €20 for Under-10.
‘Should clubs require a practice game before resuming competition, the referees also have a charge in place.’
While some clubs would like to see the league and cups completed, many feel that it is not feasible given the financial constraints clubs now find themselves in.
And even at that, there is also the problem of having pitches ready, with extra costs for grass-cutting an additional factor in their decision-making.
Now it is also believed that the Wexford Football League are in negotiations with the FAI with a view to buying out the Association’s share in Ferrycarrig Park.
When Ferrycarrig Park went into receivership, Wexford soccer chiefs negotiated a 49% stake in the grounds, with the FAI - then under the stewardship of John Delaney - obtaining the remaining 51%.
Subsequently, the grounds became the home of the Wexford Football League for their cup finals and other major games, while being leased out to Wexford F.C.
A spokesman confirmed that the Wexford Football League approached the FAI with a view to purchasing their 51% stake.
Negotiations have taken place but have been stalled since the lockdown. However, it’s believed that the FAI have sought a sum of €250,000 for their 51% stake, while the Wexford Football League look prepared to offer a figure in the region of €175,000 to €200,000 to secure sole ownership of the grounds.
The spokesman for the Wexford Football League said: ‘This is a rare opportunity for the league to secure a grounds of our own.
‘We have land in Enniscorthy which needs this development, but Ferrycarrig Park would prove an ideal home for the league to host their games.
‘While there’s much work to be carried out on the grounds, the clubhouse and completion of the gym building, it’s still within our scope to develop a ground that would be befitting the league which continues to develop each season.
‘With no meetings taking place owing to Covid-19, it’s still hoped to continue negotiations with the FAI which hopefully will bring a satisfactory result.’
Ferrycarrig Park has been the home of Wexford Youths since their inception, developed under the guidance of Mick Wallace, and more lately Wexford F.C. It is also the home grounds of Wexford Youths Women, one of the most successful ladies’ soccer teams in the country.
What was once the field of dreams for Wexford soccer has since become a rather thorny issue, so it will be interesting to witness how the current impasse is going to be unlocked.