Bray’s brave new world is slowly turning to dust
THE STATEMENT arrived in all its bombastic glory just over a year ago. Safe to say it hasn’t aged well. Bray Wanderers chairman Gerry Mulvey made the sort of declarations that would make Donald Trump blush.
Conor McGregor was cited. Roy Keane, John Giles, Liam Brady, Robbie Keane and Ray Houghton were all name-checked.
Mulvey looked forward to a brave new world with the Seagulls at the forefront — 12 months on and they’re slipping over the seafront.
‘Bray can now officially confirm the club is financially stable for the foreseeable future and have a vision for the future unrivalled by any other football club in Ireland,’ the statement began.
‘Wicklow County has unfortunately now attained the accolade of being the North Korea of Ireland for business. But like all suppressed people, they eventually revolt, a revolution of football is going to start and Bray will be the leaders not just for Wicklow but for Ireland in this revolt.’
On Tuesday, Mulvey announced via Bray’s Twitter account that the whole squad was up for sale. The revolution would have to wait. Wages were once again not forthcoming.
‘Absolute shambles,’ defender Sean Heaney replied on social media, unaware of being transfer listed prior to the statement.
‘It’s only fair to give the players an opportunity to secure employment elsewhere,’ Mulvey stressed.
A year ago, property developer Mulvey admitted that he wanted Wicklow County Council to rezone the Carlisle Grounds’s land for development, so he could build ‘the best academy and sporting grounds in the country’.
Now the club seems to be falling apart. A meeting between Mulvey and the squad took place yesterday, during which he stressed monies would be paid early next week, as players agreed that Sunday’s game with Sligo Rovers will go ahead.
The FAI’s statement on this latest debacle was brief. ‘The FAI have been working closely with Bray Wanderers throughout the season and will continue to do so. The priority is always to ensure that all players and staff are paid monies owed, while the FAI will continue to offer assistance to the club.’
Home Game understands four meetings have been requested with the FAI by the PFAI since early June but nothing has been forthcoming. It’s only livelihoods at stake, after all.