FAI confirm Bray have money secured to make it through season
THE FAI yesterday confirmed that Bray Wanderers have the finance in place to pay their players for the remainder of this Premier Division season.
The Seagulls have been in turmoil for the past month with the professionals in the squad requesting to be transfer listed after former chairman Denis O’Connor said he feared for the immediate future of the club.
Investor Gerry Mulvey, who had been bankrolling the Wicklow outfit, has since taken on the role of interim chairman but recently released a couple of bizarre statements likening Wicklow County Council, who own Bray’s Carlisle Grounds, to North Korea.
Yesterday, however, the FAI insisted that they are satisfied Bray now have all of their financial matters in order.
‘Bray Wanderers FC has provided the Football Association of Ireland with documentation which demonstrates that the club has secured sufficient funds for the remainder of the 2017 SSE Airtricity League season,’ a statement read.
‘The FAI has been in ongoing communications with the club regarding its funding issues and would like to acknowledge the club’s cooperation throughout the process.’ INTERIM Hearts manager Jon Daly launched a remarkable attack on Brendan Rodgers over claims made about the Jambos before their 4-1 defeat at Celtic Park.
Dubliner Daly was put in charge after head coach Ian Cathro was sacked in midweek and before the match the Hoops boss expressed his empathy.
However, Rodgers also questioned the recruitment policy at the Tynecastle club, saying: ‘He is trying to play football and you are bringing in players who play a direct game. So it makes me ask about where the players are coming from or if they are his.’
Following Celtic’s easy win in the Ladbrokes Premiership opener striker Leigh Griffiths grabbed a double with Scott Sinclair and Callum McGregor both also scoring Daly came out firing.
‘It is absolutely disgraceful,’ the former Rangers striker said. ‘I think it is very poor form. A manager of his calibre should know better. I followed Brendan’s career when he was at Liverpool and never once did I hear him make a comment about Man United’s structure, about Chelsea, about Man City’s structure, but all of a sudden he comes to Celtic and he thinks it is acceptable to talk about the structure of our football club.
‘For a manager of his calibre to come out and make the comments he did was unacceptable.’ LIFE after Chelsea began with a draw for John Terry as Aston Villa were pegged back by Hull 1-1 Villa Park. Elsewhere, Sean Maguire made his Preston North End debut as they beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Deepdale. The former Cork City striker received a standing ovation after being substituted in the 74th minute.