Supporters vow to help troubled soccer club
Several hundred fans have pledged to come to the aid of the financially-troubled soccer club.
Friends of the Rebel Army Society (FORAS) plan to raise €10,000 every fortnight between now and the end of the season to keep the club ticking over.
The Eircom league top flight side is presently in examinership.
The supporters have already set up the new fund.
FORAS secretary Sonia O’Neill said that hundreds of fans had already signed a pledge to donate to a special bank account set up two days ago.
Since the account opened, she said, cash had been rolling in.
Already more than €10,000 had been raised.
“The plan is to raise as much money as possible to ensure the club stays in business. So we set up this trust,” Ms O’Neill said.
It is estimated the club owes in the region of €1.3 million and an interim examiner was appointed by the High Court to look into the Cork side’s financial affairs.
The High Court was told that €360,000 was owed to the Revenue Commissioners.
Other creditors are seeking more than €25,000, including sports equipment franchise company Hummel, along with a security company and a print company.
“We have been dealing with the examiner and are already in discussion with some potential investors,” Ms O’Neill said.
Cork City FC gets among the largest crowds, at home games, of any Irish soccer club. On average 3,500 fans turn up at Turners Cross for fixtures, but the new supporters’ club wants to see more and more people coming through the turnstiles.
“The ground has a capacity of around 7,000 and we want to get it filled.
“Increased gate receipts will help the financial situation. Getting behind the club will mean the difference between keeping it or losing it,” Ms O’Neill said.
The players and staff have also urged fans to come out in their droves to save the club, set up 24 years ago.
In a statement issued last week, it was emphasised that the club was a vital part of the sporting landscape of Cork. Players and officials hoped it would exist for many more years to come.
Wages have to be found for the squad of 24 players and the 22 backroom staff.
For fans wishing to donate, the details are: Bank of Ireland branch at South Mall, Cork, account number 94874154, sort code is 90-27-68.
