Irish soccer - Clubs need realistic expectations

When a death is expected newspapers will usually have the obituary ready. So it was with Cork City Football Club yesterday. At mid-afternoon, the prospects for the survival of the club did not sound great, which made the outcome all the more welcome.

The club owed €439,000. Although it made various offers to pay debt in installments, it was unable to come to accommodation with the tax people. In the light of all the recent publicity about businesses in trouble over owing not just millions but billions of euro, it seemed almost ludicrous that Cork City would be wound up over a debt of less than half a million.

The club looked like becoming another victim of the Celtic Tiger economy and the unrealistic expectations it spawned. Cork City FC got a stay of execution last week on the understanding that it would pay €220,000 immediately and the other €219,000 by close of business yesterday. It duly came up with the money before the deadline.