Cobh vote to sell St Colman’s Park to FAI in rescue deal

COBH Ramblers chairman Barry Walsh last night welcomed what he described as a “landslide victory” in favour of an FAI rescue proposal that will see the club sell and lease back St Colman’s Park in an effort to wipe out crippling debts.

The highly contentious EGM held at the ground yesterday afternoon was attended by 91 members, with 83 voting in favour of a deal which will see the association lease St Colman’s Park back to the League of Ireland club over a 10-year period and have their €500,000 debt wiped out in return.

There were just three votes against the proposal. Six members abstained.

It was the third vote taken on the issue after it was carried initially at a club meeting, but was then rejected on a 65-55 vote at a subsequent meeting.

The Friends Of Cobh Ramblers (FOCR) supporters group, who are opposed to selling off the club’s biggest asset, boycotted the meeting, which meant a plan to vote on their counter-proposal was scuppered.

“This was the only option we had,” said Walsh.

“There was no other option on the table.

“So it was great to have it come through. We’ve very happy.

“The number of people that turned up was only slightly down on the average.

“The vast majority, 81 members, voted in favour of it so that has to be seen as a landslide victory.

“We’re hopeful now that the FAI will push it through, although there is no guarantee.”

The proposal will now go before the league’s 10-man Board of Control to be ratified. Cobh need to have their tax clearance certificate in order by the end of the month to ensure they receive a licence to play in the First Division this coming season.

Meanwhile, Ramblers will meet four prospective first-team managers this week in a bid to find a successor for Stephen Henderson who left the post at the end of last season, subsequently taking the Waterford United job.

Walsh confirmed the club will conduct the interviews on Wednesday and Thursday, with former player/manager Dave Hill, ex-Shelbourne and St Pat’s defender Dave Rogers and former Ramblers player Stephen Neiland all vying for the job, along with Martin Heffernan.

Elsewhere local rivals Cork City are understood to have approached Paul Doolin as they continue their hunt for a successor to Alan Mathews.