City turn focus to matters on the pitch

HAVING emerged battered but unbowed from the mother of all battles in the courts, Cork City tonight face up to a challenge on the pitch which is just about as tough as they come in the domestic calendar – an away date with reigning champions, cup holders and current league leaders Bohemians (7.45pm) at Dalymount Park).

Following last week’s victory against Bray, Cork lie in third place in the league, just six points off the pace. And with second-placed Shamrock Rovers also in action, away to Drogheda United, tonight has the potential to be a significant one in the race for the Premier Division title.

The match against Bohs comes after another hectic 24 hours behind the scenes for Cork City. Having settled their debt with the Revenue Commissioners by Wednesday’s deadline, yesterday began with the brief but welcome formality of the lifting of the winding-up order against the club at the High Court in Dublin.

In Cork, meanwhile, players and other staff were in negotiation with the club about the payment of overdue wages. Having already agreed to defer last month’s wages by a week, yesterday saw the staff accept 40% of the monies due, with a promise of the balance to be paid, according to the club, “in the coming weeks.”

However, other sources close to the negotiations suggested the players would be expecting the remainder of the money owed as early as next week, on the back of the home game against Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday.

And in a statement issued yesterday, the club appealed for the public to turn out in numbers for that fixture. “Tuesday night’s Premier Division clash against Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross is currently the club’s only home fixture scheduled for the month of August, so this game will be a vital source of revenue for the club,” the statement read.

Amid strong speculation of further wage cuts, player departures and even the prospect of the club going part-time, City confirmed yesterday that, with the assistance of the finance management group Quintas, the club is actively developing a new business plan.

“This crisis has also brought some positives,” read the statement. “We have been overwhelmed by the offers of help and support from companies and individuals across the city and county. The tremendous backing we have received from our players, staff, our loyal supporters and from our sponsors has been a huge help to us.

“We look forward to tapping in to this support and broadening our skill base as we work to finalise our new business plan based on the realities of the current economic environment. Central to this plan we believe will be a relentless focus on working more closely with our local community here in Cork.”

Meanwhile, the supporters group FORAS, while welcoming the lifting of the immediate threat to Cork City, has said it continues to have “serious concerns” about the financial situation facing the club’s players and staff.

“We have seen firsthand the anguish and pain that these uncertain times have had on employees and their families and this should not be lost in the midst in yesterday’s High Court hearing. The loyalty shown by these individuals has been exceptional and we now ask that this loyalty and commitment be reciprocated by CCIFC Ltd in the coming days,” said a statement.

And FORAS reiterated its belief that the best hope for Cork City’s long term future lies in a takeover by the fans. “The precarious nature of private investors has shown itself time and time again and in accordance with our aims FORAS feel that true ‘guardianship’ of Cork City FC can only be fully achieved by ownership or a majority shareholding in the Cork City FC.”