Squad agrees to defer wages as money troubles hit United again

Keith Kelly

Once again the days leading up to a Galway United match are being dominated by financial matters rather than footballing ones, after the club announced on Wednesday that players agreed to defer a week’s wages in order for other bills to be paid.

The club issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying that following a meeting between club CEO Nick Leeson, manager Sean Connor and his playing staff, the players have given their blessing to the club withholding next week’s wages in order to meet other costs, believed to include rent to the Galway & District League for the use of Terryland Park and insurance cover for players.

Most sporting organisations predicted a drop in gates this year, and that has been borne out across the board - the Irish Independent yesterday reported that the GAA’s Provincial Councils are heading for a drop in gate receipts in the order of €1.5 million this year – but United’s gates have been worse than the most pessimistic predictions before the start of the season.

United are averaging paltry attendances of around 800 for their games, with that fortnightly take not being enough to even cover a wage bill that is one of the lowest in the league. As a result, the club looks like being forced to once again sell off its best players during the July transfer window in order to stay afloat, with the likes of Karl Sheppard, Stephen O’Donnell and Rhys Meynell all attracting interest from clubs abroad.

One player who is almost set to leave next week is Anto Flood, who is believed to be on the verge of signing for Scottish Premier League side, St Mirren. Manager of the Paisley-based club, Danny Lennon, is believed to be travelling over to Terryland Park on Monday night for United’s home game with Bray Wanderers, and Flood is one of two United players Lennon is believed to be travelling over to look at.

It has been reported that the Scottish club are in the market for a striker and central midfielder, and while Flood matches the brief for the former, it is thought Stephen O’Donnell could be a match for the latter.

O’Donnell would be known in Scotland, having spent time with Falkirk, but whether or not he fancies another shot at life in the Scottish top-flight will form a major part of his decision-making. United would receive a transfer fee for O’Donnell, but Flood would be available on a free transfer and so the club will not benefit from his expected move to The Buddies, as St Mirren are known.

Sheppard, who joined United from Everton, is attracting the interest of at least one marquee clubs in terms of name and tradition, and if the club in question pursues its interest in the striker and matches United’s valuation of him, it would cover the club’s projected shortfall in income and see it through to the end of the year.

Meynell has been one of the revelations of the season for United and is challenging Brian Shelley of Bohemians for the right to be called the best left-back in the league. His versatility is also a major asset - he has filled in at centre-back, and even had a stint between the posts when Barry Ryan was ruled out through suspension earlier this season - and he is also attracting interest from at least two clubs in England.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.