Galway Utd to develop massive new training facility after green light for takeover
A planning notice for a large-scale multi-sport facility in Athenry to be anchored by Galway United, along with Connacht Hockey, is expected to be published in the next two weeks after the go-ahead was given last week for the takeover of the League of Ireland club by its main sponsors.
Brian and Luke Comer of the Comer group had written to the Galway United Supporters’ Co-Op looking for clearance to have the option to take an 85% stake on the club. A meeting of the co-op – which ‘owns’ the club – was held on Wednesday night of last week in the city, where details of the Comer proposal was put to members.
A pre-recorded interview on video from Luke Comer was followed by presentations from club secretary, John Flannery, and club director, Emmet Hartigan, and after a question-and-answer session, a vote on the Comer proposal was taken.
There were 58 members present at the meeting, with a further 20 taking part online, and of those 78 votes cast, 64 voted in favour of the opposed takeover, 13 voted against it, with one spoiled vote, giving the proposal an 82% backing.
A letter was sent to co-op members form the Comers in the days before the meeting providing “some insight” in their interest in having the option to take an 85% stake in the club.
The letter outlined that the Comer Group had pumped €1.4million into the club since coming on board as main sponsors when United returned to the League of Ireland in 2014, with the financial investment for 2022 listed as €500,000, though it is not clear if this is part of the €1.4m figure, or in addition to it.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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