Sporting Fingal Go Out of Business

It has officially been announced tonight by directors of Sporting Fingal FC that the club has pulled out of the Airtricity League of Ireland with immediate effect.  The club came to its decision after a financial and funding target set by the club during the break of the season was not reached.

There has been a struggle to secure vital funding for the club since the departure of the clubs main investor Gerry Gannon towards the end of last season, and the objective of finding a new investor has failed

It is therefore with much disappointment that the club is left with no option but to cease trading after three seasons in the League of Ireland.  Accordingly, the club’s signed players are automatically released from their contracts and can sign for other clubs as free
agents.

Liam Buckley, Director of Football with Sporting Fingal, said: ‘I am devastated for all involved with Sporting Fingal, players, staff, fans, volunteers, directors etc, that we have been forced to bring the Sporting Fingal project to a premature end.

‘Finding a replacement for our supportive backer was always going to be a major challenge but we were pleased with the progress made. ‘Sadly, the suddenness and timing of last week’s sponsorship set-back sent us back to the drawing board, a predicament we were simply unable to overcome so close to the season kick-off.

‘The core aim from the outset of Sporting Fingal’s creation in 2007 was to develop a club with a particular emphasis on using sport as a vehicle for community gain within the Fingal area.

‘That commitment to community development was demonstrated through the various initiatives associated with the club such as the Community Trust, partnership with the North Dublin SL, third-level scholarship agreements with DCU and ITB as well as the establishment of the Sporting Fingal Special Olympics team, the Sporting Fingal Power Wheelchair team and the bestowal by the FAI of a Football for All status on the club.

‘Our success on the pitch, especially winning the 2009 FAI Ford Cup and participating in last year’s UEFA Europa League, was testament to the dedication and resilience of the players.’

John O’Brien, Secretary of Sporting Fingal, said: ‘It is a very sad
day, but we simply ran out of time. We are especially disappointed for everyone who has backed the project and those who have put so much into the club – the players, management, coaching and office staff, volunteers, our supporters, our partners in the North Dublin Schoolboy League, our sponsors, the FAI who have been most helpful to us from the outset and everyone who has contributed to the initiative.

‘We set out to be a different kind of football club in our approach to the development of the Sporting Fingal, and I believe that we achieved that.’

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.