Shels supremo surprised by...surprise

Shelbourne chairman Joe Casey is dumbfounded as to why a recent story about a possible sale of Tolka Park and relocation to the AUL made back page news, causing a stir in the media and the terraces alike.

He said: “I don’t know where they got their stories from! It’s not a secret; we have been looking at three places. And we spoke about that at the last fans forum. We didn’t name the places, but it’s not a secret. Yes we are looking at the AUL, of course. We have also looked at Santry Stadium and we have also looked at Whitehall. We went, as far as Whitehall is concerned, down to a vote with the members of Home Farm which they rejected.

“Accolade Ltd, the company that own the lease holding on Tolka Park, still have substantial debts. And until the grounds are sold, their debts will not be paid. Some creditors are putting pressure on Accolade, but until we are out of here, they will not be paid. And I don’t think, until we are out of here ourselves, that we can plan to be back to anything near like what we were. We are going to remain a part time club and we are going to have to accept that,” added the chairman.

As far as Shelbourne’s finances are concerned, there is a fresh air of stability around the club, an atmosphere deeply lacking in recent times.

“We will make a loss this season. Again, it’s publicly known, I’ve quoted it. Somewhere between maybe €70k and €100k we will lose this year. But if we win the league, we get €60k, which will nearly wipe it out,” he said.

And with Casey having steadied the ship in the two years he’s spent as chairman, he feels a lot of people in the league are in for a shock next season. Given that promotion is undecided until Saturday, Shels have drawn up two different packages for next season.

“We are working on two different budgets for sure. But they are not a million miles away, because the players from the Eircom league are in for a rude awakening next season. Around 80% of the players in the first and Premier division are out of contract next season. And each of those players are going to have to accept reality. Lads who are on fifteen hundred a week now are going to have to come back to seven or eight hundred a week," he said.

Asked whether manager Dermot Keely would remain on board for next season, Casey was quick to confirm the club's wishes. “We have no plans to make any change. Whether or not we get promoted might have a bearing on him. You will have to ask him that. But from the clubs point of view, there is absolutely no question whatsoever about a change,” he said.