Blues fans hope for winding up resolution

Waterford United fans remained defiant on Friday night as they rose together in unity at the RSC against Athlone Town with the future of the club remaining unclear.

“Waterford United cannot die” was the message from fearful fans after a game that could potentially be the last with a winding up petition against the club to be heard on Monday in the High Court.

Negotiations between the club and former manager Stephen Henderson have been unable to resolve the issue of a winding-up petition against the club.

Having met with Stephen Henderson and his legal team in the past number of weeks, the Blues made a €50,000 offer on Thursday to settle money owed to Henderson.

Fans have been left distraught after Henderson rejected the offer and the case it set to be heard before the High Court on Monday.

Fans rose in the after the 15th minute of the match against Athlone Town with a chant of “Stand up if you love the Blues”, in a game with a sombre and emotional atmosphere before and after. Fans remained fearful of the end of the club but harboured hope that the club won’t be forced to close next week.

“WUFC cannot die. The passion that was shown by everyone tonight in the stands was amazing. Hopefully something can be agreed before Monday. Don't know what I'd do without my beloved blues”, fan Alan Forristal said after the game.

“It was decent game, a great atmosphere and unbelievable noise in the RSC tonight. Hopefully not for the last time,” Alan added.
 

Fellow Blues fan Clive Power added that it would be a disaster if the club was wound up.
 

“It'd be a disaster to see the club wound up”, he said. “We can't believe this could happen. We need this club here in Waterford.
 

“We're all fanatical about the club. Stephen Henderson said all along that he doesn't want to end the club and now it really is in his hands to stop that from happening.”
 

Efforts over the past number of weeks and months to resolve the issue have proved unsuccessful, but the club put together a €50,000 offer in the hope that it would prevent the club from being wound up and fold.
 

Henderson would have received €35,000 within the next six months had he agreed to the deal.
 

€20,000 would have been paid in August from the sale of Jack Doherty to Ipswich Town and €15,000 in solidarity payment from the FAI in February. Another €15,000 in an FAI solidarity payment would then be paid in February 2015.
 

Waterford United are currently sitting third in the First Division table just five points off the challenging to the Premier Division. The Blues have been in the League of Ireland since 1930.