Finn Harps FC Public Meeting
Credit:
FINN Harps Secretary Alex Harkin says that the Ballybofey club would jump at the chance to reclaim their place back in the Premier Division of the FAI League of Ireland.
At a public meeting at the Finn Valley Centre on Monday night last, Harkin said that he could not 'see any reason' why Harps would not be in a position to accept a place in the top flight were it to be offered to them. However, with the club looking like they will fall well short of the intended €150,000 they set out to raise by this weekend, the weekly budget available to manager Paul Hegarty will be a pale fraction of the circa €12,000 a week that was at his disposal last season.
Harkin was commenting after a question from the floor about Harps' ability to accept a position in the Premier Division if the offer arose.
"I don't see any reason why we couldn't take it. It's just the quality of the team that might have suffered. If it was offered, I'm sure we'd be delighted to take it," he said.
Monday's meeting was a follow up to the public gathering of three weeks ago, which had to be put off last week due to the inclement weather. Only 16 fans attended Monday's meeting, along with eight Board members, making for a low key affair that lasted only 20 minutes.
Club Treasurer Louis McNern explained that the club had taken in €78,000 from the €100-a-ticket apartment draw, as well as €18,000 in donations (€10,000 of which has been donated from the Super4 Lotto Committee).
"We had targeted raising €150,000 for the month of January," he said.
"At the minute, it is hard to put a real figure on it, but we would estimate that we have €78,000 of draw money sold. Now, that is an estimate and we would hope that figure would extend to €100,000 by the time the draw comes around on Sunday evening.
"Selling has been quite good, but there have been places that we haven't reached. We would welcome any help we could get in the coming week."
With the prize money totaling €48,000 - the figure given to fans at the first public meeting held by the cash-strapped club back in October - the club could be facing the prospect of raising in the region of 40 per cent of their intended sum.
That would mean that their budgetary plans for the new season would have to be re-drafted to allow the club satisfy the FAI Licencing committee.
"We created that figure (€150,000)," Alex Harkin said. "We projected a budget to pass ourselves and we have to get that figure to make it viable. If we don't, we will have to modify the budget accordingly."
Harps are carrying a debt of around €290,000 from 2008 and the club had hoped to clear half of that figure to allow them to offer boss Paul Hegarty a suitable budget. Three weeks ago, it was said that the club might only have a weekly budget of €3,000 - even if the desired cash had been raised. But, with the club falling short of that target, their plans will have to be revisited again to bring them in line with the requirements by the time the FAI delegation meets with Harps Officials in mid-February. Club Secretary Harkin explained to supporters at the previous public meeting that the outstanding money would have to be cleared by next season - meaning Harps could be carrying a debt of around €6,000 a week through a 36-week season, based on the figures put forward by the club.
"We lost a week there with the weather and it would have been nice to have another fortnight," said Louis McNern.
"We have a lot of things, like the back of the shirt draw, and other things to tackle in the coming weeks."
The Club's apartment draw takes place this Sunday night, February 1st in Jackson's Hotel at 9pm. The next big fundraiser for Harps is the fun friendly against the Manchester United Legends, which is scheduled to take place at Finn Park on Monday March 16th. With stars of the past like Bryan Robson, Frank Stapleton and Denis Irwin on board, the game should draw a capacity crowd to the Ballybofey venue for what should be a worthwhile venture. Tickets for the game are currently on sale from the club.
At a public meeting at the Finn Valley Centre on Monday night last, Harkin said that he could not 'see any reason' why Harps would not be in a position to accept a place in the top flight were it to be offered to them. However, with the club looking like they will fall well short of the intended €150,000 they set out to raise by this weekend, the weekly budget available to manager Paul Hegarty will be a pale fraction of the circa €12,000 a week that was at his disposal last season.
Harkin was commenting after a question from the floor about Harps' ability to accept a position in the Premier Division if the offer arose.
"I don't see any reason why we couldn't take it. It's just the quality of the team that might have suffered. If it was offered, I'm sure we'd be delighted to take it," he said.
Monday's meeting was a follow up to the public gathering of three weeks ago, which had to be put off last week due to the inclement weather. Only 16 fans attended Monday's meeting, along with eight Board members, making for a low key affair that lasted only 20 minutes.
Club Treasurer Louis McNern explained that the club had taken in €78,000 from the €100-a-ticket apartment draw, as well as €18,000 in donations (€10,000 of which has been donated from the Super4 Lotto Committee).
"We had targeted raising €150,000 for the month of January," he said.
"At the minute, it is hard to put a real figure on it, but we would estimate that we have €78,000 of draw money sold. Now, that is an estimate and we would hope that figure would extend to €100,000 by the time the draw comes around on Sunday evening.
"Selling has been quite good, but there have been places that we haven't reached. We would welcome any help we could get in the coming week."
With the prize money totaling €48,000 - the figure given to fans at the first public meeting held by the cash-strapped club back in October - the club could be facing the prospect of raising in the region of 40 per cent of their intended sum.
That would mean that their budgetary plans for the new season would have to be re-drafted to allow the club satisfy the FAI Licencing committee.
"We created that figure (€150,000)," Alex Harkin said. "We projected a budget to pass ourselves and we have to get that figure to make it viable. If we don't, we will have to modify the budget accordingly."
Harps are carrying a debt of around €290,000 from 2008 and the club had hoped to clear half of that figure to allow them to offer boss Paul Hegarty a suitable budget. Three weeks ago, it was said that the club might only have a weekly budget of €3,000 - even if the desired cash had been raised. But, with the club falling short of that target, their plans will have to be revisited again to bring them in line with the requirements by the time the FAI delegation meets with Harps Officials in mid-February. Club Secretary Harkin explained to supporters at the previous public meeting that the outstanding money would have to be cleared by next season - meaning Harps could be carrying a debt of around €6,000 a week through a 36-week season, based on the figures put forward by the club.
"We lost a week there with the weather and it would have been nice to have another fortnight," said Louis McNern.
"We have a lot of things, like the back of the shirt draw, and other things to tackle in the coming weeks."
The Club's apartment draw takes place this Sunday night, February 1st in Jackson's Hotel at 9pm. The next big fundraiser for Harps is the fun friendly against the Manchester United Legends, which is scheduled to take place at Finn Park on Monday March 16th. With stars of the past like Bryan Robson, Frank Stapleton and Denis Irwin on board, the game should draw a capacity crowd to the Ballybofey venue for what should be a worthwhile venture. Tickets for the game are currently on sale from the club.
About Chris McNulty
Chris McNulty is one of extratime's Northwest correspondents, covering Finn Harps and Derry City. Has worked as a sports writer with the Donegal News since 2007. View Full Profile