Banished Derry accuse FAI of witch hunt
Credit:
The board of Derry City have fired a furious broadside at the FAI after the association today terminated the club's League of Ireland contract.
In a statement released by the club tonight, Derry claim that they are the victims of an FAI "witch hunt" and state their belief that a "hidden agenda exists within the FAI in relation to Derry City Football Club".
Following an emergency meeting in the FAI Headquarters in Abbottstown on Saturday afternoon, the FAI announced that it was removing Derry from the League of Ireland, alleging that the club had admitted to holding second unofficial contracts with its players.
In an angry retort to the FAI, the board of Derry City claim that they have been told by the association that they have no right of appeal against the decision. They further claim that the document given to them after the hearing which explained the decision was "incomplete".
Derry have branded Saturday's hearing as "oppressive" and stated that the club's belief is that the decision reached was "already pre-determined".
The club say that they are currently exploring "any possibility of any type of appeal procedure within the FAI or via a court of law in Dublin or Belfast".
Derry finished the 2009 season in fourth position. However, following the FAI's decision to throw the club out of the league, the Premier Division table has been re-adjusted to positions one to nine, meaning that Bray Wanderers, who finished tenth and would under normal circumstances have been relegated to the First Division, will now play Drogheda United in the Premier Division relegation play-off. Derry's remaining Setanta Cup games have been postponed.
The Derry board added in the statement: "The Board of the FAI should be ashamed of themselves in presiding over a completely unfair process which shows a complete lack in [sp] respect to us, our players, manager, staff, club volunteers and fans."
Derry has expressed its displeasure at the FAI's refusal to supply the club with its prize money for finishing fourth in the league, money which the club claims it is both "legally" and "legitimately" due.
The FAI has informed Derry that it is considering what to do in relation to the monies due owed to the club in relation to its participation in European football this season.
The Derry City statement in full and unedited reads:
"Representatives of the Board at Derry City Football Club to include Pat McDaid Chairman Joe W Doherty Club Secretary with Club Solicitor Desmond Doherty attended a hearing today with of FAI Board. We have previously requested the hearing be adjourned and formally objected to the hearing before it got under way. Both applications were rejected.
"At the conclusion of the hearing we were presented with a 6 point decision after being kept waiting in a room for over 2 hours without explanation. We were told by the FAI we have no appeal against the decision made, We were refused sight of any documentation in advance of the hearing and during the hearing. The only document produced was incomplete as was provided to us at the end of the hearing with the decision. The hearing was oppressive and in our view was like a witch hunt.
"The said decision was already predetermined and in our view a hidden agenda exists within the FAI in relation to Derry City Football Club as demonstrated by their behaviour today. The decision today has devastating consequences for this Club but we intend to address these consequences urgently. We are currently exploring any possibility of any type of appeal procedure within the FAI or via a court of law in Dublin or Belfast. We have not be presented with any evidence of any wrong doing on behalf of the Club or any one, or any organisation associated with the Club.
"It is our respectful view that the Board of the FAI should be ashamed of themselves in presiding over a completely unfair process which shows a complete lack in respect to us, our players, manager, staff, club volunteers and fans. The FAI refused to supply us with the monies we are legally and legitimately due as a result of finishing 4th in the Premier League. The FAI have also said they are considering what to do in relation to the monies we are due and owed in relation to our participation in European Soccer this season."
In a statement released by the club tonight, Derry claim that they are the victims of an FAI "witch hunt" and state their belief that a "hidden agenda exists within the FAI in relation to Derry City Football Club".
Following an emergency meeting in the FAI Headquarters in Abbottstown on Saturday afternoon, the FAI announced that it was removing Derry from the League of Ireland, alleging that the club had admitted to holding second unofficial contracts with its players.
In an angry retort to the FAI, the board of Derry City claim that they have been told by the association that they have no right of appeal against the decision. They further claim that the document given to them after the hearing which explained the decision was "incomplete".
Derry have branded Saturday's hearing as "oppressive" and stated that the club's belief is that the decision reached was "already pre-determined".
The club say that they are currently exploring "any possibility of any type of appeal procedure within the FAI or via a court of law in Dublin or Belfast".
Derry finished the 2009 season in fourth position. However, following the FAI's decision to throw the club out of the league, the Premier Division table has been re-adjusted to positions one to nine, meaning that Bray Wanderers, who finished tenth and would under normal circumstances have been relegated to the First Division, will now play Drogheda United in the Premier Division relegation play-off. Derry's remaining Setanta Cup games have been postponed.
The Derry board added in the statement: "The Board of the FAI should be ashamed of themselves in presiding over a completely unfair process which shows a complete lack in [sp] respect to us, our players, manager, staff, club volunteers and fans."
Derry has expressed its displeasure at the FAI's refusal to supply the club with its prize money for finishing fourth in the league, money which the club claims it is both "legally" and "legitimately" due.
The FAI has informed Derry that it is considering what to do in relation to the monies due owed to the club in relation to its participation in European football this season.
The Derry City statement in full and unedited reads:
"Representatives of the Board at Derry City Football Club to include Pat McDaid Chairman Joe W Doherty Club Secretary with Club Solicitor Desmond Doherty attended a hearing today with of FAI Board. We have previously requested the hearing be adjourned and formally objected to the hearing before it got under way. Both applications were rejected.
"At the conclusion of the hearing we were presented with a 6 point decision after being kept waiting in a room for over 2 hours without explanation. We were told by the FAI we have no appeal against the decision made, We were refused sight of any documentation in advance of the hearing and during the hearing. The only document produced was incomplete as was provided to us at the end of the hearing with the decision. The hearing was oppressive and in our view was like a witch hunt.
"The said decision was already predetermined and in our view a hidden agenda exists within the FAI in relation to Derry City Football Club as demonstrated by their behaviour today. The decision today has devastating consequences for this Club but we intend to address these consequences urgently. We are currently exploring any possibility of any type of appeal procedure within the FAI or via a court of law in Dublin or Belfast. We have not be presented with any evidence of any wrong doing on behalf of the Club or any one, or any organisation associated with the Club.
"It is our respectful view that the Board of the FAI should be ashamed of themselves in presiding over a completely unfair process which shows a complete lack in respect to us, our players, manager, staff, club volunteers and fans. The FAI refused to supply us with the monies we are legally and legitimately due as a result of finishing 4th in the Premier League. The FAI have also said they are considering what to do in relation to the monies we are due and owed in relation to our participation in European Soccer this season."
