Deal or no deal?

THERE is growing unease within the ranks of Shelbourne Football Club supporters over a proposed deal that would force them to surrender the lease on their home ground in Drumcondra and share Dalymount Park with rivals Bohemian FC.

Last week it was reported that Dublin City Council had agreed in principle to purchase the historic Dalymount Park stadium in Phibsboro for

?¬3.4m. It’s believed that the sum involved will wipe out Bohs’ bank debt, while agreement will also be sought with the club’s other creditors.

If the deal proceeds, it’s envisaged that the FAI will lease Dalymount Park from the council. In turn, the stadium would be shared by Bohemian FC and Shelbourne FC under a lease arrangement with the FAI.

Funding would need to be secured – most likely through Sports Capital Grants – at a later stage by Dublin City Council to carry out a redevelopment of the Phibsboro stadium, which is in a state of disrepair.

However, while agreement appeared to have been reached between Bohemian FC and its bank, Zurich, Dublin City Council will only proceed with its purchase of Dalymount Park if neighbouring club Shelbourne FC hands back its lease on Tolka Park to the local authority.

The council would then seek to recoup its

?¬3.4m investment in Dalymount by developing Tolka Park for housing.

Dublin City Council owns the freehold to Tolka Park but it has been leased to Shelbourne on a long-term basis. Under a deal struck with the club in 2006, developer Jerry O’Reilly has a significant stake in the ground and his agreement would be needed.

While reports of the outline of the deal were hailed in some quarters as a step forward for both soccer clubs, sources close to Shelbourne were less than enthusiastic about the proposal.

No board member of Shelbourne FC was available for comment. However, sources within the club believed that their support for the Dalymount plan had been overstated and there was a feeling they were being

“bounced

? into agreeing to it.

One lifelong Shels’ supporter, who asked not to be named, said the current deal would see the city council wipe out one club’s debt while doing nothing to relieve the indebtedness of the other.

“Shelbourne is being asked to leave Tolka Park and give up income streams, such as from its bar and on-site advertising, to go and rent a ground that is in very poor condition,

? he said.

“Potentially, this puts our club in an even worse financial position than we’re in.

“It’s not even clear at this stage where the money to renovate Dalymount Park would come from.

“Have Dublin City Council considered if there are better ways of spending the

?¬3.4m? If their stated aim to save these two historic clubs is to be believed, what other options have been costed or considered?

?

Club sources said fans feel aggrieved at their lack of input into talks about both clubs sharing Dalymount Park and called for

“full and meaningful

? consultation on the impact of any such deal on Shelbourne FC and its supporters.

He added:

“As things stand, the move to Dalymount offers little to Shelbourne who end up indebted, with reduced revenue, and will have to try to maintain and build support in Bohemian FC’s heartland.

?

Minister of State for New Communities, Culture and Equality, Aodhán Ã? Ríordáin, said Shelbourne FC deserved to be fully consulted on all issues relating to the proposed deal and he offered to meet with the club’s board to discuss their concerns.

“While there is merit to these two prominent Dublin city based clubs entering into discussions about sharing a stadium, all parties need to be mindful of the sensitivities involved, particularly if one of them is being asked to give up their home ground,

? Minister Ã? Ríordáin told Northside People.

“It would be unfortunate if either of these clubs entered into a sharing arrangement with any feelings of resentment.

?

Minister � Ríordáin added that he also had concerns about houses being built on Tolka Park in the future, particularly in the context of other developments underway or planned for the Drumcondra and Marino areas.

Local Independent TD Finian McGrath, a prominent Shelbourne FC supporter, expressed strong concern about any move by the club to Dalymount Park. While stressing that it was a personal view, he said he liked his club to

“be local and stay local

?.

Deputy McGrath also echoed fears that Shelbourne could face a loss of revenue streams if it gave up Tolka Park.

“I feel the move would present a difficulty for Shels in terms of building a following in an area supported by Bohs,

? Deputy McGrath said.

“The support base would be crowded.

?

He added that he would go along with any democratic decision arrived at.

Dublin City Council chief executive, Owen Keegan, recently warned that that there was a serious risk that Shels and Bohs could

“in the near future go out of business and become extinct

?. He said it was within this context that the council had held tentative discussions with both clubs and the FAI.

A Dublin City Council spokesperson said that negotiations on the sale were taking place but he was not in a position to comment further.