Fans oppose stadium move

AN OVERWHELMING majority of Shelbourne Football Club supporters polled are not in favour of a ground-share arrangement with local rivals Bohemian FC.

As reported last month in Northside People, there is growing unease within the ranks of Shelbourne’s fanbase over a proposed deal that would force them to surrender the lease on their Tolka Park home ground (pictured) in Drumcondra and share Dalymount Park with Bohemian FC.

Dublin City Council has agreed in principle to purchase the historic Dalymount Park stadium in Phibsboro for

?¬3.4m, which will wipe most of Bohs’ debts.

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

Funding would need to be secured at a later stage by Dublin City Council to carry out a redevelopment of the Phibsboro grounds, which are in a poor state of repair.

However, Dublin City Council will only proceed with its purchase of Dalymount 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.

However, sources within Shelbourne have major concerns about the proposal in its current form. They say the deal will clear Bohemian FC’s bank debt while doing nothing to relieve the indebtedness of Shels. In addition, they fear that revenue streams from Tolka Park – such as on-site advertising and its bar takings – would be lost to the club.

In the latest development, it has now emerged that 95 per cent of Shelbourne FC supporters polled by The 1895 Trust are not in favour of a ground-share with Bohs in Dalymount Park. The Trust is a not-for-profit organisation working to strengthen the influence of Shelbourne FC fans.

According to the full ballot results, Shelbourne supporters do not see a future for the club in Dalymount.

Assuming no financial or other restrictions, 64.25 per cent would rather see a redeveloped Tolka Park.

Commenting on the results, Niall Farrell, PRO for The 1895 Trust, said:

“We are now calling on Shels’ fans to step up and make their voices heard – to make it clear that fans have a say in the club’s future.

?

On the second balloted question on fan ownership of the club, Shelbourne supporters voted 85.71 per cent (156) for collective fan ownership and control, 9.34 per cent (17) had no opinion and 4.95 per cent (9) were against.

“The mandate for the Trust is now clear – the club’s future should be in the supporters’ hands,

? Mr Farrell added.

Dublin City Council chief executive, Owen Keegan, recently warned 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.