| Rovers get UEFA licence BY DAVID THORPE
 Shamrock Rovers
have been awarded a UEFA licence to compete in the Eircom League for the
new season.
Ireland’s most famous club took a step closer to the off-field stability
which has long engulfed the club.
Rovers were docked points last season which ultimately led to their relegation
from the top flight after it was revealed that the club had obtained a
licence for last season by submitting out of date accounts.
However with the club now under new management, on and off the field,
Rovers have been awarded a licence and will play their home games at Tolka
Park, home of Shelbourne.
This will be Rovers first season in the history of the league outside
of the top flight of Irish football. They have endured turbulent times
in recent years including almost going bankrupt before a fans consortium
— the 200 club — completed a take-over last season.
The proposed new stadium in Tallaght is expected to be completed before
the end of the 2006 season ending a long saga which began with the sale
of the Hoops home ground in the 1980s. The newstadium in Tallaght is being
built by South Dublin County Council with Rovers as anchor tenants.
Pat Scully has been installed as manager and has released many of the
higher-earning players at the club replacing them with promising youngsters.
This has allowed the club to adjust their budgets following relegation.
Last season under Roddy Collins, the players budget was e23,000-a-week.
This has been cut by more than 50 per cent for the coming campaign in
the First Division.
Manager Pat Scully said: “We have signed a lot of predominantly
younger players, who have experience in the First Division and the hunger
to achieve things going forward.
“There are still a few areas of the team which require strengthening
and we are working on that at the moment as we look to restore the club
to their rightful place in the top division, which is where all of the
fans deserve to be watching their club.”
And Hoops Director Mark Lynch said: “We are delighted to have been
awarded a licence, which is a sign of the progress being made by the club
on and off the field.
“This news, combined with progress concerning the stadium means
that the mood of optimism around the club is greater than it has been
for a considerable time.”
Twenty-one of the 22 Eircom Clubs were awarded a licence, the sole exception
being Longford Town who are expecting to have their licence shortly when
paperwork has been completed.
Meanwhile Limerick FC are expected to renew their lease on home ground
Hogan Park in the near future says club chairman Danny Drew. The lease
on the ground is held by the local church who are sympathetic to the club’s
use of the ground.
Drew said: “It should be just a formality at this stage, and we
regard the use of Hogan Park as central to the continued development of
the club.
“Limerick have been dealt a blow with the loss of two key players
for the coming season. John McGrath is leaving the club to return to England
where he has been linked with high-flying League Two side Wycombe Wanderers.
“Colin P O’Brien has also departed the Shannonsiders to link
up with his home town club Cobh Ramblers.”
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