Finn Harps in deep crisis as investors are rebuffled

NEWLY PROMOTED Finn Harps were thrown into crisis over the weekend when a decision by the club's committee to refuse an investment of over £100,000 prompted the resignation of five board members and cast severe doubt over the position of manager Dermot Keely and the players he signed over the summer break. Finn Harps have qualified to play in the premier division of the National League in the 1996/97 season.

Keely said yesterday that the failure of the club to pay his wages for the past two months meant that "they effectively sacked me eight weeks ago" with the result that "the club have no manager and no players" less than a month ahead of the new season.

The former Dundalk manager had agreed terms with eight new players on behalf of Finn Harps, but none of the new players had been registered with the club. In their absence it seems that the club will struggle to cobble together a side for the friendly match with Celtic this evening.

The meeting of the club's committee voted by 17 to seven to turn down the proposed investment, which came from a consortium of businessmen who were based outside the immediate Ballybofey locality. This apparently prompted fears that an attempt would be made to move the club to Letterkenny although supporters of the consortium insist that the new backers were prepared to give written assurances that no such move would be contemplated.

Under the plan, the proposed new backers say, £50,000 would have actually been invested in ground improvements at Finn Park, while a similar amount would have been made available to Keely to improve the team.

The club will now desperately need to attract new investment as it appears that in addition to the loss of the £100,000 and the commitment by the consortium to add to that figure in the near future, club sponsor TNT may also withdraw its support because of Saturday's vote. TNT had been expected to provide £40,000 over the coming season.

"The only thing is for the people at the club who have blocked everything to resign," said former chairman Jimmy Harte last night. "These people who wanted to come in are genuine football fans and they have a viable business plan, but like anyone putting £100,000 into something they wanted some control in return for their money and the people who were going to lose out have simply dug in their heels."

Harte, along with treasurers Noel Houston and Donal Costigan and assistant treasurer Ciaran McGrath, have all departed from the board over the issue. Club secretary Pat Gallen is the only director to remain.

Gallen issued a statement which said that "the assurances and clarifications" offered by the new consortium following queries of their original approach were inadequate to guarantee the future of Finn Harps.

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