GALWAY UNITED, with debts of around £70,000, are to implement a series of cost-cutting measures.
The debts are due largely to the development of Terryland Park. Renovation work on the stadium has already cost £750,000 and this allied to the expenditure involved in building a team to take them back to the Premier Division precipitated the crisis.
The option of liquidating the company was discussed and rejected at last Sunday's meeting of the club's directors when several directors referred to the need for greater local support to ensure the survival of the club. Corporate support remains solid but a significant increase in attendance figures at home games is imperative if Galway United are to survive.
Ironically the crisis comes at a time when Galway are enjoying excellent results. They are second in the First Division have won the National League Shield and they meet Cork City in the first leg of the League Cup final at Terryland on September 17th.
The Albanian FA have been reinstated by FIFA, which means that the World Cup Group Nine qualifier against Northern Ireland in Windsor Park on December 14th can go ahead.
FIFA had suspended Albania indefinitely after the sports ministry ordered the suspension of the AFA's general secretary Eduard Dervishi and dissolved its executive committee.
John Sheridan, the Republic of Ireland midfield player, is hoping to agree the terms of a new contract with Bolton Wanderers at the weekend. Sheridan is on a temporary transfer from Sheffield Wednesday.
Blackburn Rovers believe they may be able to unveil Sven Goran Eriksson as their manager before Christmas. Just a week after the Swedish coach said he had no intention of resigning his post at Sampdoria to move to Ewood Park, he has reopened negotiations with the Lancashire club.
Blackburn have steadfastly refused to comment on their managerial vacancy even though it is six weeks since the departure of Ray Harford. Ericsson is in the last few months of a six-year contract with the Italian club, one which he is not seeking to renew.
Manchester City's coffers opened yesterday to gratefully accept a £10 million investment designed to help them negotiate a safe passage through the club's worst crisis in more than a century.
Ironically, £5 million of the money which will help prop up a troubled regime at Maine Road has been provided by multi-millionaire businessman Stephen Boler, a close ally of the late Peter Swales who was ousted by the current City chairman Francis Lee after an acrimonious power struggle almost three years ago. City's a.g.m. will be held, tomorrow.
Arsenal have sent the English FA a video of their 2-1 win at Newcastle on Saturday and confirmed they want referee Graham Barber to review his decision to send off captain Tony Adams. Adams will be suspended for one match, the December 21st trip to Nottingham Forest, unless Barber changes his mind.
Arsenal, who play Southampton tonight, are bottom of the fair-play table following 39 bookings and the dismissals of Adams and Steve Bould in successive games.
