Fingal plans imposter club to rival Bohemians
Fingal County Council has embarked on a hare-brained plan to create a new county club from scratch, modelled on Rosenborg of Norway. The scheme mimics the failed, artificial Dublin City project which attempted to use the city brand to usurp the role of clubs that have been in existence since the 19th century.
The proposal, which will further dilute support for senior football in the region, appears to have the backing of Council Chair Joe Corr of the Green Party, who has led a delegation to Rosenborg, along with former Arsenal player John Devine.
The Council recently took out an ad in the national press, saying that it intended to develop a club to represent the entire county in the eircom League. It said, The council is preparing an application for the Club for an FAI licence, with the aim for the club to be a participant in the League of Ireland for the 2008 season, and it invited approaches from prospective financial partners in the venture.
Wednesdays visit of the Fingal delegation is reported on the Rosenborg website. Corr gushes on the site that he is amazed at Rosenborgs success and wants to achieve the same at home. Devine says that the club would aim to mimic the Norwegians remarkable Champions League record.
With domestic football still struggling to attract mass support, despite an encouraging response to FAI and club promotional efforts this year, Corr has yet to explain the logic of creating a competing entity in a region on whose doorstep the new Bohemian FC stadium is to be built and where Shelbourne FC has considered relocating.
It is unclear whether support for the scheme, which undoubtedly would see duplication of stadium development, is an individual initiative on the part of the politician, or is included in the Green Partys plans for Fingal. Nor is it clear whether Corr and his party see funding for the Councils creation being diverted from supports for existing clubs, or whether clubs supported by Fingal residents should receive equivalent subvention.
For fans of existing eL clubs who live and vote in Fingal, Cllr Corrs email and telephone, along with those of other local representatives, are available on the Fingal County Council website.