Galway United are unlikely to have any representation in the Airtricity League in 2012 following a meeting with FAI officials at Terryland Park last Friday.
Galway United Supporters Trust is unwilling to comment publicly until the discussion process with the FAI is completed, but it appears there will be no League of Ireland football at the Dyke Road this year.
In December GUST opted to end their arrangement of taking care of the day-to-day running of the club with Galway United’s board of direction, but were hoping to fulfill the requirements necessary to secure an Airtricity League licence for the upcoming campaign.
However it is believed Friday's meeting with the FAI centred on the fact that clubs have to be invited into the league. Mervue United and Salthill both enjoyed productive campaigns in the A Championship before being offered places in the first division. Mervue and Salthill’s place in the league has impacted on GUST's efforts to obtain a licence.
Last year was turbulent for United both on and off the field with many unwanted domestic football records being broken. Despite this GUST was confident there would be a club bearing a Galway brand. Now it seems this will not now happen for the first time since 1977, which is a grave pity.
Recently GUST had been encouraged by the enthusiasm shown with high numbers in petitions and messages of support as they sought to earn a place in the first division which commences in March. With the season only seven weeks away, it seems that Galway will not be invited to participate.
