Galway FC has confirmed that it will make a licence application to compete in the 2014 Airtricity League of Ireland season.
The new western club will be sponsored by the Comer Group (www.comerproperty.ie ) for three seasons and in a press release issued yesterday, Galway FC thanked the Comer Group for its support. Work has already commenced on preparing the licensing application and Galway FC has advertised for the position of manager with a closing date of November 11 for interested candidates.
Eamonn Deacy Park will be the home venue for Galway FC, which is keen to run the club with a cooperative structure: “Supporter involvement is a key ingredient and critical to the success and integration of this new entity in the community and Galway United Supporters Trust (GUST ) continue to work with the board and the co-op subcommittee on examining the development of a cooperative structure. Galway FC will continue to update supporters and all those with an interest in Galway football with further developments in the coming weeks,” the press release stated.
Regarding the job specification for the manager of Galway FC the advertisement states: “The club is seeking to appoint a team manager to support the achievement of its ambitions. The new manager must have the skills, competencies, and ambition to take the club to the top end of the FAI Premier Division. He must also have the strategic capacity to work as part of a team to support the achievement of the club's long term plans, always recognising the need to manage within a very structured budget.”
Mervue United manager Johnny Glynn and former Galway United boss Don O'Riordan are currently viewed as two strong candidates. Glynn's excellent work with Mervue, particularly this season, has earned him many admirers locally, while O'Riordan, currently residing in China, is eager to make a return to the League of Ireland.
O'Riordan is also interested in the vacant position at Finn Harps following the departure of Peter Hutton. When contacted about the Galway FC and other domestic positions on Wednesday morning, O'Riordan said: “Without a doubt yes I'd love to return and help a club to achieve success and stability. I have applied for the Harps job already. I am ready for a challenge back in the League of Ireland and I'd be interested in Galway too.”
