End of the road for Sporting Fingal

Sporting Fingal have withdrawn their application for a license from the FAI to participate in the Airtricity League in 2011, it has been confirmed.

The club failed to reach funding targets essential to their existence during the off-season and as a result, were forced to cease trading after three seasons in the League of Ireland.

Following the departure of chief benefactor Gerry Gannon last season, the club have been searching for an alternative revenue stream, a task that was hastened by the fact that they were due to kick-off their season in the Setanta Sports Cup on Monday.

The club failed to find an alternative revenue stream and were thus forced to bring an end to their three year spell in the domestic league. Accordingly, the club’s signed players are automatically released from their contracts and can sign for other clubs as free agents.

The highlight of Sporting Fingal’s history was undoubtedly their FAI Ford Cup Final success in 2009, when they defeated Sligo Rovers, while they also participated in the Europa League last season.

Liam Buckley, Director of Football at the club said: “I am devastated for all involved with Sporting Fingal, players, staff, fans, volunteers, directors etc, that we have been forced to bring the Sporting Fingal project to a premature end.

“Finding a replacement for our supportive backer was always going to be a major challenge but we were pleased with the progress made.

“Sadly, the suddenness and timing of last week’s sponsorship set-back sent us back to the drawing board, a predicament we were simply unable to overcome so close to the season kick-off.

“The core aim from the outset of Sporting Fingal’s creation in 2007 was to develop a club with a particular emphasis on using sport as a vehicle for community gain within the Fingal area.

“That commitment to community development was demonstrated through the various initiatives associated with the club such as the Community Trust, partnership with the North Dublin SL, third-level scholarship agreements with DCU and ITB as well as the establishment of the Sporting Fingal Special Olympics team, the Sporting Fingal Power Wheelchair team and the bestowal by the FAI of a Football for All status on the club.

“Our success on the pitch, especially winning the 2009 FAI Ford Cup and participating in last year’s UEFA Europa League, was testament to the dedication and resilience of the players.”

John O’Brien, Secretary of Sporting Fingal, added: “It is a very sad day, but we simply ran out of time. We are especially disappointed for everyone who has backed the project and those who have put so much into the club – the players, management, coaching and office staff, volunteers, our supporters, our partners in the North Dublin Schoolboy League, our sponsors, the FAI who have been most helpful to us from the outset and everyone who has contributed to the initiative.

“We set out to be a different kind of football club in our approach to the development of the Sporting Fingal, and I believe that we achieved that.”