THE FAI remain "confident" that they will manage to complete the purchase of Cork City's former home in Bishopstown despite the agreement on Tuesday of the liquidator, John Hyland of Ernst & Young, to sell the stadium to Bord na gCon for £230,000.
FAI General Secretary Bernard O'Byrne said yesterday that they will seek to have Hyland's recommendation overturned when he comes back to the High Court to seek its approval for the deal. "We are still optimistic about our bid being successful and we still hope very much to secure the ground," he said.
The FAI bid £250,000 two weeks ago for Bishopstown, which they hope to use as a centre for coaching in Cork while allowing local side Wilton United to play there. The governing body stated that they could not attend a meeting with two other interested parties scheduled by the liquidator for Wednesday, May 19th because of the national team's match against Liechtenstein in Dublin.
"The liquidator chose to disregard that and proceed with the meeting anyway which meant that we lost out despite having the highest offer on the table," says O'Byrne.
Now, however, the association has retained a barrister to represent them when the sale comes before the court again which O'Byrne expects to happen within the next two to three weeks.
"At that point we'll be pressing very hard for our offer to be accepted which we think is a very realistic possibility in view of the liquidator's responsibility to the creditors he represents."
The ground's former owners, Cork City, enjoyed somewhat better fortunes yesterday with UEFA confirming that Standard Liege had replaced Lommel as the Belgian representatives in their group of the Intertoto Cup.
"This makes it a great draw altogether," said City manager Dave Barry upon receiving the news. "Liege and Cologne are both very attractive sides and to have them both at home is wonderful."
The Belgians will visit Turner's Cross on June 28th with City travelling to Israel in order to take on Maccabi Petah Tikva the following weekend. On July 13th Bundesliga side Cologne will play in Cork before Barry's team conclude their group programme in Switzerland against either FC Aarau or St Gallen.
Elsewhere Dundalk's manager Eddie May has initiated a clearout at Oriel Park with Joe Hanrahan Bobby Browne, Steven Reynes and goalkeeper Les Fridge all given free transfers. May says that he is also willing to listen to offers for Mick Doohan and Robbie Devereux while he is waiting to see if offers made to several other players at the club are accepted.
First Division outfit Athlone Town have appointed Liam Buckley as their new manager. He takes over from Terry Eviston who resigned at the end of last season.
Buckley was assistant manager to Brian Kerr at St Patrick's Athletic but left the club when he was overlooked in the aftermath of Kerr's departure for the FAI. His deputy in his new job will be long-time Athlone assistant manager, Jimmy Greene.
Shamrock Rovers have confirmed the purchase of Mark O'Neill from Cliftonville. The former St Patrick's player follows Paul Stokes who made the same move from the Belfast club last week.
Expected to move to the Irish League over the next couple of days, meanwhile, is Sligo's Johnny Kenny who is being chased by Newry Town and Ballymena. Padraig Moran has, however, agreed a new contract at the Showgrounds.
