UEFA Cup: Shelbourne's European adventure is heading towards financial disaster after French television pulled the plug on their UEFA Cup coverage earlier this week.
After a season of unprecedented surplus on the pitch, the club are now facing a deficit off it as the first-round opponents Lille OSC are refusing to budge from next Thursday's pre-arranged 5.30 p.m. kick-off.
The awkward start for the first leg at Lansdowne Road puts a severe dent in the expected attendance, whereas, the income generated from television would have compensated for this. RTÉ are still expected to televise the match live, while Shelbourne are still hopeful that Lille will accommodate a switch to 7 p.m.
However, Shels chairman Finbar Flood admitted yesterday their French opposition, so far, have stonewalled them regarding a time switch.
"We've had endless problems with this fixture," he said "We decided to move to Lansdowne Road because we felt that the interest that had been generated by the previous match (Deportivo La Coruna), with 24,000 people attending. We hoped that people who were at that match, and had enjoyed the occasion, would want to come and see us.
"Unfortunately we initially had a TV contract with French television, and that's the reason for the half-five kick-off. We then tried to ask Lille to change from 5.30 to 7.30 because obviously the loss of that contract is quite significant for us, which was a buffer in moving to Lansdowne Road."
The people they now need to attract are the League of Ireland supporters from other clubs, who adopted Shelbourne's Champions League run as a representation of Irish domestic football. However, fans were not considered when the carrot of Gallic euros was being dangled under the clubs nose.
To counteract the problem Shelbourne are offering a package for 15 children and three adults of €120 in order to entice junior clubs to come en block.
Flood stated the payment from French television was to be a "significant sum". An attendance of at least 12,000 is now required if the club are to cover the costs of a move across town. If ongoing negotiations with the French totally break down the door is still open for a move back to Tolka Park. The stumbling block here being their home ground lacks the facilities to cater for the increased media and corporate attention of big European nights.
UEFA refused to become embroiled in what they see as an issue between the clubs, either way the deadline for kick-off time submissions has already passed.
"We have never experienced anything like this before. In all our European cup matches we have found the team we are playing most co-operative. I have to say we would be optimistic that it will be at least seven o'clock and hopefully at half seven," continued Flood. "We're making no progress, which we find very strange because in the past we've never had any problems." The reasoning behind Lille's non-cooperative stance seems to stem from the refusal of coach Claude Puel to change his team's schedule. Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon, who will travel to France for Lille's league match against Metz tonight, was not overly perturbed by off-field events.
"It's an issue for the club to solve. We got to prepare for the game on the pitch and whatever time that it's at, we will be ready for it. They have a league game on Sunday so they are probably looking for a couple of hours rest. If it was us we would change it."
On the team front, Glenn Fitzpatrick is expected to shake off a hamstring strain in time for next week but a doubt surrounds Cameroon international Joseph Ndo, who has a pelvic problem. Newly signed Italian striker Juan Sara, of Argentinian descent, is not yet fit enough while midfielders Alan Moore and Stuart Byrne are suspended.
