Galway clubs back plans for single LOI club

A significant number of football clubs across the city and county have given their total backing to the proposed new Galway FC team that is being lined up to take the place of both Mervue United and Salthill Devon in the League of Ireland next season.

Tribune Sport attempted to contact all 42 club secretaries listed on the Galway FA directory on Wednesday to determine each club’s views of the proposed new side. Just over half (27) responded to the survey at the time of going to press, with every one of the respondents saying they supported the idea of a single Galway side playing in the League of Ireland next season.

The survey also asked if the club was happy with the proposed structure and make-up of the new side, which will see two members from each of the Galway FA, Galway United Supporters’ Trust, Mervue United and Salthill Devon sit on the board of directors, alongside chairman, Bernie O’Connell.

There had been suggestions in the past couple of weeks that the vast majority of clubs in Galway were unhappy with this set-up, but 13 of the respondents to yesterday’s survey said they were satisfied with the proposed structures in relation to the new side. 11 clubs expressed unhappiness with the structures, while three said they did not know enough of the details to give a formal opinion.