Glynn slams FAI over removal of Mervue from LOI

Mervue United boss Johnny Glynn has finally broken his silence regarding efforts to remove his club from League of Ireland football in favour of an all-Galway team next year and he has even gone as far as accusing the FAI of bringing the game into disrepute.

Glynn believed the FAI’s announcement, made earlier in the season, indicating Mervue United and Salthill Devon would not be awarded a licence in 2014 was premature and was not only a distraction but unfair on the Galway City clubs and their players.

“It has been [a distraction] for a few months because it was announced at some stage by the FAI that Mervue and Salthill wouldn’t be in the League next year. And to me that brings the game into disrepute. You had two teams taking part in the League and you were saying ‘they are not going to be there next year!’

“How does that affect the players of both teams? Or even, maybe, the officials making decisions in important matches. It does bring the game into disrepute. I thought it was very ill-timed from the FAI,” fumed the Mervue United boss.

Fourth placed United, who are just a point behind Longford Town and Waterford United, could possibly find themselves in the promotion play-off places of the Airtricity First Division – for 24 hours at least – if they can claim a home win over Cobh Ramblers at Fahy’s Field this evening (7.45pm).

Understandably, while Glynn insisted his players were solely concentrating on the tonight’s clash, he also maintained his players must also have an incentive going into the final two League games of the season.

“You would question why the FAI invited new clubs in six years ago. Mervue have made good progress every season, both the underage teams and the League of Ireland team, and we have not caused problems for anybody. We have produced and developed players so, you would wonder why you would want to lose a club like that from your League?

Glynn acknowledged the proposed discarding of Mervue from the League has been a motivating factor for him.

“For me, personally, it is and I would think it is for the players as well, although we haven’t really discussed it. It is, probably, at the back of their minds. We are doing well though at the moment. We have had a good season, no matter what happens in these last two games. We have far surpassed anybody’s expectations at the start of the season.”