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Sea Change for Wanderers
2014-03-31
Bray Wanderers Supporters' Club Chairman Terry O'Neill is among the founding members of a new company which will turn the Seagulls into a Community-owned football club.
The new initiative is being driven by Club President and prominent Bray businessmen Philip Hannigan, owner of cutting tools company ‘Hard Metal’, and a ‘think tank’ of individuals with a proven track record in developing strong businesses.
The group has volunteered to help steer the club through the changes and use their expertise to rally support from the business community in south Dublin and Co Wicklow.
The new company, Bray Wanderers Community Football Club (BWCFC), has been set up to help run the football club. It is limited by guarantee and will be operated by volunteers drawn from the community. It will raise funds for the football team, pay down the club’s debt and finance projects to develop amenities for the local community at the Carlisle Grounds.
Supporters and business leaders have hailed the initiative as “revolutionary” and a “massive boost” for the whole community, while Bray manager Alan Mathews said he believes the move will help make the Seagulls a force to be reckoned with on the pitch.
The founding members of the BWCFC board are:
Philip Hannigan – President, Bray Wanderers FC
Rory Benville – President, Bray Chamber of Commerce
Eddie Cox – Chairman, Bray Wanderers FC
John Hannigan – Managing Director, Sunbeam House Services Ltd
Peter Byrne – Senior Manager, Ulster Bank
Terry O’Neill – Chairman, Bray Wanderers Supporters Club
The move is the cornerstone of a comprehensive restructuring of how the Airtricity Premier League club is run. Substantial debt has been written off by some shareholders in the football club, although some historical debts remain.
A majority of shareholders in Bray Wanderers Ltd have agreed to transfer their stakes in the club to the new company once the debt is paid off and help realise the vision of the club being owned and operated by the local community for the benefit of the local community.
Supporters Club chairman Terry O’Neill said: “This is a revolutionary new way of running an Airtricity Premier League club and as a supporter I fully endorse the efforts that are going into this new initiative. It will be a massive boost for the whole community and over time could prove to be the template for clubs like ours to thrive in the future.”
Fund-raising by the new company is already underway – with prominent local businessmen and community leaders being asked to join the 300 Club and help kick-start the move towards community-owned football.
An Advisory Council (BWCFC Council) is being formed to operate the new company. It will consist of an official from Bray Town Council, an elected representative, and members drawn from the Wicklow League, the Bray Supporters Club, other local football and sports clubs, and the wider business community. The Advisory Council will oversee areas that include fundraising, ground development, finance and marketing.
Wanderers are forming closer ties with schools and football clubs in their 250,000-strong target area of Wicklow and South County Dublin. The club is also pursuing a naming sponsor for the Carlisle Grounds, and will also seek planning permission for a gym, meeting rooms and all-weather training pitch at the stadium.
Speaking about the new plans, Philip Hannigan said: “The old way of running the football club wasn’t working. A new business model was needed – and we believe this is it.”
“Bray Wanderers Community Football Club will be run for the benefit of the whole community. It has a stated aim to return all funds raised through its activities back into developing the team, the grounds and establishing community-based projects for the benefit of the wider local community.”
“The reception we’ve received from the various stakeholders in the new company has been tremendous – there’s a palpable sense of excitement about the club’s future.”
