Mayo soccer row set for prompt resolution

The row that broke out between the Mayo League and Mayo FC on Friday night last when the latter was banned from using Umbro Park in Milebush, was both completely predictable and inevitable. 

When Mayo FC was formed and announced to the media in Breaffy House Hotel, on Monday June 26th 2023, it was obvious to this scribe that the intention was good, but the planning was poor. That lack of planning and proper organisation has now come to a head, and the pot has boiled over. 

Part of the problem is that there was little visible separation between the Mayo League and Mayo FC, in terms of committee or board membership. While the hearts to all involved were in the right place, it was an organisational mess. 

When committees or individuals are making plans to start something new, they often ask themselves: ‘What happens if this is a failure?’ It seems likely that the people in the committee room at Milebush, had addressed that question and had some sort of handbrake in place, that they would pull, if costs were running away from them on the Mayo FC dream. 

But few people ever ask: ‘What happens if this is a success?’ Mayo FC now finds itself with a place in the new FAI National League, and don’t seem to have an agreement in place for ground rental. From the outside it seems that all this should have been sorted out long ago. Indeed, possibly as early as the June night in Breaffy House. 

The Mayo News understands that the Mayo League granted Mayo FC free use of Milebush for two years, to help the fledgling (then academy) club get established. That agreement was due to expire in early January of this year, so reports that Mayo FC hasn’t paid any rent for the facilities to date, while technically accurate, doesn’t mean that the club owes anything or has defaulted in any way, on its obligations. It paid nothing because nothing was due. 

The free rental period was a very decent offer from the Mayo League, especially since the Mayo League doesn’t own the ground. The grounds are registered to separate company. 

It’s easy, from the outside, to say that this whole business has been poorly managed, or that our good old friend, ‘incompetence’, was busy, but it was always going to be difficult to manage, when you have some individuals involved in all three entities. This is a case study in conflict of interest. And yet it is hard to be savagely critical of them, because all seemed to be facing in the one direction – that of trying to provide a higher standard of football within the county and an opportunity for players to better themselves.  

In the glaring conflict of interest, that everyone looking-in, was blinded by, some members of the League or Mayo FC resigned their positions or membership recently. And this seems to have caused some bruised egos, in the process. Plus, the Mayo League elected a new chairman six weeks ago, when the previous incumbent had served the maximum three-year term.

But it will all be sorted. Mayo FC will play at Umbro Milebush Park for 2026 and beyond. With the attention drawn of the FAI, a deal is certain to be struck. And some form of plan will be put in place. The Mayo League needs the income from Mayo FC, even if they don’t own the grounds they are renting out. And Mayo FC needs the grounds for their matches. 

The Mayo League cannot, and cannot be seen to, kill off Mayo FC. If Mayo FC fails it will have to be for external, national reasons; not domestic reasons brought about by the League. And the conflict of interest will eventually be sorted when proper structures are put in place, where each body elects delegates from its membership, to serve on the other bodies, and does it in an auditable and transparent way. It’s just that, in the meantime, it is an unholy mess that should not have made its way into the public arena.

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