Bray back in top flight
Paul Byrne of St. Patrick's Athletic comes under pressure from Philip Knight of Bray Wanderers during their pre-season friendly on Monday night.
Wednesday February 24 2010
BRAY WANDERERS have made a sensational return to the Premier Division just 100 days after being relegated to the First Division. The Wicklow club were reinstated to the top flight after Cork City was refused a Premier Division license by the Independent Club Licensing Committee on Monday night. The Leesiders' future had been in doubt for some time, and the question marks over their future have been rumbling on for months.
They had looked set to be saved at the 11th hour last week when the transfer fee from Kevin Long's move was expected to pay off some of the clubs crippling debts but the decision was made late on Monday night to refuse them a Premier Division license, paving the way for Bray Wanderers, the next club in line, to make an instant return to the top flight.
A statement released by the FAI on Monday night read: The Independent Club Licensing Committee met this evening (22/01/10) and unanimously decided to refuse the Premier Division Licence application of Cork City Investment FC Ltd.
Having carefully considered the application and all of the documentation submitted it was the view of the Committee that the club fell seriously short of the criteria required to fulfil a Premier Division Licence in a number of areas.
And it was a decision met warmly by Bray Wanderers manager Eddie Gormley.
'You've got to be happy that were back in the Premier. You want to ply your trade in the top division, in the strongest division and it'll be great for the younger players. Obviously being in the Premier is great for the club and it's where everybody associated with this club wants to be.'
- DANIEL GORMAN
