Release Date: 27/04/2010

As part of the Irish FA’s continuing implementation of Club Licensing policies, the Club Licensing Committee met on Monday 26 April 2010 to consider applications for the award of both UEFA and Domestic Club Licenses for season 2010/11.

In line with the current UEFA and Domestic Club Licensing Manuals, applicant clubs were assessed in five key areas, namely: Sporting, Infrastructure/Safety, Personnel & Administration, Legal and Financial.

Based on these entirely objective criteria licences were granted / refused to the following clubs:

UEFA CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:

• Ballymena United FC
• Cliftonville FC
• Coleraine FC
• Crusaders FC (Solitude, Belfast)
• Glenavon FC
• Glentoran FC
• Linfield FC
• Portadown FC

UEFA CLUB LICENCES REFUSED:

• Institute FC*
• Lisburn Distillery FC*
• Newry City FC*

*Club formally applied but did not complete process.

DOMESTIC CLUB LICENSES GRANTED:

• Ballymena United FC
• Cliftonville FC
• Coleraine FC
• Crusaders FC
• Donegal Celtic FC
• Dungannon Swifts FC
• Glenavon FC
• Glentoran FC
• Institute FC
• Linfield FC
• Lisburn Distillery FC
• Newry City FC
• Portadown FC

DOMESTIC CLUB LICENSES REFUSED:

• Larne FC
• Limavady United FC*

*Club formally applied but did not complete process.

Communication of these decisions has already been made to the clubs concerned.

Club Licences are valid for one season only, namely 2010/11. Clubs who have been refused a Club Licence have the right of appeal, in line with 3.2.7 of the Club Licensing manuals, and any such appeals shall be heard on Thursday 6 May 2010.

The Committee wishes to congratulate those clubs who have been granted a Club Licence and recognise the efforts of many key, Directors, staff and volunteers at each club for the time and contributions they have made towards the successful application.

In reaching their decisions the Committee noted the critical need for clubs to exercise sound financial judgment in what is a difficult economic climate. In this sense further regulation, to support a deflationary effect on club costs, is already being prepared. Notwithstanding, some clubs must understand their own responsibility to take action which shall reduce costs immediately in order to address long standing and significant debt.

Another key element also under consideration by the Committee is the facilitation of increased numbers of IFA Championship clubs having the opportunity to participate in the IFA Premiership. Again work is well underway in this area and it is anticipated that revised processes for promotion and relegation shall be announced in the close season.

Club Licensing and Facilities Manager, David McVeigh commented: ”As Club Licensing continues to grow it is greatly encouraging that clubs also continue to grow and improve in parallel with the processes laid down.”

Mr McVeigh continued: “In the coming season we shall be working even more closely with clubs to help them ensure that the practices which they document in their submissions to us are fully in place and are effective, meaningful and helpful on a day to day basis.  In the coming season the IFA shall be allocating additional resource and fiscal support to clubs to help develop existing good practices within applicant clubs.”

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