THE council has robustly defended its relationship with Sporting Fingal saying that it continued to be involved in the club to preserve its 'community ethos'. There was a comprehensive debate on the relationship between Fingal County Council and Sporting Fingal at the behest of Cllr Clare Daly (SP) who had a range of questions to ask on the subject.

The council explained that it retained a 26% shareholding in the club but did not financially support its operation.

It said the shareholding was in place as 'a protection for and guarantee of the long-term community ethos of the club'.

The shareholding entitles the council to two seats (25% representation) on the board of the club and ensures that the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Sporting Fingal may not be altered without the consent of the council.

Condition

According to the council, it was a condition of the arrangement around the setup of the club that' this will not involve a financial commitment but is in place to guarantee that the community-focussed ideals of Sporting Fingal are ensured as outlined'.

Answering Cllr Daly's queries on how the club is financed, the council statement said: ' With regard to the financing of Sporting Fingal, it is a licensing requirement of the FAI that all clubs present their detailed budget to the FAI before commencement of each football season and also submit monthly accounts. The council added: 'For the two years of its existence to date, the FAI has been very satisfied with and supportive of the financial arrangements of the club and has, in fact, commended this model of partnership between a local authority and private funders.'

The local authority said that the remaining 74% of the clubs shares are held by developer, Gerry Gannon, who funds the club along with a range of sponsors and the club's own revenue streams.

The council said: 'Aside from aspects of the work of Sporting Fingal which overlap with the council's own sports development and community development programmes, all time given by council staff to the club, as is also the case with outside volunteers, is on a voluntary and unpaid basis and is above and beyond their normal duties.'

The local authority explained its relationship with the club, saying: 'The council's backing for Sporting Fingal should be viewed in the wider context of its support of sport in general.

'Fingal County Council's policy for actively supporting and resourcing sports clubs and groups across the county is well established.

' The promotion of sport is accepted as a crucial tool in assisting and facilitating community development.'

- John MANNING