Wexford Youths chairman Mick Wallace has labeled Galway United as 'grossly unprofessional' after the club allowed information about the appointment of Shane Keegan as their new manager to leak late last week.
Keegan was still manager of Wexford Youths at the time and the club was preparing for a huge relegation/promotion play-off second leg against Drogheda United.
After winning the first leg 2-0, Wexford lost the second 3-0 on Friday night, relinquishing their League of Ireland Premier Division status.
In a statement issued last night, Wallace said that Wexford will be lodging a complaint with the FAI and will seek compensation.
It's been a difficult few days for all involved with Wexford Youths FC.
On Friday morning, the day of the biggest game in WYFC history, one that would determine whether the club could retain its place in the Premier Division of LOI, or not, the word spread that a rival League of Ireland club was about to announce the appointment of Shane Keegan as their manager. For this news to spread on such a day, let alone the fact that Keegan was under contract to Wexford Youths FC for another year, was grossly unprofessional on the part of Galway United and a blatant breach of League of Ireland rules. WYFC shall be lodging a formal complaint with the FAI and seeking adequate compensation.
The club would like to thank Shane Keegan for his 5 years at the helm culminating in our winning the First Division in 2015 and presiding over our first ever season in the Premier Division. The club made huge strides during this period and while deeply unhappy with the manner of Shane's departure, the club will continue to hold him in high regard, and wish him well.
The club would like to thank the players and the coaching staff for their hard work and absolute commitment in their efforts to keep the club in the top division. Alas, following the 3-0 defeat in Drogheda, it was not to be.
Keegan had been manager of Wexford for the last five years and just earlier this season signed a two-year deal with the club.
The second part of Wallace's statement served as both an ad for the vacant manager's position at Ferrycarrig Park and a rallying cry regarding the club's future.
While this is a setback to our Senior team, and the club's development, the rebuilding process must start straight away. Wexford Youths is a special club, and we intend to keep it so. We need to move on, and select a new manager as quickly as possible, no time can be wasted as we prepare for the new season in the First Division. We now invite expressions of interest for our senior managerial position - Applications should be sent to our club Secretary Terry Cooke, by Friday 18th of November ([email protected]).
Today's Cup Final defeat of our Senior Women's side, losing 5-0 to Shelbourne has added to a difficult weekend, but our players could not be faulted for effort - they were beaten by a better side, and can consider themselves unfortunate not to have scored a few goals themselves. Their achievement in reaching the final for the second year running should not be underestimated, and they are still very much in the running for the League title.
The Wexford Youths club is now ten years old, not many of the experts back then thought we'd still be around ten years later - Well, get used to it, we're here for the long term, and remain determined to show that our social, community project will remain a sustainable one. Forza Youths....
Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
