FAI and Cobh agree new 99 year lease for St Coleman's Park
- Dylan O'Connell
- Fri, Jul 02 2021
The FAI and Cobh Ramblers have announced a new 99-year lease for St Colman’s Park.
The arrangement comes after lengthy negotiations between the parties and confirms the FAI’s commitment to support the new club structures in East Cork.
Relations between the club and the FAI go back to 2009, when members of Cobh Ramblers voted in favour of a deal which saw the association lease St Colman’s Park back to the club over a 10-year period.
In return for the lease, Cobh had a €500,000 debt wiped out by the FAI.
FAI Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Hill welcomed the news: “This new lease is the end product of very productive and cordial negotiations between the Association and the football club. We have been impressed by the drive of the new Board at the club and their vision for the future of football in Cobh.
“As an Association we share that determination to improve League of Ireland football for our best players – male and female, adults and underage – and we are delighted that Cobh Ramblers buy into that vision.
"This new 99-year agreement will allow the club to build on their aspirations to establish a football club for the future and we look forward to working with everyone at Cobh Ramblers for many years to come.”
Club chairman Bill O’Leary said that agreeing a new lease was the boards ‘main priority’ since he and his board took over.
“As a new Board at Cobh Ramblers, agreeing a lease for St Colman’s Park was a main priority,” he explained.
“We believe this new lease is fair and equitable and it offers the club long term clarity on rent, puts us in a much stronger position legally and makes us more attractive for investment.
"This deal also allows us to retain the aspiration of taking ownership of the ground in the future, and under the right set of circumstances, should we so choose. I would like to thank the FAI for their willingness to agree a deal and their belief in our vision for Cobh Ramblers.”
FAI President Gerry McAnaney also commented on the announcement: “As a former player, I am well aware of the ambitious plans that the new Board have for Cobh Ramblers and I am delighted that the FAI has now backed those plans with this new lease which allow the club to plan for the future with real confidence.”
About Dylan O'Connell
Dylan is a freelance journalist based in Cork. He joined Extratime in 2016 and he covers games all across Ireland. His bylines include The Echo, Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, The 42, RTÉ Sport, and Irish … View Full Profile
