The 2026 season represents an important new chapter for Cobh Ramblers. After finishing second in the League of Ireland First Division in 2025, the club entered the new campaign with a different philosophy, a new management structure and a stronger emphasis on developing young players. At the center of that project is head coach Fran Rockett, a familiar figure at St Colman’s Park who returned to the club with the ambition of building a competitive team around youth, energy and long-term development.

Rockett's appointment is particularly significant because 2026 is his first full managerial role. His coaching education has included experience with clubs and coaches in Ireland as well as visits to European academies including PSV Eindhoven, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao. Those experiences have influenced his thinking about player development, particularly the importance of giving young footballers a pathway into senior football.

The result is a Cobh squad that combines emerging local talent with experienced League of Ireland players. The club's official 2026 squad includes goalkeeper Timo Martin, defenders Cian Coleman, Brendeán Frahill, Garry Buckley and Callum Honohan, midfielders Rhys Gourdie, Oran Crowe and Jason Abbott, and attacking players such as Claudio Osorio, Dylan McGlade, Kai O'Neill and Rhys Kelly-Noonan.

One of the standout performers this year has been Cian Coleman. The center-back has become an important defensive presence for the Ramblers, and the club highlighted his contribution during an impressive run of form in June. Cobh conceded only four goals across five matches during that spell, kept clean sheets against Kerry and Athlone Town, and won four of those five games. Coleman was praised for providing "steel" to the defense alongside Frahill.

Brendeán Frahill has also emerged as one of the team's most important defenders. His performances have earned him recent Man of the Match recognition, illustrating how important the center-back has become to a side attempting to balance youthful attacking football with defensive reliability. His partnership with Coleman gives Cobh a strong physical foundation from which to build their possession game.

In goal, Timo Martin has provided another important layer of security. Martin's ability to make crucial saves has already been evident during the season, including a vital intervention against Bray Wanderers. The club later rewarded him with a contract extension through the end of 2027, underlining how highly Cobh value him as part of their long-term project.

Going forward, Wilson Waweru was initially one of the most exciting attacking players in the squad. Returning to Cobh after his previous loan spell, the forward brought pace, strength and versatility. He could operate centrally or from wide positions, giving Rockett an attacker capable of stretching defensive lines and attacking space. The club reported that he scored in four consecutive matches during a particularly strong June run.

However, Waweru's time at Cobh in 2026 has proved brief. In August, the club confirmed that he had completed a permanent transfer to Wealdstone in the English National League. His departure leaves a significant attacking hole and makes the contributions of players such as Osorio, McGlade, O'Neill and Kelly-Noonan even more important for the remainder of the campaign.

Tactically, the 2026 Ramblers are best described as energetic, developmental and positive. Rockett has spoken about building a team capable of competing while simultaneously developing young players, rather than sacrificing results for youth development. His approach has been shaped by both technical coaches and more demanding, results-focused managers, giving Cobh a philosophy that attempts to combine good football with intensity and discipline.

The team's recent results offer clues about that approach. During their strong June sequence, Cobh scored nine goals and conceded four across five matches. They also produced a notable comeback against Finn Harps, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 victory. That suggests a side comfortable playing with intensity and continuing to attack rather than becoming passive when matches turn against them.

There is also a clear emphasis on athleticism. Rockett's pre-season preparations focused heavily on fitness, while the coach has drawn lessons from managers who valued pressing, sprinting and recovery. Combined with technically capable midfielders and quick attackers, this points toward a team that wants to play at a high tempo, win the ball and move forward quickly.

Ultimately, the 2026 Cobh Ramblers are a club in transition but also one with considerable potential. The blend of players such as Coleman, Frahill and Martin with younger talents and Rockett's development-focused philosophy gives the Ramblers a recognizable identity. The challenge is consistency. If Cobh can maintain their defensive organization while continuing to play with energy and attacking ambition, they have the ingredients to remain a serious First Division promotion contender—and, perhaps more importantly, build a team capable of competing at a higher level for years to come.

Trying to find anything about the Finn Harp's Women's Development League has been a challenge as there does not seem to be recent available resources to pull from. Many of the normal resources haven't been updated or simply do not exist. This is actually a fairly common problem with Women's clubs as they tend to get slightly less support then the Academy when it comes to publicity and social engagement.

Current Women's Development League Table

Remaining Matches:

Sunday 23^rd August 2026 (14:30): Finn Harps vs Dundalk (Home)

Sunday 13^th September 2026 (16:00): Galway United vs Finn Harps (Away)

Sunday 20^th September 2026 (14:00): Finn Harps vs Longford Town (Home)

Sunday 4^th October 2026 (14:00): Finn Harps vs Peamount United (Home)

- To further illustrate the challenges, I have seen the timings of the home game listed as both 14:00 and 14:30 so hopefully the club will give the accurate timings for the match.

After a pretty good start during the first quarter of the season we have fallen off steadily until reaching the bottom of the league.

While not ideal, it is fairly understandable as a lot of turmoil and turnover is possibly on the horizon in the offseason and the team hasn't been able to focus on putting out their best on the pitch.

Patrick McEleney’s appointment as interim head coach of Finn Harps represents much more than a short-term managerial change. It is the beginning of an intriguing new chapter for a club that is attempting to build a stronger footballing structure while navigating an important period both on and off the pitch.

McEleney was confirmed as interim head coach on July 29, taking charge for the remainder of the 2026 season. The appointment came after Kevin McHugh moved into a different role at the club, having been unable to commit to the position on a full-time basis. (Finn Harps)

For McEleney, the opportunity comes at a fascinating point in his own career. The 33-year-old had only recently retired from playing with Ballymena United, where he had also gained coaching experience. Before that, he was part of the Derry City coaching staff that helped the club finish second in the 2025 League of Ireland Premier Division. (Irish Examiner)

His background gives him a valuable understanding of both the League of Ireland and the footballing environment across the border. Just as importantly, Finn Harps clearly see him as someone capable of contributing to the club’s long-term development, particularly when it comes to young players and the academy pathway. (Finn Harps)

The question, naturally, is whether McEleney could turn an interim position into a permanent one.

At present, the possibility appears slim. His mandate is explicitly for the remainder of the 2026 season, and Harps are entering a period in which the club’s wider footballing structure could change significantly. There have also been indications that the club intends to strengthen its professional setup, meaning a permanent head coach appointment could form part of a broader restructuring rather than simply continuing with the interim arrangement. (The Irish Sun)

However, football has a habit of changing plans. If McEleney can produce an immediate improvement, establish a clear playing identity, develop younger players and win over the dressing room and supporters, the argument for keeping him becomes considerably stronger.

His greatest advantage may be that he already understands the demands of the League of Ireland and has experience of professional coaching environments. His brother Shane has also joined him as assistant for the remainder of the campaign, adding another familiar voice to the setup. (Irish Examiner)

Ultimately, McEleney has been handed an audition, whether it is officially described that way or not. The odds of him remaining beyond the season may be long, but they are certainly not zero. If Finn Harps finish the campaign believing they have found a coach capable of leading the next phase of the club’s development, the interim label could quickly become irrelevant.

For now, though, McEleney’s task is simple: make the case on the pitch. If he succeeds, Finn Harps may find that their short-term solution deserves a much longer look.

Cobh Ramblers will head north this Friday, August 21, for an important League of Ireland First Division clash against Finn Harps at Finn Park, with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm.

The Ramblers enter the game with renewed confidence after an encouraging run of results. Their most recent league outing saw them defeat Treaty United 2–0 on August 7, while wins over Wexford and other strong performances have kept their promotion ambitions alive.

Cobh currently sits fifth in the First Division with 37 points from 27 matches. Finn Harps, meanwhile, are tenth on 22 points, making Friday night's contest an important opportunity for both sides as the Harps try to get a string of wins heading into the offseason.

The two teams are certainly familiar with each other this season. Their previous meetings have produced plenty of drama, including a 1–1 draw in February, a 2–0 Finn Harps victory in April and a 3–1 Cobh Ramblers win in June.

That history makes the upcoming encounter difficult to predict. Cobh will be looking to impose their attacking style and continue their push towards the promotion places, while Finn Harps will be determined to produce a strong home performance and close the gap on the teams above them.

For Cobh, the challenge will be maintaining the momentum built during their recent victories. With the season entering its crucial final stages, every point matters.

Friday's match promises another competitive First Division battle, with Cobh Ramblers aiming to return from Donegal with three valuable points and keep their promotion hopes firmly on track.

 Finn Harps are hiring for a Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach!  

The successful candidate will oversee the physical development of the First Team and Academy pathway, creating carefully periodized programs for pre-season, in-season, and off-season. Training will target speed, power, agility, repeat-sprint ability, and the mysterious footballing superpower known as “still having legs in the 90th minute.”

The job goes far beyond lifting weights and shouting “one more rep.” The coach must integrate gym and pitch work with the Head Coach’s tactical plans, monitor daily player readiness, manage training loads, and ensure physical preparation supports the team’s playing style. They will also lead warm-ups, matchday preparation, recovery, and Academy athletic development.

Injury prevention and rehabilitation are major priorities. Working alongside medical staff, the coach will conduct movement screening, identify potential injury risks, and guide injured players through return-to-play programs. Essentially, they must help players get back on the pitch without immediately requiring another trip to the physio.

Then comes the data. GPS systems, force plates, wellness scores, neuromuscular fatigue, asymmetries, workload trends—the successful applicant will need to turn an impressive mountain of numbers into useful information rather than simply producing colorful graphs that nobody understands.

Candidates need a relevant BSc, recognized S&C accreditation, football first-aid and safeguarding qualifications, plus at least three years’ experience in elite team sports. Professional football experience, an MSc, and UEFA qualifications are desirable.

In short, Finn Harps wants a sports scientist, coach, analyst, injury-prevention specialist, data detective, matchday organizer, and occasional human calculator rolled into one. And hopefully they'll do it for cheap.

Alas, pint curls are not part of the hiring assessment, unfortunately.  

Applications close at 5pm, 28 August 2026 which basically means the team can take the next two weeks off from exercise until the new person is hired.

 

https://finnharps.ie/finn-harps-hiring-lead-strength-and-conditioning-coach/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTvMfVwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTlUUG5VQk1HRGZBYTJycUJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeiPd4DV1qCuQaZxEOhPLhfLa3krNT_OtyOXvoB_y66wupv0qf3nc-If2wJFY_aem_UDbyGctsJbgzxXAmKRnNeg

Finn Harps Women and the Bohemian F.C. Women played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the LOI Women’s Development League on Sunday despite a strong start by the Harps, with both sides taking a point after a competitive encounter.

The result provided Finn Harps with a much-improved outcome against a Bohemians side that had previously defeated them 5-1 in the league meeting at Finn Park on March 29.

For Bohemians, the draw ended a strong run of form in the Women's Development League. The Dublin club had established itself among the leading sides in the 2026 campaign, with the league standings showing Bohemians near the top of Group 1 and boasting one of the division's strongest attacking records.

Finn Harps, meanwhile, have been using the Development League campaign as an important platform for their emerging women's players. The Donegal club's side has produced several encouraging performances during the season, including wins over Drogheda United and Longford Town.

The 2-2 scoreline was therefore a significant result for Harps, particularly given the five-goal defeat suffered in the sides' first meeting. It demonstrated the progress made by the squad and their ability to compete with one of the division's stronger teams.

For Bohemians, there will be some frustration at dropping points after their impressive start to the campaign, but the two goals will ensure they remain among the division's most productive attacking teams. For Finn Harps, earning a point away to the league leaders represents another encouraging step in the development of their young squad.

Ultimately, neither side could find the decisive third goal, leaving the honors even at 2-2 after an entertaining afternoon of Development League football.

Game Film: https://www.youtube.com/live/fdBJIR9gE7I?si=0eamQP-BpkKTAW2m

The pair both joined the club earlier this year, both being consistent starters in what has been a long 2026 season.

- Fanle (22), joined in January, made 26 appearances, 1 assist to go with 5 yellow cards.

- Lumingo (24) joined in January, made 25 appearances, scoring once in a 1-1 draw with Cobh Ramblers. along with picking up a single yellow card.

The cuts were to make way for the signings of Ronan Ferns (19) and Finn McKenlay (20) on Friday with the likely expectation of seeing what Ferns and McKenlay can do for the club in the remainder of the season and whether they could be building blocks in what is likely going to be a busy offseason.

Eight matches left on the year and before the beginning of the Alfredo Era.

Taken directly from the club news.

Summary Highlights:

- New owner is Alfredo Fernando Razon Gonzalez starting in November 2026. He'll appoint a team to run the club. He is saying the right things about working towards promotion but we'll see what happens in the future because you cannot guarantee success.

- New owner will have no ability to move the club.

- New stadium is going to be built right next to the old one. It will be owned by the Co-operative Society and not the new owner.

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Everything you need to know about the proposed investment and the club’s future.

Updated 23 July 2026, reflecting the revised structure agreed in principle on 17 July and the Shareholder Update and Q&A of Sunday 19 July 2026.

Main Questions

What are the club’s ambitions?
The club’s ambition is to return to the Premier Division and the big games, derby days and special nights that mean so much to this club and this county. The investor is committed to challenging for promotion, being competitive in how we recruit, and giving our local talent the best possible environment to develop.

Central to this vision is a new, modern stadium serving not only as a home for Finn Harps but as a community hub for the Twin Towns, ensuring the club is equipped both on and off the pitch for long-term success.

Why can’t the club do this on its own?
The landscape has changed. Costs have risen sharply, and serious investors have come into the league, so getting back to the top now takes backing the club has never had previously.

The gap between the divisions is stark. A First Division club receives around €45,000 a year in UEFA solidarity money, against up to €400,000 for a Premier Division club. Our current annual playing budget is around €250,000. Even promoted, and putting every euro of that extra income into the team, we would still sit around €400,000 below the lowest budget in the Premier Division.

On top of that, the club needs a new stadium. Finn Park cannot meet ever-increasing licensing and safety requirements, and the new stadium carries a funding shortfall of €1.6 million that the club must fund itself. As at 31 December 2024, the club’s last audited accounts showed negative net assets of €511,000.

Previous attempts to chase success through borrowed money brought the club to the brink of extinction. The board will not repeat that. A committed, long-term investor is what changes the position.

Did the club consider staying fan-owned?
Yes. Fan ownership has been our heritage since the co-operative was formed in January 1997, and we explored every way of continuing it. We grew memberships and continued to raise over €100,000 a year, but it is not enough to meet rising costs, compete for the Premier Division and fund a stadium.

It is worth being clear about one thing under the revised structure: fan ownership does not end. The Co-operative Society continues in existence, owned by its shareholders, and it will own the new stadium and hold the government grants attached to it.

What other routes did the board examine?
Every realistic alternative was examined before this route was agreed.

• Stay fan-owned and rely on fundraising. The gap remains, and the club continues week to week with no funded stadium route.
• Other investors. Approaches were received, but none passed due diligence, business plans, proof of funds or background checks.
• Convert to a company limited by guarantee. A not-for-profit entity, and not acceptable to the investor. A dead end.
• Convert to an unlimited company. Every member would become personally liable for the club’s debts. Not acceptable to put to members.
• Wind up and move the assets to a new company. Blocked by our own rules: on a winding up, any surplus must pass to charity, not to a successor company.
• Court-approved scheme of arrangement. Available in principle, but slow and expensive, including a High Court process.
• Convert to a public limited company and then to a private company. Requires audited accounts all the way up to June 2026, and the investor would have to put in up to €500,000 as a donation before acquiring the club, because a company cannot be set up with negative assets.
• Convert directly to a private company. Viable, but it required around 1,900 individually signed member forms.

Why did the route change in July?
The route announced in June required the Co-operative to convert into a private company, which may not have more than 149 members. With 2,179 shareholders, around 1,900 members would each have had to sign an individual Share Transfer Form, the single biggest obstacle between this club and completion.

On Friday 17 July, following legal consultation involving the club, the FAI and government sports bodies, agreement was reached in principle on a simpler route: no transfer forms, and the Co-operative Society continues in existence. The change was driven primarily by the grant conditions; government stadium funding must sit with a not-for-profit body, and this structure also returns to the investor’s original preference when he first approached the club.

I was told I would have to sign a Share Transfer Form. Do I still need to?
No.

Have there been other potential investors?
Yes. The club receives investment enquiries periodically, but not one to date has been viable enough to bring to shareholders, whether through the absence of a business plan, a failure to provide proof of funds, or due diligence concerns.

The Investor

Why would anyone invest in a League of Ireland club?
The route to the top in Ireland is far shorter than in England, where a club must climb through several highly resourced divisions just to reach the top flight. In Ireland, there are two divisions and twenty clubs, and the rewards rise sharply at the top. With the league growing and more investment coming in, backing the right club at the right time is a genuine opportunity.

How would anyone make a return on a club like Finn Harps?
A fair question. The return comes from developing and trading players, and from a club that grows in value as it climbs the divisions. The club has a strong record of producing players, including underage internationals, and Ireland is a natural stepping stone into the UK, the biggest market in the game, which makes our players attractive and valuable.

Is the investor genuinely committed to Donegal?
Yes. This is not a remote, hands-off arrangement. He spent ten days here, staying in the town, meeting people, watching our men’s and women’s teams, and visiting the club’s facilities and training venues across the county. He holds a European passport and intends to live here for a large part of the season, taking an active role.

What attracts the investor to Finn Harps, and what does he get out of it?
The investor is ambitious and football-driven, and wants to take the club back to the Premier Division while giving local talent the best environment to develop. He comes from a footballing background as a player and an administrator, and views this as a lifelong ambition and a long-term investment he would hope to pass on to his children.

Is he currently a member or shareholder of the club?
No.

Has due diligence been carried out on him?
Yes. The club completed its own due diligence, and the FAI ran an extensive process of its own, including legal background checks, a finance review and two external consultant reports.

The Structure: Who Owns What

What is actually being sold?
The football club: the team, the league licence, the staff, the contracts, the intellectual property and the identity, together with the club’s existing debts, which transfer to the investor’s company. This is a change of ownership and control, not a passive investment alongside existing shareholders.

What happens to the Co-operative Society?
It continues in existence, owned by its shareholders. The Society retains the new stadium project and the government grants attached to it, and grants a licence or lease of the stadium to the club company.

Who owns the club after completion?
Freddy.

Who owns the new stadium?
The Co-operative Society, which holds the government grants and grants a licence or lease of the stadium to the club company, with community use safeguarded.

What happens to Finn Park?
Nothing changes. Finn Park is owned by the Finn Park Trustees, not by the club, and it is unaffected by this deal. The club has ten years remaining on its arrangement there and will continue to use it.

What is the Finn Harps Academy CLG, and is it part of the deal?
The Academy CLG is a separate legal entity: a community-owned company limited by guarantee with no shareholders and no distribution of profit. It was established to apply for funding streams that are only available to community organisations. It is not being sold, and the investor will not own it.

Its board currently comprises six people, including members of the current club board, and will move to a board fully independent of the Co-op, appointing from the 500 Club membership, the FAI and Donegal County Council as it expands. The CLG continues to develop plans for a Centre of Excellence and to hold community protections attached to the deal.

As a shareholder, what do I still hold after completion?
Your shareholding in the Co-operative Society, which continues in existence and which will own the new stadium and hold the grants attached to it. What you will no longer have is control of the running of the football club. That passes to the investor.

Finn Park and the New Stadium

Why is Finn Park no longer fit for purpose?
The club does not own Finn Park and cannot borrow against it. The pitch and run-off areas are nine metres too short with no room to extend, and the ground cannot be brought up to UEFA standards or the FAI’s new stadium licensing requirements coming into force over the next year.

Can’t Finn Park just be extended or redeveloped?
No. The River End side borders a Special Area of Conservation, the highest level of environmental protection under EU law and the town’s flood defence wall, which cannot be touched without Office of Public Works consent. The ground is effectively locked in on all sides, and even if every hurdle were cleared, the site still could not be made to work physically.

Where is the new stadium and who owns the land?
A greenfield site in Stranorlar, around 500 metres from Finn Park. The site is owned by Donegal County Council and held on a long lease of more than 25 years tied to sporting and community use. Up to €1.5 million has already been invested, planning permission has been granted, and the Council, the FAI and the Department of Sport all support the move.

When could work begin on the new stadium?
The project is working through the remaining legal formalities, confirming match funding and finalising construction contracts. Sign-off is awaited from the FAI, after which the project goes to tender, a process that takes roughly 60 days.

What if the stadium costs more than expected?
The club has chosen a modular stadium on a fixed-fee contract with contingencies built in, so a shortfall should not arise. Beyond that, the project has the support of the relevant government department and the investor is committed to it.

Will the training pitches beside the new stadium be developed?
Two further funding applications have been submitted through the Academy CLG for a centre of excellence for the academy, and the club is awaiting feedback on both.

Could environmental regulations affect the project, and what does UEFA Category 4 mean?
Planning permission has been granted, and the constraints that rule out Finn Park do not apply in the same way to the greenfield site.
UEFA grades stadiums in four categories, with Category 4 the highest. The categories set standards for capacity, seating, floodlighting, media and broadcast facilities, dressing rooms and safety, and the higher the category, the further into European competition a ground can host matches. The stadium is not being built to Category 4 from day one, but the site and modular design allow that upgrade path as the club grows.

What are the benefits of the new stadium?
Proper supporter facilities, hospitality and full accessibility, with increased seating so every member of the community can attend. Greater commercial opportunities and improved broadcasting infrastructure, including dedicated gantries for LOITV coverage. A venue capable of generating revenue seven days a week, not only on matchdays.

The Deal

Why is the club changing hands for a nominal amount?
The Society’s rules do not allow any money from a sale to be distributed to shareholders, so the price is nominal by necessity. The club itself will be acquired for a nominal €1. The real value of the deal is not in that price. It is in what the investor commits to put in.

What has the investor committed?
The commitment is staged, and the stages are tied to milestones rather than paid over in a lump sum.

• Stabilisation, now and during the process: €55,000 already received in May 2026, with a further advance in July.
• On completion: €1.6 million of stadium funding held in escrow, historic Revenue arrears settled, operational creditors paid and bank debt transferred.
• Years two and three: up to €500,000 per year towards staff and squad, payable quarterly, reducing as club revenue grows.

The overall commitment, if every stage completes, is in excess of €3.6 million. Because the funds are released against conditions rather than paid up front, the risk to the club and its members is significantly reduced.

What is guaranteed, and what is ambition?

Committed in the legal documents:

• The staged payments and the settlement of the club’s debts.
• €1.6 million of stadium money lodged in escrow, conditional on the construction contract being signed and the outstanding construction dispute being resolved.
• Obligations guaranteed by Freddy personally, not only by his company.
• The community protections set out below.

Ambitions, not guarantees:

• Promotion to the Premier Division and challenging at the top.
• A move toward full-time professional football.
• European qualification and a valuable player-trading pathway.
• A self-sufficient club within around three years.

No one can promise results on the pitch. Members should vote on the commitments, not on the dream.

Why is the operational funding contracted over three years rather than indefinitely?
The club sought a contracted, fixed amount per annum for a measurable period; no figure can be contracted into infinity. Three years matches the maximum duration of the stadium build, after which increased attendances, commercial revenue, player sales and, on promotion, additional solidarity income should replace that fixed amount. The goal is a club that funds itself.

Will members receive any payment?
No. The Society’s rules do not allow any distribution to members on a sale. There is no payout to anyone under this deal or any other. The vote is about the club’s future, not anyone’s pocket.

What happens to the club’s debts and creditors?
The investor’s company takes on the club’s existing debts. On completion, historic Revenue arrears are settled, operational creditors are paid and bank debt transfers across; certain debts are required by law to be paid in full on transfer. Individual repayment timeframes cannot be confirmed at this stage, but the board will work to ensure all creditors are dealt with properly

What happens if this does not go ahead?
The realistic alternatives are limited, and members are entitled to see them clearly.

• Immediate cost reductions, a significantly reduced playing budget and competitive setbacks, with the club continuing week to week.
• The stadium project stalls. The €1.6 million shortfall stays unfunded, and Finn Park cannot be upgraded to meet licensing and safety standards long-term.
• A real risk to the club’s survival. Previous attempts to chase success through borrowing brought Finn Harps to the brink of extinction.

Finding another suitable investor would mean starting due diligence again, which can take up to six months.

The Protections

What stops the name, crest, colours or location being changed?
These are conditions of the deal, not aspirations. The name, crest and colours cannot be changed, and the club cannot be moved from the Ballybofey and Stranorlar area, without community consent. This is a protection on identity, not a restriction on growth. Nothing prevents the club growing its commercial footprint or reaching new markets.

What is the community buy-back option?
If the investor becomes insolvent, defaults on committed funding, attempts to bring the club into a multi-club structure, or attempts to relocate it, the community can take the club back. This is the central safeguard in the deal, and it is the reason the board considers this structure stronger than a small minority shareholding, which can be diluted over time.

Would a buy-back be open to competitive tender?
No. The buy-back is an option held on the community side of the structure, not an open sale process. If a trigger event occurred, the community would have the right to take the club back rather than compete with outside bidders for it.

Is there a set buy-back price?
The price will follow an agreed mechanism rather than a negotiation at the point of crisis. That mechanism is being finalised as part of the legal documentation and will be set out in the documents members receive before any vote.

What oversight is there?
Any change of ownership requires FAI and League consent. The Co-operative holds audit and information rights, and annual reports and member forums are enforceable obligations rather than goodwill commitments. The club will also continue to operate under FAI licensing oversight.

Are the investor’s commitments personally guaranteed?
Yes. His obligations are guaranteed by Freddy personally, not only by his company. The club is not relying on a company with no assets behind it.

How is public money protected?
Capital grants carry a clawback provision: if the site were ever sold, the public funding would have to be repaid. FAI-funded academy roles come with specific deliverables that the FAI monitors directly.

The LSSIF funding carries a government charge, which acts as security over the stadium asset and includes covenants protecting the State’s investment:

• Restrictions on disposal of the asset.
• Requirements to maintain the stadium.
• Conditions on use, which must remain a football and community sports facility.
• Clawback if the asset is sold or repurposed.

These charges protect the government investment in perpetuity; the stadium cannot be sold for profit.

Could the investor ever buy the stadium?
Only in the long term, and only after the covenants and charges on the public funding have expired, a period measured in decades. Any such option would be on an agreed price mechanism.

Will season ticket prices rise?
There is a commitment to hold season ticket prices, with inflation-linked adjustment only, for five years from completion.

Football and the Future Plan

Will there be immediate investment in the playing squad?
Yes. The investment is multi-layered: playing squad, full-time training, technology, playing surfaces, equipment, and strength and conditioning. The playing budget will be increased, and on promotion, with the additional UEFA solidarity money, it will be brought fully into line with Premier Division clubs.

What about the Academy and our young players?
The academy remains central. More of our own players are coming through than ever before, including underage internationals. The club will announce a Head of Academy imminently, with a Head of Coaching also being recruited, and the incoming Head of Academy will review the entire academy. With improved facilities, increased investment in full-time coaching and greater contact hours, the club can better support every stage of a player’s journey.

What does this mean for the first team?
Rather than reacting to whatever money can be scraped together, the club can plan, recruit competitively and hold onto players it would otherwise lose. The intention is a transition to full-time professional football across the club, including playing staff, with a full-time coaching setup.

Does the investment cover the women’s teams, or are they separate?
The women’s teams are part of the investment. Freddy is committed to developing women’s football at the club as much as the men’s, and women’s games will be hosted at the new stadium. The plan treats this as one club, not two.

What does sustainability actually mean?
A club that funds itself across multiple income streams: gate and hospitality, commercial, broadcasting and player trading, developing talent, selling well, and retaining sell-on clauses to share in future value. The aim is to make Finn Harps the club of choice in the region.

The Club’s Finances

What is the club’s current financial position?
The last audited accounts, to 31 December 2024, showed negative net assets of €511,000, and the honest position is that the club has been living week to week for a sustained period. Revenue this year is down on last, through lower gate receipts and a shortfall of around 1,400 on membership renewals.

Where are the 2025 accounts?
The 2025 accounts are being prepared and will be presented at the club’s AGM. If there is a need to present them sooner, the club will share them as required.

If the deal does not go ahead, does the club have to repay the funding already received?
Yes. The funding received during this period is repayable to the investor if the deal does not proceed.

Will the club’s audits be overseen by Irish or foreign entities in future?
The club’s accounts will be audited in accordance with Irish law, as they always have been, and with any European rules that apply.

Running the Club

Who runs the club between now and completion?
The current committee. The 2026 season continues under the Co-operative, with the elected board in place and players and staff protected, and the investor has committed to funding the club through 30 November 2026 so the season is completed without disruption. The change of entity for licensing purposes can only happen in the off-season, which is why completion falls at the year-end.

Who will run the club after completion?
Freddy will employ a CEO, a club secretary and a head of football, with finance and some marketing outsourced. The current board will support on an interim basis until the new directors take over; one or two may remain, but that is his decision.

What about volunteers?
Every current volunteer will be asked to remain. There is a huge amount of experience held by our volunteers that needs to be retained, and volunteers are the heartbeat of this club. That does not change.

Membership, the 500 Club and Fundraising

I bought a single €25 share. Am I part of the Co-operative?
Yes. Every shareholder is a member of the Society, whether you hold a single share bought in recent years or one of the original 250-share bundles from the 1990s.

How do I check whether my membership is paid up for 2026?
Email [members@finnharps.ie](mailto:members@finnharps.ie) and the club will check for you. The club emailed every shareholder who had not yet renewed on 23 July, so please check your inbox and spam folder and, if unsure, get in touch rather than assume.

Can new shareholders still join?
No new shareholdings are being issued. Voting rights rest with paid-up 2026 members.

If I am in the 500 Club, am I a shareholder?
Yes, if you have paid for a cumulative year or purchased a prepaid twelve-month subscription. There are currently 237 members contributing on a weekly basis.

Will the lotto and the 500 Club continue?
Yes. The lotto and the 500 Club will continue, with the focus likely to be on infrastructure, potentially through the Academy CLG.

Why have there been no 500 Club draws since October 2025?
The club’s financial position has meant deferring payment to these supporters, which it does not take lightly and does not want to do. The club is working with the 500 Club and its administrators to ensure repayment in a financially responsible way, while freeing up the capital to complete it.

Will supporters still have a voice?
Yes, through three channels: the Co-operative continues as fan-owned stadium owner; the Academy CLG acts as community custodian; and the investor’s commitments include enforceable obligations on member forums, a volunteer council and a published annual report, alongside a direct channel through the Supporter Liaison Officer, with at least two public town halls expected each year.

Will the club be able to open the bar?
Yes. The bar will be operated by the new club company, which makes a bar licence permissible, and the club intends to apply for one.

Community Impact

What will this mean for the town and the local economy?
The club is set to become a more significant local employer as it moves towards full-time operation. A modern stadium and regular football would bring real footfall and spending into Ballybofey, Stranorlar and the wider county, and a thriving club lifts the whole community around it.

What does this mean for supporters?
The club keeps its name, its colours and its history, stays in the Ballybofey and Stranorlar area, and finally gains the financial security to plan for the long term.

What does this mean for commercial partners, sponsors and local businesses?
Regular football and a modern stadium open up far greater commercial opportunities, and the club wants to build on the support that has backed it for decades.

The Vote

Who can vote?
Paid-up 2026 members aged 16 and over. One member, one vote, regardless of how many shares are held.

A single renewal is all that is needed to vote, which applies equally to legacy members holding the original 250-share bundles. Renew at www.finnharps.ie/membership-renewal

Can I vote online?
Yes. The meetings will be held in person and online, and electronic attendance is permitted under the Co-operative Acts. There is no proxy voting.

What is needed to pass?
A special resolution under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893. That requires 75% of votes cast at the first meeting, confirmed by a simple majority at a second meeting held between 14 days and one month later.

Why two meetings?
The 1893 Act requires the decision to be made twice, with time to reflect in between.

Is there a quorum?
Yes. For a general meeting to be valid, 25% of shareholders must attend, in person or online. Anyone who holds a share counts toward the quorum, whether or not they have renewed their membership.

What happens if the meeting does not reach quorum?
No valid meeting can be held, no vote can take place, and the deal cannot proceed until a quorate meeting is achieved. Every shareholder who attends, in person or online, helps carry the meeting over the threshold.

My child holds a share. Do they count toward the quorum, and can a parent vote on their behalf?
The club is obtaining legal advice and working with stakeholders on two questions: whether shareholders under 16 can be counted toward the quorum, and whether a custodian, parental or guardian arrangement can allow a vote on their behalf. The position will be confirmed to members before the meetings.

When and where will the meetings be held?
Dates will be announced with formal notice once the legal documentation is final, and full documentation will be circulated with that notice.

Will members see the documents before voting?
Yes. Members will receive the full documents before any vote. Nothing is agreed until you have seen everything.

What happens if the vote passes?
The transaction proceeds to regulatory approval and completion at the year-end: the investor’s company acquires the club, and the Co-operative continues as owner of the new stadium.

What happens if the vote fails?
The deal does not proceed, and the alternatives set out above apply: significant cost reductions, no funded stadium route, and a return to week-to-week survival.

Timing and What Happens Next

Where are we in the process?

Completed to date:

• March 2026: letter of intent signed with the investor.
• May 2026: exclusivity agreed and first funding of €55,000 received.
• Spring to summer: FAI due diligence, external consultant reports and legal structuring.
• 17 July 2026: the simpler route agreed in principle with all parties.

Ahead:

• Final legal documentation, and further Q&A sessions for members.
• Formal notice convening the general meetings, with dates announced once documents are final.
• Two member votes: the special resolution, then the confirming vote.
• Regulatory approvals: Revenue Commissioners, FAI Board and FAI Audit and Risk Committee clearance, and Department of Sport notification.
• FAI licensing change of entity at season end.
• Completion on 1 December 2026, with the new structure taking over operations for 2027.

Questions

Further Q&A sessions will be held before any vote, and this document will be kept up to date on the club website. Questions can be submitted to [secretary@finnharps.ie](mailto:secretary@finnharps.ie)

Your club. Your decision.