Warrenpoint Town boss Barry Gray welcomes funding announcement

The Warrenpoint Town boss voiced his concern for the future of Irish League clubs if funding was not forthcoming.

But financial help is on the way following the announcement by Communities minister Carál Ní Chuilín yesterday to make up for the income the sector has lost over the past six months.

Gray said the news has come at a vital time for Irish League clubs.

“The Irish Premiership is one of the biggest employers in sport here, if not the biggest,” said Gray.

“Every other business which has been affected has been bailed out.

“Yes every club has had some sort of support up until now, but they need more otherwise we will find it a very grim picture very soon.

“People keep talking about after Christmas, but it will be grim much quicker than that because the impact of lack of cash flow on clubs is massive.

“Anything coming through the gates at the moment is only paying for all the Covid equipment that they have had to install. Fingers crossed clubs get the support needed and that will take the pressure off everyone.

“That will mean we can enjoy sport, giving people to come on a Saturday and switch off from the horrible problems life is throwing at us at the minute.

“I think that’s what people are longing for and that’s what they need more than anything at this minute.”

Officials from the Department for Communities and Sport NI will continue to engage with the Governing Bodies as work moves forward on the development of the funding scheme and the application process.

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