COUNCIL WAITS FOR 'FINAL' SET OF ACCOUNTS FROM SOCCER GAMES
Council waits for 'final' set of accounts from soccer games
OMAGH Council is to await the final publication of accounts into three high-profile soccer matches in aid of the Omagh Fund, before commenting further on the controversy surrounding the fund-raisers.
Councillors this week moved to distance themselves from debate surrounding last year's Omagh Town games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester Utd.
It is estimated that only �30,000 of around �185,000 raised from the matches will eventually go to aid victims of the 1998 atrocity.
Draft accounts of the memorial matches obtained by the Herald show that almost a quarter of the money raised went on preparing the club's St Julian's Road ground in preparation for the visiting teams.
And manager, Roy McCreadie netted �2,500 in administration expenses for his role in organising the trio of fixtures.
According to the draft, the only sponsorship donations towards staging the games came from Ulster Television (�10,000) and the Daily Mirror (�3,404).
But in a BBC Spotlight documentary screened this week, reporter Chris Moore alleged further monies paid towards funding the matches were not included in independent accountant Brian Mellon's draft report.
The programme further alleged that Town bosses used over �14,000 of monies raised to pay the club's outstanding VAT debt. But according to Mr Mellon, this money was later repaid to the fund account.
CONFIDENT
No-one from Omagh Town participated in the programme, but the club has since issued a brief statement saying it feels confident it can rebut any allegations of misuse of funds.
In response to the Spotlight programme, the club's management committee is set to meet with lawyers tomorrow (Friday), to consider "a full and detailed response."
The statement concluded: "Omagh Town will reply to each claim laid against it by the Spotlight programme, and is confident it can satisfactorily rebut any charge of wrongdoing."
Thousands of fans attended the three games which were designed to boost the Omagh Fund while at the same time bolstering support for the town following the August 1998 explosion which killed 31 people, including unborn twins.
According to the draft account, which was recently presented to councillors, income from the three matches totalled �185,129. This included �134,284 which was generated through ticket sales and over �13,000 which was raised from a gala dinner in the Silverbirch Hotel.
A further �19,882 was lifted from sales of specially commissioned programmes, while sponsorship funding accounted for a further �13,000.
But around �46,000 was spent on improving facilities at St Julian's Road and over �61,000 went on providing extra seating for the games. Other expenditure incurred included monies spent on communication systems, toilet hire and the production of match programmes.
A total of �6,599 went on travel expenses for Manchester Utd and Liverpool teams and officials, including over �1,000 in expenses and insurance costs to take United's silverware to the Omagh venue.
And almost �10,000 was swallowed up on a range of 'hospitality' expenses, while a further �3,000 went on administration outlay.
According to the interim report, no income was received from hoardings as all monies generated related to agreements advertisers had drawn up with the club covering a 2-3 year period.
And a �1 per item contribution which was promised from a merchandising failed to materialise.
"In relation to advertising in the programmes, nothing was received because the advertisers were regular Omagh Town programme advertisers who received their entry free. Others were invoiced and did not pay," the report adds.
In conclusion, the report states "The following assurances were given by the club, that the only money spent on the ground and club was for health and safety as requested by the Environmental Health Department. The improvements to the pitch were requested by Chelsea and Manchester United officials to upgrade the playing surface."
Prior to the staging of the fixtures, Omagh District Council was contacted by Manchester United bosses and a body - which included an independent accountant and officials from the Council and Omagh Town was set up to oversee the fundraisers.
But during this week's meeting of Omagh District Council, Cllr Joe Byrne pointed out that the Council only became involved a short time before the first of the fundraisers kicked off.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian (21) died in the blast, said he felt allegations raised in the Spotlight programme should be further investigated.
He told the Herald: "We were alarmed at some of the disclosures made in the programme and I have since been contacted by a number of the families involved in the Victim Self Help Group.
"We are due to meet with the Council shortly and during that meeting we will be discussing the report and questioning a number of the issues raised in the programme."
OMAGH Council is to await the final publication of accounts into three high-profile soccer matches in aid of the Omagh Fund, before commenting further on the controversy surrounding the fund-raisers.
Councillors this week moved to distance themselves from debate surrounding last year's Omagh Town games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester Utd.
It is estimated that only �30,000 of around �185,000 raised from the matches will eventually go to aid victims of the 1998 atrocity.
Draft accounts of the memorial matches obtained by the Herald show that almost a quarter of the money raised went on preparing the club's St Julian's Road ground in preparation for the visiting teams.
And manager, Roy McCreadie netted �2,500 in administration expenses for his role in organising the trio of fixtures.
According to the draft, the only sponsorship donations towards staging the games came from Ulster Television (�10,000) and the Daily Mirror (�3,404).
But in a BBC Spotlight documentary screened this week, reporter Chris Moore alleged further monies paid towards funding the matches were not included in independent accountant Brian Mellon's draft report.
The programme further alleged that Town bosses used over �14,000 of monies raised to pay the club's outstanding VAT debt. But according to Mr Mellon, this money was later repaid to the fund account.
CONFIDENT
No-one from Omagh Town participated in the programme, but the club has since issued a brief statement saying it feels confident it can rebut any allegations of misuse of funds.
In response to the Spotlight programme, the club's management committee is set to meet with lawyers tomorrow (Friday), to consider "a full and detailed response."
The statement concluded: "Omagh Town will reply to each claim laid against it by the Spotlight programme, and is confident it can satisfactorily rebut any charge of wrongdoing."
Thousands of fans attended the three games which were designed to boost the Omagh Fund while at the same time bolstering support for the town following the August 1998 explosion which killed 31 people, including unborn twins.
According to the draft account, which was recently presented to councillors, income from the three matches totalled �185,129. This included �134,284 which was generated through ticket sales and over �13,000 which was raised from a gala dinner in the Silverbirch Hotel.
A further �19,882 was lifted from sales of specially commissioned programmes, while sponsorship funding accounted for a further �13,000.
But around �46,000 was spent on improving facilities at St Julian's Road and over �61,000 went on providing extra seating for the games. Other expenditure incurred included monies spent on communication systems, toilet hire and the production of match programmes.
A total of �6,599 went on travel expenses for Manchester Utd and Liverpool teams and officials, including over �1,000 in expenses and insurance costs to take United's silverware to the Omagh venue.
And almost �10,000 was swallowed up on a range of 'hospitality' expenses, while a further �3,000 went on administration outlay.
According to the interim report, no income was received from hoardings as all monies generated related to agreements advertisers had drawn up with the club covering a 2-3 year period.
And a �1 per item contribution which was promised from a merchandising failed to materialise.
"In relation to advertising in the programmes, nothing was received because the advertisers were regular Omagh Town programme advertisers who received their entry free. Others were invoiced and did not pay," the report adds.
In conclusion, the report states "The following assurances were given by the club, that the only money spent on the ground and club was for health and safety as requested by the Environmental Health Department. The improvements to the pitch were requested by Chelsea and Manchester United officials to upgrade the playing surface."
Prior to the staging of the fixtures, Omagh District Council was contacted by Manchester United bosses and a body - which included an independent accountant and officials from the Council and Omagh Town was set up to oversee the fundraisers.
But during this week's meeting of Omagh District Council, Cllr Joe Byrne pointed out that the Council only became involved a short time before the first of the fundraisers kicked off.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian (21) died in the blast, said he felt allegations raised in the Spotlight programme should be further investigated.
He told the Herald: "We were alarmed at some of the disclosures made in the programme and I have since been contacted by a number of the families involved in the Victim Self Help Group.
"We are due to meet with the Council shortly and during that meeting we will be discussing the report and questioning a number of the issues raised in the programme."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1345
Published Date: 04-May-00
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