Glentoran hit again by fresh money flow problems

DANSKE Bank Irish Premiership club Glentoran have hit another financial brick wall.

Despite reaching the quarter finals of the Setanta Cup on Monday night, the Glens are still struggling to meet their financial commitments on and off the pitch.

It could mean that the east Belfast club will have to cut back on its staffing levels, resulting in job josses.

Players have only been paid half of their January wages with February’s pay cheque due in just a week’s time.

But the club is already sitting on a yellow card from HM Revenue and Customs as it hasn’t paid its tax pill for the last three months.

HMRC have in the past taken a ruthless approach to football clubs who don’t keep on top of their tax bills.

There has been a number of incidents over the past month which have pointed up serious financial problems at the Oval.

Last November, players did not turn up for training over the issue of unpaid wages but stopped short of striking.

And the club received an early Christmas present when chairman Terence Brannigan revealed that sponsors A. McClean Bookmakers had pumped money into the Glens.

No figure was disclosed but the signs were that the money was enought to keep Glentoran solvent.

However, Glen’s team captain Colin Nixon said after its Setanta win over St Patrick’s Athletic that he believe matters will be resolved.

“In tough economic times, everyone is struggling.

“Glentoran are probably more to the fore because we are a bigger club and people want to hear about it unfortunately.

“We will get through it. All the players can do is concentrate on playing. We have to keep plugging away and work hard.”