STATEMENT RE GARY SMYTH REGISTRATION  (28-10-03)

The Glentoran Board of Directors met this evening and expressed their disappointment at the penalties imposed with regard to the non-registration of Gary Smyth with the Irish Football Association. The responsibility of the Board is to make decisions in the best interest of Glentoran and a conclusion was reached reluctantly in accepting this decision of the IFL, which imposed a fine of £4,500, deduction of five league points and expulsion from the CIS Cup.

Everybody involved in local football knows Gary Smyth to be a Glentoran player since the year 2000 and what has developed is almost inconceivable and while many will consider Glentoran have won a morale argument we have lost the legal argument in as much as we could not show him to be a registered player.

Glentoran Chairman, Stafford Reynolds said, "At no time did we seek to gain an advantage nor were any other teams disadvantaged. We did ask the Irish Football League for leniency in view of the fact that our manager, players and supporters should not suffer for a clerical oversight on behalf of the club. We are very disappointed that the full measure of the rules were applied when in fact we thought a more lenient view could have been taken given."

"After taking advise from experienced, well-placed sources in the administration of the game and having weighed up all those options we have come to a decision in the best interest of Glentoran that we accept the ruling."

The Board of Directors are very disappointed for our supporters and have put their best efforts into recovering the position, which has been difficult from the outset. The club is currently developing an action plan to improve our administration to avoid any repeat. A new computer system has been ordered and will be installed next week along with other executive changes to enhance the organisation of the club.

Stafford went on to say, "It has been a traumatic period for all of us. We may have other responsibilities but we are all supporters who bleed as well. We want to put this behind us and move forward. The future for football is still bright and we plan to be at the forefront of the local game. We ask for your continued support and to get behind the team."