It was billed in the Irish Independent as a meeting of St. Patrick's Athletic supporters "to discuss the League's decision to dock them nine points", in the end, club secretary Phil Mooney ruled the 9 point deduction sub judice, as the Saints board are taking legal advice on the matter so very little time was spent discussing the case.
This is Dermot Looney's account of the meeting
This evening`s fans` forum held at Richmond Park attracted a crowd of approximately 200 and was I felt a more constructive meeting than last year`s effort in the Aisling. Most of the questions that needed to be asked were asked, although with the registration affair understandably sub judice the immediate problem of being docked 9 points couldn`t be dealt with.
The first part of the meeting concentrated on the change of name issue and while I felt it wasn`t dealt with that well we did get somewhat of a promise that there would be no name change to Dublin Saints without consultation, and that it wasn`t on the agenda anyway. There was also criticism of the club, to some degree accepted by Phil Mooney, that the organisation of the meeting, the change of venue and notice of such, was poor at best.
There was a rather wishy-washy and long-winded excuse by Alan Duncan, who I have to say came across otherwise as being decent, for his claim that we would be known as Dublin Saints within 2 years. There was a refusal by President Tim O`Flaherty that we would be moving to Baldonnell - the questioner didn`t have a way of getting up there anyway so he was steeped...
Reports on the security situation at Oriel on Monday and at Richmond were listened to intensely but it remains to see if anything will come of it. There was, I felt, a fair balance between speakers on different side of arguments, and everyone was given an opportunity to speak. Some had a lot to say about those who criticised Pat Dolan, including the man himself, but to be honest there was little unexpected, except for one supporter who accused Pat Dolan of lying. He was visibly and audibly furious at Dolan`s response to his question and had to be restrained by those around him. The other rírá on the night took place between former chairman Paddy Becton and another long-time supporter over 10-year old matters. There was substantial support for Pat Dolan and the club in general and appeals to vigorously support the club against Rovers and Shels in particular were met with unanimous approval.
A member of the St. Patrick`s Athletic Schoolboy Section appealed for support for Paul Marney, who had no fault in this whole fiasco. Club Secretary Phil Mooney stated that he handled the registration (no-one asked about who was at fault so fair play to Phil for taking responsibility of his own accord) and it was stated that the club was certainly seeking legal advice. There were other references to tactics, away support and how we should all get behind the team etc., I felt it was a positive enough meeting but not everything has been answered. That said I think the 9 pts travesty has drawn us close together and this club must be as one to fight out this injustice - either on the field or off it, or both!.
Dermot Looney is the Chairman of Independent Saints
