Walker in, but Glens may be out of Europe

Local

Roy Walker at the Oval yesterday after being appointed as manager of Glentoran

New Oval boss Roy rocked as he fails to meet UEFA criteria

Friday, May 25, 2007

By Stuart McKinley

Glentoran were last night in serious danger of being barred from european football this summer.

The club yesterday appointed Roy Walker as manager in succession to Paul Millar who was sacked last week.

And that has thrown doubt over their participation in the UEFA Cup in July.

Clubs must be in possession of a UEFA Licence in order to play in either the Champions League, UEFA Cup or Intertoto Cup.

The Glens were one of six Irish Premier League clubs who were granted a licence five weeks ago, but Millar's sacking and Walker's arrival in his place may now see that revoked by the Irish FA's Licensing Committee.

The requirement for a UEFA Licence, as laid down by the IFA, state that: The head coach must hold: Alternative 1: The 'UEFA Pro diploma.'

Alternative 2: The 'UEFA 'A' Licence.'

Alternative 3: Such person who does not meet alternatives 1 or 2 must have started an UEFA 'A' Licence coaching course, a simple inscription to such a course is not sufficient.

Millar is a Pro Licence qualified coach, but currently Walker doesn't hold any coaching qualifications and will only be starting to work towards gaining them within the next few weeks.

"There are no loopholes and the UEFA Licence can be revoked if circumstances change within the club," said an IFA spokesperson.

"Head coach and manager are one and the same person, a club can't have a manager without the necessary qualifications and get a UEFA Licence through another coach at the club having them.

"There are other clubs in the Irish Premier League who weren't granted a Licence because their manager doesn't have the required qualifications and goalposts can't be moved for one club."

Glentoran Director for Football Tom Dick last night denied that there will be any such problems with the club and their UEFA Licence.

"Alan McDonald is staying at the club and he has a UEFA 'A' Licence so nothing will be affected," said Dick.

"Roy Walker won't be on duty in Europe anyway as he is away on a pre-booked holiday. His job doesn't start until the beginning of the season.

"It is not an issue and we wouldn't have appointed him if it had been an issue."

If the Glens UEFA Licence is revoked it will throw Cliftonville's preparations for their Intertoto Cup clash with Latvian side FC Dinaburg into chaos as they would be promoted into the UEFA Cup.

Lisburn Distillery, who are the highest placed league finishers in possession of a licence, would then be in line to replace the Reds in the Intertoto Cup, with the first leg at home on Saturday, June 23.