FINN HARPS HAVE called a meeting of supporters this Thursday and have appealed for a big crowd to turn out for Friday night’s game against Sligo Rovers.
The club has raised concerns about its financial situation with a gap of five weeks between Friday’s game against Sligo and their next home game, against Galway United on July 8.
“This is a substantive period without revenue from gate receipts which poses a challenge to the club,” the Finn Harps secretary John Campbell told Donegal Sport Hub.
“The return to the Premier Division presents its own set of challenges both on and off the field.
“We are asking all Harps supporters to assist in the following ways.
[adrotate group=”38″]“We are asking all soccer supporters to come along to the Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers match this Friday night.
“Before that, we are inviting all Finn Harps supporters to a meeting in the Villa Rose on Thursday, June 2, at 8pm to discuss potential ways we can fundraise over that period.
“We look forward to all Finn Harps fans assisting in the ways outlined above and so ensuring that the team have the best possible opportunity of remaining in the Premier Division.”
[adrotate group=”43″]At the recent Harps AGM, Mr Campbell expressed his concerns at the attendances at Finn Park in this, Harps’ first Premier Division season since 2008.
Although a bumper 4,195 watched Harps defeat north-west rivals Derry City on the first night of the season, the numbers coming through the turnstiles have dropped sharply since then.
While only 420 saw last weekend’s FAI Senior Cup defeat to Crumlin United, it was the previous week’s figure of 1,320 for the visit of Dundalk that was of more obvious concern.
[adrotate group=”50″]Although Harps lost that night 7-0, they went into it on the back of a stirring 2-2 draw at Brandywell against Derry only three nights beforehand.
For the 1-0 wins over Longford Town and Bray Wanderers only 739 and 850 respectively paid in, meaning the average attendance figure of 1,577 is boosted considerably by that derby crowd for the first fixture.
Only once since, when 2,061 viewed Harps against Shamrock Rovers, has there been a crowd in excess of 2,000 for a home fixture.
[adrotate group=”46″]Harps players will have a one-week break before returning to training on June 13.
The club’s players still have to be paid during the hiatus.
Mr Campbell said: “The clock doesn’t stop, nor does insurance, costs for training facilities, training costs and other associated costs.”
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