Limerick FC Chairman Danny Drew has insisted that the club have no other option but to go to court to seek what he believes will be a fair hearing on why the FAI would not grant them a UEFA Licence to play football next season.
According to Drew, they may also take legal action against the Hogan Park Trust in relation to alleged broken promises made on granting the club a lease at their Hogan Park ground.
Drew confirmed last night that he had employed the services of Limerick based solicitor Kieran O'Brien to handle their case, if they have one.
Drew is the majority shareholder in JRM Sports, the name that Limerick FC trade under.
The club were told by the FAI last December that their application to be granted a UEFA Licence to play First Division football in 2007 had been turned down.
The club subsequently appealed that decision to the FAI's Appeals Board but that appeal was also snubbed.
Drew was appointed Limerick FC Chairman over two years ago and has invested a considerable amount of his own money and time trying to resurrect the fortunes of the club.
Drew insists that he invested his own money in the club on the basis that Limerick would be granted a 25-year lease at the circa 14 acre Hogan Park ground.
He added that his ultimate ambition was to secure a permanent home for The Blues and to transform Hogan Park into a 5,000 all-seater stadium.
Hogan Park was bought by Peter Hogan in the early 1980s. Hogan, who is now living in the USA, named his son Martin and Father Joe Young (The Hogan Park Trust) as the two trustees at the ground.
Father Young however, has consistently stated that he has the casting vote on any decision made in relation to the venue.
Young, who was Limerick FC Chairman when present Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce was Limerick boss, is on record promising the club a 25-year lease last summer.
However, he then changed his mind and instead promised the FAI the lease in August 2006.
Limerick's failure to secure a lease at Hogan Park has prevented them from drawing down over €400,000 in capital sports grants which was badly needed for work on the ground.
One of the stipulations of the grants system is that a club has at least a 25-year lease on their ground.
As a result, the FAI then snubbed their application for a UEFA Licence with concerns about the infrastructure at Hogan Park being cited as one of the main reason for the refusal.
Limerick FC are presently midway through a five-year agreement with tenants Hill Celtic to play at Hogan Park.
