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Alan Reynolds: 'This city has been knocked before'

Updated / Saturday, 20 Apr 2019 07:45
Waterford manager Alan Reynolds: 'It'll be a blame game. Nobody will take responsibility for it
Waterford manager Alan Reynolds: 'It'll be a blame game. Nobody will take responsibility for it

Waterford FC boss Alan Reynolds has admitted the club are hurting after their expulsion from the 2019/20 Europa League.

On Thursday, the FAI confirmed that UEFA will not be granting an exception to Waterford to allow them to compete in the upcoming qualifying rounds for the next season's competition.

A club must be three years old to compete in European competition, and the Blues' management company was only formed in late 2016.

It now looks as though Waterford's place will instead be taken by St Patrick's Athletic, and Reynolds shared his enormous frustration after seeing his side beat Cork City 2-0 at the RSC.

"This city has been knocked before," he told RTÉ Sport.

"Even in the recession we were the forgotten city I suppose, and to get a kick like that at this stage of the season.

"How somebody doesn't know this before we get ten or 11 games into the season, it's really disappointing. I didn't see this coming at all. When I heard it first I didn't believe it to be honest. It'll be a blame game. Nobody will take responsibility for it. 

"Lee is furious. He's invested a lot into this. The players are disappointed. We spoke about it before the game and really we needed to put in a performance for the supporters tonight. We'll dust ourselves down and see where it goes. It's gut-wrenching."

Saints boss Harry Kenny meanwhile is keeping his fingers crossed that European football comes to Inchicore this year.

"It's great for all our fans if it does come true," he said, adding when asked he had sympathy for Waterford: "Not really no. I'd be delighted if we get it. We just have to wait and see. It's a waiting game now"

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