2006 Shelbourne F.C. season


In the 2006 season, Shelbourne were crowned League of Ireland Premier Division champions.

Overview

Despite having battled with dire finances for much of the 2006 season, mainly due to market risk-taking in the drive for success, over-expenditure on player-purchase fees, high wages, low home attendance rates and continuing tax debts, Shelbourne actually managed to win the title. However, they had been hit with three winding-up orders by the Revenue Commissioners within a spell of nine months but just about managed to gather enough funds and investment to keep the tax collectors off their backs and keep the club running on each occasion. This was at the expense of the players, though, who had gone for weeks without their wages and it seemed that the only thing keeping them performing at the club was the season's climax and the drive for the title, as well as promises of a remedy. Once the season came to a close the rot set in and the general public were made fully aware of the true extent of how poor a state the club were in. Due to the finances, many found it extraordinary that Shelbourne had been awarded a Premier Division licence for 2007 by the Independent Assessment Group a few months earlier. They saw it as another chance to criticise the lack of transparency within the organisation that appointed the Group who were supposed to dispense licences to clubs who were solvent and financially stable for the foreseeable future - the Football Association of Ireland. The association has been well used to criticism of its administration in the past, but clearly, the Group could not have been said to have performed their role effectively.
Manager Pat Fenlon tendered his resignation from Shelbourne on 5 December 2006. This was in spite of Shelbourne winning the title on goal difference from Derry City. Fenlon's departure precipitated a widescale exodus from Tolka Park, as players, unhappy with the wage situation, departed to rival clubs - many having their contracts rescinded by law.

Personnel

Managerial/Backroom Staff

Manager: Pat Fenlon
Assistant Manager: Eamon Collins

2006 Squad Members

Out on loan

Transfers In

The following players joined Shelbourne for the 2006 campaign:
DatePos.NameFrom
December 8, 2005MF Greg O'HalloranCork City
January 10, 2006DF Sean DillonLongford Town
February 11, 2006MF Liam KearneyCork City

Transfers Out

Results

League of Ireland Premier Division

Expunged League Results

Final League

League results summary

League Form/Results by Round

UEFA Intertoto Cup

First Round">2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup#First round">First Round

Shelbourne won 5 - 0 on aggregate

Second Round">2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup#Second round">Second Round

OB Odense won 3 - 1 on aggregate

FAI Carlsberg Cup

Second Round">FAI Cup 2006#Second round">Second Round

Third Round">FAI Cup 2006#Third round">Third Round

eircom League Cup

Second Round">League of Ireland Cup 2006#Second round">Second Round

Quarter-Finals">League of Ireland Cup 2006#Quarter-finals">Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals">League of Ireland Cup 2006#Semi-finals">Semi-Finals

Final">League of Ireland Cup 2006#Final">Final

Setanta Sports Cup

Group B">2006 Setanta Sports Cup#Group B">Group B

Final Group B Table

Semi-Finals">2006 Setanta Sports Cup#Semi-finals">Semi-Finals

Friendlies

2006 Season Statistics

Player Appearances/Goals

As of November 17, 2006.

Top Goalscorers