Unpaid Bohs players named

The dominant message on www.bohemians.ie

It has emerged this morning that the two Bohemians players at centre of legal proceedings to have the club wound up are Steven Gray and Brian Shelley.

The defensive duo had previously been unnamed as the case was taken against the Phibsboro outfit. However, this morning the Irish Independent has named Gray and Shelley as the men involved after their petition was lodged on Thursday.

The dispute centres around the issue of unpaid wages. Both defenders have reportedly not received payment since November. They are said to be just the tip of the iceberg: As many as 10 players from the Gypsies have seen their cash flow disrupted by the club's on-going financial difficulties. But opinion regarding the best course of action is divided within that group.

Both players were relatively recent recruits to North Dublin. Shelley returned south from Drogheda two years ago and helped Bohs claim the 2009 league title, earning a place on the PFAI team of the year in the process.

Yesterday, despite being under contract, he travelled to Norway with several out of contract Irish players to compete in trials for Tippeligaen clubs. His representatives have also been forced to refute claims he has been in negotiations with Australian side, the Ballarat Red Devils.

Gray's case has endeared him less to the Dalymount faithful. The former Derry man signed only a year ago but made only four league appearances last season after an Achilles injury curtailed his season.

Despite winning the league in two of the last three seasons, Bohemians have been mired in financial difficulty brought on by overspending on player transfers and wages along with the failure to push through the sale of their traditional home in Phibsboro.

Court proceedings by representatives of the irate duo began yesterday as the petition to wind up Bohemians FC as a going concern was lodged to the High court.