Drogheda have been made an example of, says co-chairman

Drogheda United co-chairman Ben Boycott has claimed the Co Louth club have been made an "example of" by UEFA after their expulsion from this season's Conference League.

It's been an emotionally draining period for the Trivela Group-owned Drogs, who qualified for Europe after winning the FAI Cup last November.

Danish side Silkeborg - which came under the Trivela umbrella shortly after the Drogs' cup win - also secured a place in the Conference League through their league position two weeks ago. Under UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, only one of the teams could enter the tournament. Silkeborg received the golden ticket due to their higher league finish.

On Monday, Drogheda lost an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after a panel found that a change of deadline for blind-trust ownership from 3 June 2025 to 1 March 2025 had been properly communicated by UEFA and that Drogheda knew, or ought to have known, about this change.

In an open letter to the club's supporters on Wednesday, Boycott, Trivela's managing director, claimed "the process has lacked consistency, clarity, and fairness".

He also confirmed the ownership will cover the financial shortfall entailed from missing out on European games, which would have brought in at least €525,000.

Boycott wrote: "Let me say first: I absolutely respect UEFA’s aim to uphold sporting integrity in European competitions.

"But I believe - strongly- that the way this year’s rule changes around multi-club ownership (MCO) were introduced and enforced has unintended negative consequences to that goal. I believe that the process has lacked consistency, clarity, and fairness. And Drogheda United is paying the price."

Boycott elaborated on why Trivela failed to take the appropriate actions required to safeguard Drogheda's participation in the Conference League.

"There is and will be much talk about a missed deadline," he added.

"I submit to you that the truth is much more nuanced and complicated than DUFC failing to file some paperwork on time.

"The issue at hand is that, according to UEFA, Trivela should have taken meaningful steps to fully separate from Drogheda United - through a share sale or transfer of control - in February, months before there was any certainty that Silkeborg IF would qualify for Europe, and in the midst of major off-field transitions for Drogheda.

"That was a busy and critical time for this club. We were transitioning to full-time football. We were securing a new long-term training ground. We were preparing for a brand new LOI season, and completing important and significant stadium upgrades, such as the 12th Man Lounge.

"Silkeborg were in and around the middle of the table in Denmark while we were doing all of this work at DUFC – over three months before SIF would ultimately become the final team to qualify for Europe.

"The core regulatory issue hinges on the 'Assessment Date' used by UEFA and the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) to evaluate the eligibility of clubs in MCOs. In all previous seasons, this date fell in early June - after domestic seasons had concluded. That timing gave clubs and groups the opportunity to react to final standings and take necessary steps.

"This year, for the first time ever, that date was moved up to March 1st. Notification of the coming change was shared in one piece of communication - a circular letter which UEFA sent to national associations in October 2024.

"After that, the full rules for the 2025-26 season, including the new assessment date, were not fully adopted until 26 February, 2025 - just two days before the new assessment date took effect, and it appears were not made publicly available until 1 March."

"That's a system that puts clubs and groups like ours at a disadvantage."

Boycott claimed that "larger and more resourced clubs had much more information and opportunity" to make the required changes to their ownership structures, adding: "I believe that this very limited communication around a significant rule change created a meaningful blind spot. It appears that other MCO groups were proactively contacted by UEFA in December and January regarding these rule changes.

"Further, it seems that some of those that were contacted and began taking steps before this deadline were then given time to implement structures after the deadline. We were not ever contacted directly, and Drogheda was not afforded that same flexibility. Regardless of how it happened – the reality is that larger and more resourced clubs had much more information and opportunity than DUFC did.

"That’s a system that puts clubs and groups like ours at a disadvantage.

"Worse still, historical precedent gave us every reason to believe that we would have a path to resolve any concerns post-assessment date. In recent years, multiple clubs have enacted share transfers, blind trust structures, and other remedies after the assessment date. Those precedents shaped our expectations - and we acted accordingly.

"The moment it became clear to us that this cycle would be different - months ago, at this point - we engaged directly with UEFA. Over those months, we offered multiple remedies: a share transfer back to the Drogheda United Members Club, placement of shares into an Irish trust, and participation in a UK-based UEFA-approved templatized blind trust structure. We were turned away at every step."

Boycott said the Trivela Group accepts responsibility for the situation. However, he did not hide his frustrations at the process.

"I personally believe this decision makes an example of Drogheda so that UEFA can signal a change of approach to its regulation of MCOs," Boycott said.

On a more upbeat note, Boycott revealed they have stepped up plans for a new stadium: "The future remains bright. We've now submitted documents to Louth County Council to pursue securing the land for our new stadium - one of the most significant steps in this club’s history. That work continues, uninterrupted."

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