Drogheda United: Club owners say Joanna Byrne removed from co-chairperson role
Joanna Byrne has been removed from her role as Drogheda United co-chairperson, the club's owners the Trivela Group have confirmed.Byrne previously said she had been told her position on the League of Ireland club's board was "no longer tenable" after comments she made about the Republic of Ireland's scheduled Nations League fixtures with Israel.She had said she was "angry and dismayed" that the Republic of Ireland will fulfil the fixtures in September and October, adding "Israel should not be in this competition".Last week, Sinn Fein Teachta Dala (TD, Irish member of parliament) Byrne said she would not resign as director and co-chair after being instructed to do so by the League of Ireland club's American owners.That came after the Trivela Group said Byrne was not being asked to resign over her political views or beliefs, but because of "a statement made regarding private discussions with Club ownership".In a further statement on Monday, the Trivela Group confirmed she had been removed."Trivela Group can confirm that, pursuant to its authority as sole shareholder of Drogheda United FC, Joanna Byrne has been removed by Trivela Group as a director of the club," the statement read."At this time, the board of directors consists of Benjamin Boycott, Marc Koretzky, Barton Lee, and club CEO Rian Wogan. Mr Boycott for the time being, will serve as the sole chairperson, and the club will look to appoint a local director and co-chair in due course."Once again, we thank Ms Byrne for her longstanding and ongoing dedication to the club and its success."In a letter to Drogheda United fans following Trivela's statement, Byrne said: "The past few weeks have been a difficult time for me personally, but I have carried myself with integrity at all times in recent weeks, for the good of the club."This approach is the opposite to the cold, underhand move by Trivela, initiated in the dark of the night, which was planned and co-ordinated without any consultation with me. This is symptomatic of the way they do business."Byrne added that she remains "deeply committed to Drogheda United" and wants "to see it flourish".
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