Armagh Football Club have released an official statement to formally address recent controversy surrounding the club’s performance and decision to part ways with their former senior team manager, Shea Campbell.
Earlier this week, Armagh I reported that discontentment had been brewing within the club since they announced their “mutual agreement” with Campbell back in November, 2025.
Sources claimed that many players had become “disgruntled” in the wake of the decision and subsequently departed in the weeks and months that followed.
A total of 16 players are now said to have bid farewell to Holm Park to start anew with various other clubs.
Under mounting pressure, the senior squad suffered a sorry 8 – 0 defeat against Ards at Holm Park during a significant Championship 1 game that kicked off December 30.
They then went on days later to lose out by a whopping 12 – 0 to H&W Welders on January 3.
Armagh I contacted club chairman, Ryan Kelly for his comment in relation to source’s claims. The chairman was upfront in his defence of club decisions over the last number of months, explaining there was a stronger focus on “marrying” youth and senior player development while focusing on the club’s long-term financial sustainability.
He emphasised the club’s need to bring in volunteers and new committee members, expressing a keen desire to have those invested in the club’s successes to be directly involved in the processes behind the scenes.
Now, issuing a formalised statement, the chairman said in a letter to club members and parents the club wanted to “offer transparency around several difficult decisions that have been made over the past few months.”
“These decisions have not been taken lightly,” he said. “Every decision made by the management committee has been guided by what I believe to be in the long-term best interests of Armagh City Football Club. I feel it is important to clearly outline the reasoning behind them.
“Like all clubs, Armagh City FC has essential operational costs required to function on a day-to-day basis. When I took over as Chairman in the summer of 2025, I commissioned a detailed review of the club’s finances.”
Upon completion of the review, the chairman said it was “clear” that the costs associated with the senior club were “by far the largest financial burden”.
In the months that followed, it became evident the club was operating in a way that was financially “unsustainable”, he said.
He continued: “During discussions with first-team management at that time, it was made clear that the club needed to change its operating model — moving away from a focus on signing players, and towards developing players.
“This shift is essential not only for financial sustainability, but for the long-term health and identity of the club.
“At that point, only one first-team player had progressed through our youth system. We firmly believe that for Armagh City FC to thrive, it must champion youth development, create clear pathways, and build a structure that supports both player progression and on-field performance. Unfortunately, agreement could not be reached on this approach.”
However, alluding to outside influence over current players, he said that following these difficult decisions the club did not anticipate players “receiving messages encouraging training boycotts or actions against the club after parting with the first-team management”.
Continued the chairman: “The recent results and challenges have largely arisen due to some players choosing to leave the club at a time we needed them most. This has forced us to fulfil fixtures primarily using youth players against vastly experienced football clubs — our goal is to supplement our youth players with more senior players in our team which will further aid their development.
“Other players understandably wished to pursue Premiership football within a timeframe that the club, both financially and structurally, could not support and therefore left the club to pursue other opportunities.
“While we would all like to see the club competing at the highest level, pursuing that goal under the current circumstances is not feasible as we aim to operate within our means.”
The club’s priority moving forward is to ensure the club’s sustainability and future through investment in facilities, clear player development pathways, coach development and in supporting all teams across the club, “not just one”.
The letter continued: “It is clear to anyone involved that the club’s facilities require significant refurbishment and improvement, and this must now become a key area of focus.
“Armagh City FC is built on a strong foundation of over 30 teams, supported by dedicated volunteers, coaches, parents, and young players. At present, many teams and coaches operate in isolation. The club must move beyond simply facilitating teams and instead actively support, connect, and develop them as one club.
“That is how we have arrived at this point. While this message only provides a brief overview of recent months, we want to reassure everyone that these decisions were made collectively by the management committee, based on clear information and with a genuine plan to secure a stronger, more sustainable future for Armagh City FC.
“Given the recent level of criticism directed toward members of the management committee, I believe it is only right to share our perspective and reasoning openly.”
Questions or concerns, are being welcomed from members and parents to info@acfcnl.com.
