BOHEMIANS, THE leaders of the Eircom League Premier Division, made a loss of €530,000 in the most recent financial year due to an increase in player wages, new accounts show.

However, the Dublin club says it has been advised by solicitors that it is "highly unlikely" it would lose a legal action that has stalled its relocation from Phibsborough to a site at Harristown near the airport.

The club is embroiled in a legal dispute over the ownership of a portion of its Dalymount Stadium site, which it agreed to sell to property developer Liam Carroll last year in a deal worth €58 million.

The High Court dispute involves Albion Properties, owned by rival developer Pascal Conroy, and relates to a tract of land sold by the club to Mr Conroy.

According to the accounts, the club claims to be owed €320,000 by Mr Conroy's company Albion Enterprises, which it says is "unlikely" to be received on settlement of the pending court case.

The accounts for the year to November 30th, 2007, show the club's turnover - derived from gate receipts, sponsorship, membership subscriptions and transfer fees - rose by two-thirds to €1.7 million, though overheads jumped 42 per cent to €2.7 million. Players' wages increased to €1.4 million from €861,000, while match-day expenses rose to €170,900 from €51,700.

Bohemians enjoyed a €418,000 gain from hiring out its ground.

According to the accounts, Mr Carroll's company Danninger has agreed to pay the club €38.125 million in cash and to build a 10,000-seat stadium at Harristown worth €20 million.

The club benefited from a €1.1 million payment from Danninger during the year, the second instalment of payments agreed under contract. However, the club carried forward retained losses of almost €1.6 million.