CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:BRIAN SHELLEY has dubbed Bohemians' humiliating Champions League exit as the lowest moment of his career.
The Bohemians defender, who has suffered the heartbreak of relegation, said nothing compared to the embarrassing 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Welsh minnows The New Saints on Tuesday night.
The shell-shocked League of Ireland champions are still trying to come to terms with one of the worst results of their 40-year history of European competition, after going down in Oswestry.
And with hopes of a glamour tie with Belgian giants Anderlecht and a €500,000 cash boost lying in tatters, Shelley pulled no punches as the inquest began into the Dubliners’ drubbing.
“It was the most disappointing night I’ve ever had in my career and I’ve been relegated once or twice,” said Shelley.
“It was gut wrenching to walk in after being beaten by four goals. I think too many took it for granted.
“From the start they out-muscled us and bullied. But they haven’t started their season yet and we’re mid flow – there are no excuses.
“Over the last couple of years Irish clubs have made progress, but this is a kick in the teeth for the whole league.
“Any player sitting in that dressingroom before the game who thought we didn’t have to win this game for financial reasons was fooling themselves.
“We all knew going into the game that we needed it – to what extent I don’t really know. But we know financially that it’s going to have a big impact on us, for the rest of the season and the seasons ahead.”
A nightmare evening saw Bohemians’ one-goal lead from the first leg quickly wiped out after a three-goal blitz all but ended the second round qualifying tie with barely 20 minutes on the clock.
To make matters worse, Bohs’ large travelling support turned on manager Pat Fenlon and his players as TNS romped home to advance in Europe for the first time in 14 years.
“We will probably never get another chance like that again,” admitted 28-year-old Shelley. “It was the first time in a long time that a League of Ireland team goes away from home and are the favourites to go through. Maybe that’s where the problem was.
“We’ve just let Pat and the staff down big time. It was hard as you are trying not to notice them (the fans) but I was getting it in the ear by numerous fans. It was like a home game with all the fans who went out of their way to come and support us. We let them down.”
