NEVER BOH SO CLOSE AGAIN

Devine: This club has come too far to ever mortgage its future like it did before

- MARK MCCADDEN

DECLAN DEVINE has pledged that Bohemians will never take itself to the verge of financial ruin again.

The Gypsies were close to going out of business, with debts of around €7m in 2011 almost forcing the famous Dalymount Park side under.

Bohs weren't the only side to flirt with a grizzly end when the chaotic Celtic Tiger era came crashing to an end.

As Devine (inset) noted yesterday, few clubs escaped some form of financial hardship in the pursuit of glory, silverware and a big European payday.

His current club turned the corner after hitting rock bottom, when the first-team wage bill, once at over €2m per year, was slashed to €120,000 in 2012.

But the drastic cost-cutting wasn't done in isolation.