So based on estimates that are made, we pay a sum of money to the revenue each month that is supposed to cover the tax bill for the year.

We were paying less than we should have been which meant the total amount we paid over the year was far less than the total tax due. By the way, this estimate has now been doubled to ensure we don't get caught out again.

We knew the bill was coming and we had an idea we'd have some money to pay but then when we saw it we were a bit taken aback.

As you can imagine, to get lumbered with such a large bill was difficult for what is essentially a small business, especially as the revenue was insisting we pay it all in one lump sum rather than installments. And it's not easy to come up with 160,000 just like that, you can't just get a loan for that amount together as quickly. But it's been paid now, we got it eventually, and though I knew the money was coming through we just couldn't get it in before the revenue deadline. In fairness they're just doing their jobs as well.

I think there's a perception out there that some people are making loads of money out of owning or running clubs here in Ireland. Last year we had our most successful financial year ever, winning the league and with Europe and the prize money involved.

But we still just about broke even and were completely relying on gates and sponsorship to pull through.

There's certainly no money to be made from soccer in this country at the moment. These days we have to pay a group of players who are professional and a whole backroom staff from coaches to masseurs to psychologists to people answering the phones and doing the admin. We are restricted in bringing players in because we can't offer huge money, often we're relying on players being attracted by the concept of playing for City and the community they can be a part of.

I do think it's something the government could be looking at, trying to make things easier for clubs to survive and make things easier for sport in general. There are tax exemptions out there for artists, for people involved with dogs and horse breeding and I don't see why players couldn't get some sort of amnesty. When people hear about professional soccer players they immediately think, "Wow, they must be on big money" but people shouldn't be thinking of the Roy Keanes and the big earners.

These guys aren't making that much money out of the game here. Most of them don't drink or smoke and they spend a lot of time promoting the game in the towns and cities they play so maybe they deserve some reward for that.

It'd just show some interest in the game here, and make people involved in football think they are cared about and not just a burden which is sometimes the impression.

We're representing the country in the Champions League on Wednesday and getting to Europe is a great achievement and tells us that we've done something right and are heading in the right direction. But we're playing at a ground that can only hold 5,500 people in the second biggest city in the country which says something about the problems. We'll head over to Cyprus then, which isn't a rich country by any means and they'll have superb facilities and stadium over there.

Of course getting people to come to the games is a factor.

We'll get the crowds for the big games alright but it's getting the consistent levels up that's a challenge. I don't know the figures exactly but I think I saw that there's over 50,000 people travelling over to England and Scotland to watch games every week but they won't walk down the road to watch their local team. We'll probably have to beat a big team, a Liverpool or a Manchester United for a lot of people to actually realise there are soccer teams in Ireland as well.