LEAGUE of Ireland side Bohemians saw their losses nearly double last year to €1.7m.

The company said the loss was largely the result of legal bills incurred in the ongoing saga of the sale of its Dalymount Park ground to failed developer Liam Carroll.

The club had agreed to sell Dalymount to Carroll's Danninger group for €58m, comprising €38m in cash and a new 10,000-seat stadium to be built by the developer at a cost of €20m.

While Danninger was not part of Carroll's companies to collapse last year under its huge debts, the accounts state, the club believes it is likely that Danninger would become insolvent and move into Nama.

"In the case that Danninger cannot fulfil on its obligations under the sale agreement no monies received by [the club] will be repayable, there will also be possible legal recourse to request monies outstanding go to [the club] as part of the contract," Bohemians said in accounts just filed at the Companies Registration Office.

It said that if Danninger could not complete the sale it will sell Dalymount to another party.

Bohemians' turnover for the year to end November 2009 rose to €2.5m from €2m, but it said in the current economic environment it had to cut its costs.

Player wages fell to €1.7m from €1.95m in the previous year, it said, and it will continue to "further reduce overheads". Bohemians' accumulated losses at the end of the last financial year stood at €4.5m.

The club said a business plan submitted to the FAI envisaged it returning to profit in a year or two by cutting costs and gaining access to European football competitions.