Sporting Fingal Gone Belly Up

**Dodge** · 10/02/2011, 11:40 AM

Some of us were quite happy about that...

**Bunny Kelly** · 10/02/2011, 11:55 AM

Without wanting to cause too much offence to Fingal fans I'm inwardly delighted at what has happened to to them.

They came in at the expense of my little club. Kilkenny were only small time but so were their debts & I believe a way to manage them could have been found if the FAI weren't in such a rush to fast-track this franchise that had arrived in the A championship. The FAI were so blinded by Fingal's money they were happy to push through a side that only existed a mere months instead of a club who tried to live by their budget constraints.

I know we were only small & had low attendances but we were not reckless & given time may have been able to build something again as we had in the past, but instead we were pushed over the edge to accommodate the short term thinking of Sporting Fingal.

Despite this rant I do feel for the Fingal fans because it's just not the same when you lose your own team

**John83** · 10/02/2011, 12:04 PM

Bunny, my understanding is that Kilkenny lost their main organiser, and that's what really did them in rather than the debts.

**Lamper.sffc** · 10/02/2011, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Bunny Kelly

Without wanting to cause too much offence to Fingal fans I'm inwardly delighted at what has happened to to them.

They came in at the expense of my little club. Kilkenny were only small time but so were their debts & I believe a way to manage them could have been found if the FAI weren't in such a rush to fast-track this franchise that had arrived in the A championship. The FAI were so blinded by Fingal's money they were happy to push through a side that only existed a mere months instead of a club who tried to live by their budget constraints.

I know we were only small & had low attendances but we were not reckless & given time may have been able to build something again as we had in the past, but instead we were pushed over the edge to accommodate the short term thinking of Sporting Fingal.

Despite this rant I do feel for the Fingal fans because it's just not the same when you lose your own team

Appreciate the support for the fans and thanks, but was it not kilkenny themselves who decided to call it quits. They decided they could no longer run a club in the LOI if memory serves me well. Our club was heading into the A championship without any problem. We where geared up for that league albeit with a decent squad at that level.

**marinobohs** · 10/02/2011, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Anyone know the law regarding reckless trading?

Really now, since when has reckless trading ever been a problem in LOI

in legal sense I would imagine the defence would be that they expected income from UK sponsorship (figure of 500 K mentioned in Evening Herald) and had operated based on that . Very difficult to prove "reckless trading" in such a scenario unless perhaps they signed someone after deal colapsed. More likely legal route for players is our old friend "breach of contract" but as others pointed out there are limited assets to chase and players more likely to settle and move on.

**John83** · 10/02/2011, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by marinobohs

Really now, since when has reckless trading ever been a problem in LOI

in legal sense I would imagine the defence would be that they expected income from UK sponsorship (figure of 500 K mentioned in Evening Herald) and had operated based on that . Very difficult to prove "reckless trading" in such a scenario unless perhaps they signed someone after deal colapsed. More likely legal route for players is our old friend "breach of contract" but as others pointed out there are limited assets to chase and players more likely to settle and move on.

My understanding of the point of reckless trading is that the players could pursue the council and any other shareholders for the club's debts. I can imagine you're correct regarding how hard it is to prove though.

**Charlie Darwin** · 10/02/2011, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by total hoofball

No doubt an all amateur local team could be clobbered together for Div 1 or A Champ, they have Dalymount paid for a season anyway, Fingal county council could release a small amount of funding to get the Lusk facility up to basic standards. That's not entirely impossible

What's looks impossible to me is sourcing funding to pay off the players. Conservatively estimate 13 players on 30k per year, we're talking about 400K to be owed to players. Players will be looking for 50% to be owed, realistically 33% will be shaken on. Even in that optimistic scenario the club would need to source 135k out of nowhere. Fingal have zero money and no company or businessman will pay for that.

99% certain they are done, even that 1% chance happens they should be kicked out of the league for good for their shady contract dealings over the last month

Most or all of the players are going to get new contracts at other clubs. Fingal would only be liable for unearned income, i.e. lost earnings for the time between contracts and possibly the difference between old wage and new wage.

Reckless trading would only apply if the club knew that it couldn't honour the contracts before they were signed, and even then it'd be hard to prove. Reckless trading action is usually only taken against companies that profit from work and then don't properly compensate the workers.

**legendz** · 10/02/2011, 12:20 PM

Fingal, Drogheda or Bohemians, Kildare, Kilkenny, Castlebar, Carlow, Tullamore, Cobh and Tralee. 9 clubs that need the A Championship to remain. First two if they fall and need a pathway back to the league. The next two if they ever look to rejoin the league. The remaining five are the sides who took part last year. Hopefully Castlebar will look to rejoin. Crazy to end the A Championship. It has a purpose.

**marinobohs** · 10/02/2011, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by John83

My understanding of the point of reckless trading is that the players could pursue the council and any other shareholders for the club's debts. I can imagine you're correct regarding how hard it is to prove though.

if fingal County Council are shareholders it could be possible to chase them for breach of contract (much clearer case than reckless trading) and much the same thing for players - would be seeking contracts honoured. Would be interesting to see if Fingal CC have put some "firewalls" between themselves and any potential liabilities

**pineapple stu** · 10/02/2011, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by marinobohs

No reason IF they survive why all amateur team could not operate in premier League.

I think you underestimate the costs of putting out an all-amateur team for starters, particularly in addition to the player debts outlined by total hoofball.

In addition, I don't think there's anyone involved with the club who'd have the appetite for a struggling all-amateur team. The club always appeared to have been an all-or-nothing venture.

I can't see them getting a licence, and I can't see them being able to continue even if they do get a licence.

**marinobohs** · 10/02/2011, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I think you underestimate the costs of putting out an all-amateur team for starters, particularly in addition to the player debts outlined by total hoofball.

In addition, I don't think there's anyone involved with the club who'd have the appetite for a struggling all-amateur team. The club always appeared to have been an all-or-nothing venture.

I can't see them getting a licence, and I can't see them being able to continue even if they do get a licence.

Agree PS its extremely unlikely (possibly 1% shot at best ?). I was just making the point that an all amatuer team would not preclude participation in Prem Division.
As suggested most likely option is year out and back to the drawing board for SF to put together a ressurection plan (or fade away completely).

**passerrby** · 10/02/2011, 12:45 PM

one cannot decide to unilaterily cancell a contract those players have been sacked, sporting are not in a position to apply for a licence.

**Dave_SRFC** · 10/02/2011, 12:53 PM

Just wondering what club the 20 Fingal fans will choose to support now, or who would you like to see move into the Fingal area, Bohs or Shels?

**Red Army** · 10/02/2011, 12:56 PM

Castlebar are going back to the Mayo league afaik.

**micls** · 10/02/2011, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dave_SRFC

Just wondering what club the 20 Fingal fans will choose to support now, or who would you like to see move into the Fingal area, Bohs or Shels?

Who would you have supported if SRFC had gone bust? I'd imagine like most of us you'd be completely disillunsioned and it would be too gutting to even consider supporting someone else.

Yes, Fingal are only around a couple of years, but I know that 2 years into supporting City I certainly wouldnt have been able to become a Cobh fan if we'd gone bang.

The amount of fans is irrelevant really, I wouldn't wish this feeling on anyone, and even if it's only 1 person going through it I feel for them.

We were lucky, we've had the heartbreak, the being on the brink of extinction more than once, but we came back and we'll be stronger for it. I hope the Fingal fans can have the same. maybe start small, and build up slowly.

The club owners fecked up royally, but as someone who had TNB running my club for a year I certainly can't judge the fans on that basis.

Good luck to them.

**legendz** · 10/02/2011, 1:12 PM

Originally Posted by Red Army

Castlebar are going back to the Mayo league afaik.

It's disappointing it's a step they have had to take. They can't be blamed with the way the A Championship is going and almost gone. Maybe the best route for football in the county is a provincial pyramid structure from Junior leagues to Intermediate leagues?

**passerrby** · 10/02/2011, 1:12 PM

Originally Posted by Dave_SRFC

Just wondering what club the 20 Fingal fans will choose to support now, or who would you like to see move into the Fingal area, Bohs or Shels?

they could support yourselves but then again dont remember sporting having any yobs

**The Lep** · 10/02/2011, 1:29 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Anyone know the law regarding reckless trading?

Nick Leeson.

**Martinho II** · 10/02/2011, 1:33 PM

I saw in the papers today that there is talk of a eleven team first division what about the likes of cobh who lost the playoff? its sad to see SF go I know Alan Kirby was holdin out for a new club as he was concerned that fingal hasnt got back to him about a new deal and he understandably got nervous.. Its a total sham what happened to SF..They got too ambitious too soon...I wonder will SF end up in the A league or is this the end of SF?