LOI Club Ownership

**Macy** · 10/08/2015, 8:34 AM

Originally Posted by ThePrisoner

Chapter and verse on 11 of PD clubs.

Bohemians - The Bohemian Football Club Limited CRO 8751

Bray - Bray Wanders Limited CRO 108824

Cork - Friends of the Rebel Army Society Limited RFS 5449R

Derry - Derry City Football Club Limited NI601341

Drogheda - Drogheda Utd FC Limited CRO 506239

Dundalk - Dundalk Town FC Limited CRO 519313

Galway - unsure at the moment

Limerick - Munster Football Club Limited CRO 131715

Longford - Domeford Limited CRO 450246

Shams - Shamrock Rovers FC Limited CRO 245954

Sligo - Sligo Football & Sports Development Society Limited RFS 4473R

St Pats - Newtonheath Company Limited CRO 189439

The above is per the latest filed returns. The above are the operating entities. In some cases the above entities are in turn owned by members' clubs eg Drogheda and Shams. Some are owned by private individuals, some by the members and some are co-ops.

It's a condition of licencing that clubs have a company structure too, isn't it?

**Sean South** · 10/08/2015, 11:10 AM

I'd like to see a 51% rule in the LOI similar to Germany where fans are in control of their clubs.

**outspoken** · 10/08/2015, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Sean South

I'd like to see a 51% rule in the LOI similar to Germany where fans are in control of their clubs.

Agree

**gufcfan** · 10/08/2015, 1:58 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

I'd like to see a 51% rule in the LOI similar to Germany where fans are in control of their clubs.

Won't happen anytime soon.

Eamonn Naughton fought to keep Galway football out of the hands of supporters.

**Jofspring** · 10/08/2015, 2:11 PM

Would most clubs even have enough support to financially support a majority holdership?

The costs of running a club are massive. Most money men will want, and rightfully so, majority ownership if it's their bobs running the club.

**ThePrisoner** · 10/08/2015, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Ground ownership or capital assets should be a subset of this too maybe.

Most, if not all, of the information on capital and assets is available. You need to do searches on the relevant companies/co-ops.

Ground ownership:

Dalymount - in the process of being sold by The Bohemian Football Club Limited to DCC.

Carlisle Grounds - owned by the local council

Brandywell - owned by the local council

Oriel Park - owned by the Casey family

United Park - owned by the FAI

Tallaght - owned by the local council

Terryland - owned by the local FA

Turners X - owned by MFA

Markets Field - owned by a local regeneration project (ish)

Showgrounds - held in trust for the people of Sligo

Richmond Park - owned by Newtonheath Co Limited

Flancare Park - owned by Longford Town Football Club Limited CRO93442

**ThePrisoner** · 10/08/2015, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

It's a condition of licencing that clubs have a company structure too, isn't it?

Not sure but you can check the licensing manual, it's 180 odd pages!!

A company/co-op structure would, IMHO, would be the best.

**ThePrisoner** · 10/08/2015, 3:32 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

I'd like to see a 51% rule in the LOI similar to Germany where fans are in control of their clubs.

Sounds good over a few pints. The members of Bohs have control of the club and look whats happened. Gone from being 'custodians of spiritual home' to the social housing list.

**Stuttgart88** · 23/08/2015, 2:18 PM

Hi all, there may be a better thread for this but a pal of mine is on the board of Dulwich Hamlets, a non league club here in the UK, on Crystal Palace's doorstep. I couldn't help but think it's something the LOI could learn from, notwithstanding that there is some good stuff being done by some clubs.

http://www.theguardian.com/global/20...share_btn_link

In general, does anyone have any links to articles on fan ownership in Ireland? A friend here is very interested in the topic.

**citybone** · 24/08/2015, 12:49 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...d_sports_teams Most league of ireland clubs are fan owned right now. A few of these are newly fan owned like Cork City fc (See copa 90 video) and Shamrock Rover's. I follow AFC wimbledon and have respect for other supporter ran clubs most notably FC United of Manchester, AFC Telford, Chelmsford and even AFC Liverpool despite their lack of success. Best of luck with your club, You should update the wikipedia page.

**Mr A** · 24/08/2015, 8:58 AM

Threads merged. At some stage I'll go back and update the original post with info provided since then.

**Nesta99** · 24/08/2015, 2:14 PM

Originally Posted by ThePrisoner

Richmond Park - owned by Newtonheath Co Limited

Hmmm no questioning the following of the EPL and whom by St Pats owner/s

**Nesta99** · 24/08/2015, 2:20 PM

Originally Posted by Sean South

I'd like to see a 51% rule in the LOI similar to Germany where fans are in control of their clubs.

Dundalk have a proportion of supporters shareholding. While the 'owners' are the main men and the financial clout the percentage ownership by fans would act as a type of guardian of the club if say the owners tried to do something major like a name change or if possible the sale of the ground. At least thats what is intended by not having all shares in one persons hand Id imagine.

**Dodge** · 24/08/2015, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Hmmm no questioning the following of the EPL and whom by St Pats owner/s

That company name pre-dates the current owner.

Previous companies have all crashed and died (like many others set up to run LOI clubs)

**Charlie Darwin** · 24/08/2015, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

That company name pre-dates the current owner.

Previous companies have all crashed and died (like many others set up to run LOI clubs)

Shelbourne Developments is all his idea though.

**Ezeikial** · 24/08/2015, 5:49 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Dundalk have a proportion of supporters shareholding. While the 'owners' are the main men and the financial clout the percentage ownership by fans would act as a type of guardian of the club if say the owners tried to do something major like a name change or if possible the sale of the ground. At least thats what is intended by not having all shares in one persons hand Id imagine.

Are you referring to DFC Trust?

**Nesta99** · 24/08/2015, 6:55 PM

Originally Posted by Ezeikial

Are you referring to DFC Trust?

*cough* well yes, there hasnt been a formal winding up of the Trust and i'd hope when it happens if the Trust has been entirely absorbed into the club structures then those shares will pass on to a separate supporters entity, or at least officers of the trust will continue to hold a percentage ownership on behalf of supporters still...formalities of AGM's etc would probably have to happen i'm assuming to fulfill legal obligations as a shareholding bloc of DFC with the re/election of officers, publishing of minutes (not a big job!!) etc.

**Ezeikial** · 24/08/2015, 8:08 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

*cough* well yes, there hasnt been a formal winding up of the Trust and i'd hope when it happens if the Trust has been entirely absorbed into the club structures then those shares will pass on to a separate supporters entity, or at least officers of the trust will continue to hold a percentage ownership on behalf of supporters still...formalities of AGM's etc would probably have to happen i'm assuming to fulfill legal obligations as a shareholding bloc of DFC with the re/election of officers, publishing of minutes (not a big job!!) etc.

The Trust have disappeared in a Bermuda Triangle.

**Yossarian** · 24/08/2015, 9:12 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

*cough* well yes, there hasnt been a formal winding up of the Trust and i'd hope when it happens if the Trust has been entirely absorbed into the club structures then those shares will pass on to a separate supporters entity, or at least officers of the trust will continue to hold a percentage ownership on behalf of supporters still...formalities of AGM's etc would probably have to happen i'm assuming to fulfill legal obligations as a shareholding bloc of DFC with the re/election of officers, publishing of minutes (not a big job!!) etc.

You're assuming the trust actually hold shares in some form or other.