Players Meeting?

[Drogman.]

Well that is Droghedas problem for making silly agreements.

They should be made to pay back everything that is owed over the next few seasons and except the problems that go along with that i.e. your expenditure will be restricted over the coming seasons.

I think it's called tough sh!t...

That's been looked at already, however, there are couple of problems associated with that.

1) The money will not be available next season to fund the club AND pay off outstanding debts for a couple more years. It's simply not there, and we'll be in the same boat next season with no money to pay players because of the debt involved. I know it is tough sh*t, but at the end of the day, it won't be tough sh*t when the club dies. Some money will have to be carried over and paid off over time, however not the massive amounts the players are looking for.

2) One of the players "digging his heels" in for the full amount is a player who was trying to tap up players during the season to join a rival club. Do you honestly think that this guy deserves to get his full wages?

The majoirty of the players are in favour of taking what their offered now and going. There are only 3/4 players who are looking for more. Now in most unions I would expect a ballot to be carried out among the members and if the majority vote in favour then that is passed.

That doesn't seem to be case with this. The PFAI seem to be only representing a minority of their members and not all their members.

[Louth4sam]

That's been looked at already, however, there are couple of problems associated with that.

1) The money will not be available next season to fund the club AND pay off outstanding debts for a couple more years. It's simply not there, and we'll be in the same boat next season with no money to pay players because of the debt involved. I know it is tough sh*t, but at the end of the day, it won't be tough sh*t when the club dies. Some money will have to be carried over and paid off over time, however not the massive amounts the players are looking for.


If the 210k is spread out over 5 years that would be 1400 per week. Surly it would be better to reduce the playing budget by 1400 for 5 years than to have no club at all

[holidaysong]

The money will not be available next season to fund the club AND pay off outstanding debts for a couple more years. It's simply not there, and we'll be in the same boat next season with no money to pay players because of the debt involved. I know it is tough sh*t, but at the end of the day, it won't be tough sh*t when the club dies. Some money will have to be carried over and paid off over time, however not the massive amounts the players are looking for.


Go amateur next year and pay off the players the money they are owed instead of going and paying new players.

[Drogman.]

To reply to the 2 post above.

The players will only accept a structured amount over a number of years unless they get a certain amount up front. It's either that or they don't accept. What they are looking for over a number of years is not worth going down. If it was reduced then it could be looked at but this is why were at this stand off.

The team will be semi-pro/amateur next season, if we survive. No doubt about it. Some costs will have to be given to the players, but it'll be nothing compared to the crazy money that was being paid out over the last few years.

I have and will ask again that any new management board includes a strong supporters representative so that the clubs affairs can be monitored closely, and this debacle not happen again.

[holidaysong]

The players will only accept a structured amount over a number of years unless they get a certain amount up front. It's either that or they don't accept. What they are looking for over a number of years is not worth going down. If it was reduced then it could be looked at but this is why were at this stand off.

I can understand why the players refused €90k to wipe out a €300k debt completely, but €90k up front with the rest to follow over 5 years would seem only fair and could surely be sorted out somehow, perhaps even delaying payments for one season. It's a weak excuse for the club to refuse the players what is owed to them because they will need the money to run the club next year.. If I was a player I'd probably call their bluff in the hope that the directors bail the club out rather than see it go under.


The team will be semi-pro/amateur next season, if we survive. No doubt about it. Some costs will have to be given to the players, but it'll be nothing compared to the crazy money that was being paid out over the last few years.

I have and will ask again that any new management board includes a strong supporters representative so that the clubs affairs can be monitored closely, and this debacle not happen again.

That's good to hear at least.

[iceman]

Meeting with Players 07th January 2009
Statement 7th Jan 2009

At a Meeting at the FAI in Abbotestown today chaired by FAI CEO John Delaney a useful exchange of views took place and significant progress was made in our efforts to reach a settlement with the PFAI.

A new offer has been made to the players and at the request of the PFAI the deadine has been extended to allow consultation wih all the players to consider the new offer. The Club was represented at the meeting by Vincent Hoey and Dermot Mc Kenna while the PFAI delegation was headed up by Stephen Mc Guinness.

In further news Vincent Hoey stated "I have just received communication from the high court that the hearing has now been listed for the 22nd January which gives us more time to sort all issues out". He added "We are indebted to FAI CEO John Delaney for his efforts over the last few days and for facilitating this meeting".

[higgins]

That's been looked at already, however, there are couple of problems associated with that.

1) The money will not be available next season to fund the club AND pay off outstanding debts for a couple more years. It's simply not there, and we'll be in the same boat next season with no money to pay players because of the debt involved. I know it is tough sh*t, but at the end of the day, it won't be tough sh*t when the club dies. Some money will have to be carried over and paid off over time, however not the massive amounts the players are looking for.

2) One of the players "digging his heels" in for the full amount is a player who was trying to tap up players during the season to join a rival club. Do you honestly think that this guy deserves to get his full wages?

The majoirty of the players are in favour of taking what their offered now and going. There are only 3/4 players who are looking for more. Now in most unions I would expect a ballot to be carried out among the members and if the majority vote in favour then that is passed.

That doesn't seem to be case with this. The PFAI seem to be only representing a minority of their members and not all their members.

Are you serious here ?
OK I'll go through the points...

1) You owe players 300k. You have about 100k of this. Surely you can offer the other 200k over two seasons. Supporters trust and fundraising can easily get the 100k a year with some effort. You raised over 100k in the space of a few weeks.
You can easily do this... you're fooling nobody.

2) Yes he deserves his money. Drogheda signed the contract so that's that. Or else try to sack him if what he done was against the contract.

3) I take it each player is down as a creditor and you have to have all creditors with an agreement. You can't simply lump them together and take a vote.

[ndrog]

The player in question deservers fcukin nothing but a good slap .How would you feel about it if it was your club he did it to .And as far as sacking him goes there hands were tied and couldnt go down that road .

[higgins]

Well it was my club at one stage and the players wanted all their money and deals were made to pay them all back over time.

You should agree to do likewise and stop trying to get out of this debt free!!

[Celdrog]

Well it was my club at one stage and the players wanted all their money and deals were made to pay them all back over time.
And its the same boys again. Pity you paid them a couple of years ago:p


Tell me, when did you finish paying them or is it still going?

And I agree with ndrog, Stuey Byrne should have been fired on the spot (I don't understand why he wasn't) and Pat Fenlon hit with a huge fine.

[prince20]

Just read in the paper this morning that Drogheda have arranged a number of high profile pre season friendlies. The first game they are playing is against Iceland.
The following two games are against Tesco and Dunnes:D

[Drogman.]

Are you serious here ?
OK I'll go through the points...

1) You owe players 300k. You have about 100k of this. Surely you can offer the other 200k over two seasons. Supporters trust and fundraising can easily get the 100k a year with some effort. You raised over 100k in the space of a few weeks.
You can easily do this... you're fooling nobody.

2) Yes he deserves his money. Drogheda signed the contract so that's that. Or else try to sack him if what he done was against the contract.

3) I take it each player is down as a creditor and you have to have all creditors with an agreement. You can't simply lump them together and take a vote.

Higgins, it's easy to comment like that and come up with a plan, but unless you know the exact details then please don't try and tell me things that I'm fully aware of already.

There are a number of factors why the club are trying to come out of this with as little debt as possible.

1) As mentioned already, the money for next season will be required to fund the club. Without this the club simply cannot function under the licence requirements.

2) The country is going through crazy economic times. The money that was there in previous years will simply not be there next season. Sponsorship money will be down, gate money will be down etc..

3) There will already be some debts to be paid off over the year IE. PRSI etc. So if this is the only money due then it'll be a success.

4) The people of the town have gone to the bone as regards giving money. More fundraising efforts, I don't think, will generate the same amount of money given over the past 2 months.

[higgins]

1) As mentioned already, the money for next season will be required to fund the club. Without this the club simply cannot function under the licence requirements.


I'm afraid that's not a good enough reason.
If you can't pay the extra 200k over two seasons then try for 3 seasons or 4 or 5 or whatever the players will accept.

You raised 200k in 2 months was it ?
No reason why over a number of years you can't raise 200k.

It's disgusting the way you were attempting to go about things. Asking people who signed a contract in good faith and held up their end of the deal to accept 30% of money owed so you could be debt free next season.

You should be made pay every cent of that money or else start next season in the A League,,, in my opinion.

[Celdrog]

I'm afraid that's not a good enough reason.
If you can't pay the extra 200k over two seasons then try for 3 seasons or 4 or 5 or whatever the players will accept.We made the players an offer. They accepted.

What part of that are you struggling with?

Get over it

[BulmersKid]

Asking people who signed a contract in good faith

I don't think good faith has anything to do with signing contracts. It has all to do what will be paid each week.

And anyway, contracts can always be renegotiated depending on the circumstances of both sides.

[White Horse]

We made the players an offer. They accepted.

What part of that are you struggling with?

Get over it


There seems to be a growing sentiment to punish Drogheda United for the sins of their directors.

Personally, I have no sympathy with the directors and they should be barred from being directors of any company.

However, I want to see the club survive as it has been a long hard slog to establish top flight football in Drogheda. The town is one of the largest growing provincial urban areas with great potential as a hotbed for football.

We are all football supporters on this forum and football needs a club in Drogheda.

[LK37oldskool]

I agree in principle with you that the Drogs should survive,we need reprsentation from all over the country but i would hate to see ye be allowed stay in the premier league.At the very least ye should be relegated to Div1,otherwise its setting a bad precedent.

[SMorgan]

If Drogheda are allowed to remain in the Premier Division then their Directors would have made mugs of the whole system. They owe just under €1m they go into examinership and they come out oweing zilch and the punishment, a 10 league point deduction. They'll be laughing all the way towards running up more debts.

Absolute minimum must be relegation.

[HarpoJoyce]

We made the players an offer. They accepted.

What part of that are you struggling with?

Get over it

Drogheda Utd.'s payments to her Creditors.

[Drogman.]

Lads, as a supporter of the Drogs and the LOI, I do feel that if we're let stay in the Premier Div then the system will be laughed at.

To be honest, even if we pass all other criteria, finance *cough*, youth setup etc for a Premier licence, then we'll fail completley on the ground.

Utd Park isn't up to scratch and I fully expect that the club will begin life in the First Div once Examinership is overcome.

As regards the Directors, I fully expect them to not get involved in the clubs affairs once we've come through examinership. If they do, then war will break out as there are still a lot of unanswered questions to what has happened over the past few months. The only problem is that there hasn't been anyone showing an interest in being chairman or whatever. So that is another hurdle to get over.

I don't hold them responsible for the stadium issue falling on its a*se, but I do hold them responsible for not having a backup plan in the event of the stadium falling through. Simply not good enough considering the amount of money invested.