Cork in Trouble Again?

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http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/cork-in-trouble-again-as-murphy-left-unpaid-1688414.html
By Neil Ahern



Friday March 27 2009

CORK City's season has been dealt another off-the-field blow after problems surrounded the payment of wages this week, with Danny Murphy believed to have been left without his pay-packet for the month of March.

The former Motherwell and Dunfermline left-back was reportedly the only player not paid on Wednesday, and he was subsequently asked by the club to take a pay-cut and renegotiate his contract down from a two-year to a one-year deal, which he has since rejected.

A fan favourite amongst the Turners Cross faithful, Murphy is now expected to meet with club owner Tom Coughlan on Monday alongside representatives from the PFAI and SIPTU as the League of Ireland is hit with more wage difficulties barely four weeks into the 2009 season.

resolution

If there is not a resolution, a letter may be sent to the FAI, after which the matter may be referred to the Association's dispute resolution body and beyond that, Cork could possibly face a heavy fine for non-payment of wages.

Speaking yesterday, PFAI General Secretary Stephen McGuinness said: "This is another situation where a player has to be paid X amount and he is not being paid X amount.

"The Participation Agreement says that any deductions in payment must be agreed upon with the player and verified on a new, signed standard player's contract.

"We have previously written to the club with regard to Danny's situation and we are still awaiting a response. The one thing we need in this league now is contract stability.

"We need contracts to be honoured by the club and we would also like the FAI to row in behind the players."

Murphy said yesterday: "As far as I'm concerned I've got a two-year contract at Cork City at the moment and I'm going to work away for the next two years of my contract."

Tom Coughlan and Cork City were also contacted by the Irish Independent yesterday but declined to comment.

It is an off-the-field distraction City could do without, especially as they struggle to get up and running on the field and they will be looking for their first league win this season at home to Bray Wanderers tonight.

After conceding two extremely late goals at Derry last week, manager Paul Doolin is adamant that his side need to put an end to unforced errors if they are to start climbing the table.

"We have to get it into our heads that no matter how well we play, we cannot concede late goals. There is no mystery other than defending properly, and we have to concentrate and eradicate these mistakes," Doolin said.

Cork have been boosted this week by the news that Stephen O'Donnell's injury is less serious than was first thought.

It appeared that the former Bohemians midfielder's season was all but over after damaging his cruciate ligament, with a lay-off of at least six months originally expected, but it appears now that he may return after three months.

Drogheda United, meanwhile, yesterday confirmed a sponsorship deal with Hunky Dorys, handing the 2007 champions a huge boost as they continue to struggle in the wake of examinership.

- Neil Ahern

[Longfordian]

Ridiculous carry on from Coughlan in fairness. He's the one that gave him the new two year contract. Wasn't Murphy one of the very last to get his back pay as well?.

[Tis-smeee]

http://www.derrycityfc.net/cityweb/LOI-News/cork-in-trouble-again-as-murphy-left-unpaid.html

I wonder what the excuse will be now :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Macy]

Makes an absolute farce of licencing. It didn't take long for financial issues to raise their head, again.

[Longfordian]

Why leave him out and try and force him to change his contract though?. I mean they were hardly just 2-3000 short or whatever and decided to pick his name out of a hat. It seems to be almost blackmailing him into signing yet another new reduced contract. If he doesn't he'll have to wait for his wages all the time.

[jimhacker]

http://www.derrycityfc.net/cityweb/LOI-News/cork-in-trouble-again-as-murphy-left-unpaid.html

I wonder what the excuse will be now :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

You seem to have a particular fascination with anything remotely negative that concerns Cork City.

I'd like to invite you to join our forum where you might find a more balanced point of view and even join in discussions on a broader range of subjects.

[LeixlipRed]

Maybe Danny has cancer and they're trying to get rid of him :rolleyes:

[jimhacker]

Maybe Danny has cancer and they're trying to get rid of him :rolleyes:



Quality post.

As one would expect.

[GlasnevinRed]

Would Cork still have gotten a PD license if this had been going on sooner?

It seems they were just delaying the inevitable long enough to stay in the premier.

[Tis-smeee]

You seem to have a particular fascination with anything remotely negative that concerns Cork City.

I'd like to invite you to join our forum where you might find a more balanced point of view and even join in discussions on a broader range of subjects.

Sorry did I hurt your feelings , an yes I do have a fascination with EVERY time you run into trouble , it proves you should never have gotten a license.

But please balance out why a member of your playing staff has not been paid for me

[yiddo]

Why leave him out and try and force him to change his contract though?. I mean they were hardly just 2-3000 short or whatever and decided to pick his name out of a hat. It seems to be almost blackmailing him into signing yet another new reduced contract. If he doesn't he'll have to wait for his wages all the time.

Danny Murphy is owed a big wedge of back money going back to last year so from Coughlan's point of view he's a big problem!

[micls]

Maybe Danny has cancer and they're trying to get rid of him :rolleyes:

Is there not enough facts out there to criticise rather than making things up?

1) Farrelly didnt have cancer, though he was very very ill
2) The club did not choose to get rid of him. The examiner did, along with many other staff. Im sure theyve an email address where you can vent your anger at how they do their business.

[Ezeikial]

You seem to have a particular fascination with anything remotely negative that concerns Cork City.

I'd like to invite you to join our forum where you might find a more balanced point of view and even join in discussions on a broader range of subjects.

Please add some balance here!

Irish Independent reported that Cork tried to re-negotiate Danny Murphys contract from 2 years to 1 year, which he rejected. Indo alleges that subsequently Cork left him (and him alone) unpaid for the month of March.

As Tom Coughlan declined to comment, we could badly do with any "balance" that could be offered to this story.

[Longfordian]

We're four weeks into the season and already he can't meet his commitments and this time there's no doubt that they're his commitments. How are things likely to improve from here on in?. Worrying times for Cork fans I'd reckon.

[Macy]

It's probably just an "administrative error" or whatever excuse they used last month.

[Tis-smeee]

Why was this moved from the main page?
Thought we were finished with this on foot?
Trying to bury bad news?
Maybe the other fans of the league have an interest?

[pól-dcfc]

This should definitely be on the front page. It's a concern for fans of all clubs, as Cork City once again make a mockery out of the league.

Burying bad news?

[Dodge]

Moved. Its a pretty big deal

Very bad week for cork with Coughlin and Foras seemingly arguing too

[Tis-smeee]

Peer pressure wins out , now start smoking all of you.

[GlasnevinRed]

Do you think Cork knew this was going to happen or is it a big surprise to all involved?

[pineapple stu]

Who do you define as "Cork"?

[GlasnevinRed]

Sorry, the likes of Tom Coughlan.

[pete]

Sorry, the likes of Tom Coughlan.

Who knows. Budget does not seem to have been costed very well to say the least. I don't think we have had any significant drop in attendances (yet) or season ticket sales.

[Dodge]

How many games you got coming up pete? Could be a difficult month

[tiktok]

How many games you got coming up pete? Could be a difficult month

At home to Drigheda on a tuesday night that clashes with Porto -v- Man Utd on TV and then home to Galway right at the end of the month [possibly the day wages are due being the last Friday of the month]. Worrying to say the least.

With respect to Danny, it's an absolute disgrace how he's been treated, not just by the current owner but by the previous ones. If contracts couldn't be afforded they shouldn't have been offered. Danny will be perfectly right to take this to the PFAI and I'd imagine that a points deduction will follow quickly, which is deserved. Also, from the club's point of view, they couldn't have picked a worse player to mess around, the supporters adore him and know well the sacrifices he made to return to Cork, he's possibly the most popular figure at the club.

Finally, everyone in Cork knows it, Doolin and the players bar Danny have been paid, but there are serious questions hanging over whether the behind the scenes staff have been, it's been widely rumoured that they hadn't been up to yesterday anyway.

[Red&White Rover]

Wonder what their next new name will be after this whole shamozzle eventually brings the club down?

We should have a competition

[micls]

At home to Drigheda on a tuesday night that clashes with Porto -v- Man Utd on TV and then home to Galway right at the end of the month [possibly the day wages are due being the last Friday of the month]. Worrying to say the least.
.

Wages are due on the 25th of every month afaik so the game is the day before that.

[Longfordian]

I wonder did Doolin know what he was letting himself in for? Then again I suppose he has to be paid one way or another and he didnt have (m)any other offers.

[pete]

Wonder what their next new name will be after this whole shamozzle eventually brings the club down?

We should have a competition

If you want to troll go elsewhere.

[tiktok]

Wages are due on the 25th of every month afaik so the game is the day before that.

We might need a full house against Galway so.

[Larry 'da' Wyse]

Cue Fr. Ted line "Is there anything to be said for having another strike" :D

Hope it works out as it is desperate for the whole league to have a bad news
story only a few weeks into the campaign.

[micls]

We might need a full house against Galway so.

If the wages have to be in the bank by the 25th then that might be too late

[micls]

Hope it works out

Thanks, we do too.

[eelmonster]

Wonder what their next new name will be after this whole shamozzle eventually brings the club down?

We should have a competition

Cork Rovers? Everyone'll still call them Cork, as they call Sligo 'Sligo' and Rovers 'Rovers'. ;)

[OneRedArmy]

If this isn't sorted quickly heads should roll at the FAI.

The business plan, they approved, looks like it lasted 3 weeks.

Mindboggling.

Also, ever since Coughlan floated the Billy Morgan balloon he's looked like a bit of a chancer.

[SeanDrog]

busy watching the drogs examinership process I didnt pay too much heed to corks plight but I was curious to see their set up for this season. On one hand the drogs have cut their cloth (our squad reflects this) and yet Cork still had fulltime players etc. I couldnt understand how they did it, not begruding them, just couldnt understand the differences in setup for two clubs that both went into examinership.

Now with what appears to be constant pay issues, it would appear (to my uninformed eys looking in from the outside) that Cork havent cut their cloth and we are seeing the results.

I had my money on Bohs being the first club to go bust this season but I am beginning to wonder will it be Cork. This isn't a pop but just my thoughts looking in from the outside.

[SeanDrog]

[QUOTE=OneRedArmy;1131203]
The business plan, they approved, looks like it lasted 3 weeks.

[QUOTE]

nearly as long as the government budget predictions :p

[thischarmingman]

Why leave him out and try and force him to change his contract though?. I mean they were hardly just 2-3000 short or whatever and decided to pick his name out of a hat. It seems to be almost blackmailing him into signing yet another new reduced contract. If he doesn't he'll have to wait for his wages all the time.


With respect to Danny, it's an absolute disgrace how he's been treated, not just by the current owner but by the previous ones. If contracts couldn't be afforded they shouldn't have been offered. Danny will be perfectly right to take this to the PFAI and I'd imagine that a points deduction will follow quickly, which is deserved. Also, from the club's point of view, they couldn't have picked a worse player to mess around, the supporters adore him and know well the sacrifices he made to return to Cork, he's possibly the most popular figure at the club.



Agree with these two, it's a disgraceful way to treat a player.

[tiktok]

busy watching the drogs examinership process I didnt pay too much heed to corks plight but I was curious to see their set up for this season. On one hand the drogs have cut their cloth (our squad reflects this) and yet Cork still had fulltime players etc. I couldnt understand how they did it, not begruding them, just couldnt understand the differences in setup for two clubs that both went into examinership.

Now with what appears to be constant pay issues, it would appear (to my uninformed eys looking in from the outside) that Cork havent cut their cloth and we are seeing the results.

I had my money on Bohs being the first club to go bust this season but I am beginning to wonder will it be Cork. This isn't a pop but just my thoughts looking in from the outside.

I think the crowds that Cork City get [even a conservative average of 3,000 per home game should see about €600,000 come into the club] and the sponsorship the club is capable of attracting means that we can sustain a full time set-up [not a sprawling one mind] but what appears to be happening here is that, as you rightly point out, we've not based what's going out on the amount likely to come in.

Coughlan promised a smaller sustainable club when he took over, but very quickly he was back talking about attracting '"sexy footballers" [yes, it is a direct quote] and we were signing a big squad anf off field staff [Coughlan's chairman's notes on the first day of the season claims we employ 46 people, which is daft].

It's very worrying times, with reference to the budget that the FAI approved though, the real question is 'are Cork City actually adhering to what they said they would'. It looks like we're not.

[Dodge]

but as has been pointed out, if cork have 46 employees and only one isn't paid, it suggest victimization more than just not having the money

[micls]

but as has been pointed out, if cork have 46 employees and only one isn't paid, it suggest victimization more than just not having the money

As tiktok said earlier 'but there are serious questions hanging over whether the behind the scenes staff have been, it's been widely rumoured that they hadn't been up to yesterday anyway.'

[Macy]

It's very worrying times, with reference to the budget that the FAI approved though, the real question is 'are Cork City actually adhering to what they said they would'. It looks like we're not.
They can't be let off the hook that easy. Either it was a sustainable budget or it wasn't, especially given the trouble some clubs had having their budgets accepted. Is there really the same oversight of all clubs in the League?

If it turns out they again accepted worthless promises that external money would be put in, heads should definitely roll.

[tiktok]

but as has been pointed out, if cork have 46 employees and only one isn't paid, it suggest victimization more than just not having the money

It seems to be victimisation of a particular player alright, but he's not likely to be the only staff member left unpaid.


They can't be let off the hook that easy. Either it was a sustainable budget or it wasn't, especially given the trouble some clubs had having their budgets accepted. Is there really the same oversight of all clubs in the League?

If it turns out they again accepted worthless promises that external money would be put in, heads should definitely roll.

I don't disagree with you, but I'd still wager that what we submitted is not what we're running at.

[the-blue-harp]

46 employees?? how the hell is that sustainable for cork city just coming out the back of examinership! i wish someone in the fai would grow a pair.

[Longfordian]

It seems to be victimisation of a particular player alright, but he's not likely to be the only staff member left unpaid.



I don't disagree with you, but I'd still wager that what we submitted is not what we're running at.

That's an even bigger breach than not being able to meet the commitments submitted to the FAI in fairness. If that's the case the licencing committee should be hammering ye.

[passerrby]

this says as much about the licensing process and the fai administation as it does about cork ,will bet they will put an embargo on signing players as if that will teach them hmmm.

the bottom line they fai will do its utmost to save its flagships like cork, drogs and others while it wants other clubs to exit the league as quietly as possible

[brianw82]

I do hope that, if this situation isn't resolved to the player's satisfaction, that CCFC are docked points. It is disgraceful to treat a player this way, especially one who seems to be a model pro.

A 5 or 6 point deduction, even at this stage of the season (putting them into negative points), would serve as a timely kick up the rear for both them and other clubs thinking of messing around their players.

[GalwayRed]

This raises the question, why did the FAI allow Cork City to run off a budget the cannot sustain and has caused them to miss wage payments just 4 weeks into the season? Poor form on FAIs part yet again. If Cork are running off a budget other then the one they submitted to the FAI they should be punished. Docking them 3-5 points seems fair. If its the case that they can sustain the budget(which i doubt) and are victimising one player(again i doubt it) then its disgraceful behaviour. Either way not paying players on time is unacceptable and is worthy of a points deduction. If the FAI dont take action here it just shows theyre spineless.

[Dodge]

I still say there's more to this than coughlin not having the money. If that was the issue, it'd have been easier to leave everyone a little short than just not pay one guy

Cork left 2 players short last month. If murphy is me of them he's building an impressive case against Cork

[SMorgan]

Makes an absolute farce of licencing. It didn't take long for financial issues to raise their head, again.

Arr licensing my backside.

When asked why Drogheda United got a licence the FAI’s Internal Compliance Officer said that DUFC got a licence because they have a planning application for a new stadium before An Bord Pleanala. When the FAI sink to using a stadium take won't or indeed can't be built as a reason for giving a club a Premier Licence then we may all give up on the licensing process. It a not very funny joke.