The Derry City thread - Derry sign first four players

[brianw82]

Would the argument in favour of joining the IL be that, both in terms of travel costs and costs needed to be a competitive team in the league, you'd be spending less money that you don't have?
Still, I can't see it happening. The LOI wants you, and you want the LOI.

All they need is love.

[Mr A]

Love is all they need.

[dcfcsteve]

Would the argument in favour of joining the IL be that, both in terms of travel costs and costs needed to be a competitive team in the league, you'd be spending less money that you don't have?
Still, I can't see it happening. The LOI wants you, and you want the LOI.

But that's pure conjecture.

You're assuming firstly that the LOI continues to see spending ad infinitum at an unsustainable level, and secondly that the Irish League at no future point falls susceptible to that same madness.

Firstly - we have consistently been one of the best supported clubs in the league since 1985. In a league where clubs spent within their means, we should be up there challenging for honours on a regular basis by dint of support alone. If we assume that the league won't continue with the current madness - and it would seem that there aren't any crazy spenders left to go bang once Bohs, Cork, Drogs and City face-up to their current circumstances* - then why would the IL be any easier for us to compete than a more rational LOI ?? :confused:

Secondly - what's to stop Glentoran starting an arms race in the IL ? What's to stop Portadown being taken over by a sugar daddy all starry-eyed about Europe ? More conjecture to challeneg your conjecture.

So the simplest response to all of this is thus : we are not going back to the Irish League - regardless of what moot, conjecture-laden, pigs might fly arguements people can dream up to support it.

:ball:

*Ignoring the spectre of Fingal for the moment, as they may be slow learners.

[MariborKev]

All they need is love.


And about £150k

[passerrby]

According to this

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/local/derry-city-rule-out-irish-league-move-14544944.html

Derry City are looking for advanced payment of their prize money for coming 3rd or 4th.

The FAI can't do this as the club maybe deducted points or even relegated if it did not comply with the 65% cap. It this were the case (and how could it not be?) then Derry City won't be entitled to the prize money that they are looking for an advance payment on.

is it not the case that derry like other premier clubs have received a large amount of potential prize money and considering that they might have outstanding financial issues with the fai like registation fees or referees fees there might be no prize money left for them to get.

[dcfcsteve]

is it not the case that derry like other premier clubs have received a large amount of potential prize money

No. My understanding is that prize money for league finishes isn't doled out until the wage cap issue, and any points deductions, has been dealt with.

European participation money has been forward lent to some clubs.


considering that they might have outstanding financial issues with the fai like registation fees or referees fees there might be no prize money left for them to get.

Just what this thread needs - more conjecture....

[brianw82]

No. My understanding is that prize money for league finishes isn't doled out until the wage cap issue, and any points deductions, has been dealt with.

Unless you're Cork City.

[EalingGreen]

Our problem is spending money we don't have.

Apparently so.



I can't see how re-joining the IL is a solution to that.

It wouldn't be.

Rather, it could be a solution to DCFC's next problem. That is, if they cannot resolve their immediate financial problem and go bust, then it may be that they will not qualify for a LOI Licence next season.

And if that left the 'A' League as their only option, it might be thought preferable to apply to re-join the IL instead.

Of course there are lots of "ifs" involved there, plus it is well known that given a free choice, DCFC would much prefer to stay within the LOI.

But assuming short-termism is one of the problems which has got DCFC into their present mess, I suspect that forward thinking, if only on a contingency basis, will be needed to get them out.



When a horse falls in a race a vet needs to make a quick decision whether it can go back to racing or whether it would be inhumane to keep it alive as a shadow or its former self and you put a bullet in it (a bolt?) and start with a new horse.
And where are DCFC going to get the money for a new horse, when they haven't even paid their last vet's bill?

Perhaps they might be better advised to give the old horse a breather, nurse it back to some sort of health at home in the stables and then enter it in a more modest standard of racing, rather than trying to take on the Grand National fences at Aintree each year...

(Btw, can someone call a Linguist? There's a metaphor here that has been stretched to breaking point and should be put out of its misery...;))

[pineapple stu]

And if that left the 'A' League as their only option, it might be thought preferable to apply to re-join the IL instead.
Where in the IL ladder would a new club join?

Is there any really difference between starting anew in the A League or in the IFA Championship?

[EalingGreen]

Would the argument in favour of joining the IL be that, both in terms of travel costs and costs needed to be a competitive team in the league, you'd be spending less money that you don't have?
That is some peoples argument, but they are wrong (imo). As I see it, DCFC may be forced to consider the IL as being more financially viable than the 'A' League.



Still, I can't see it happening. The LOI wants you, and you want the LOI.Agree that if DCFC and the FAI can possibly arrange it, then DCFC will be in the LOI next season.

But if I were one of their fans, I would be very concerned that they might not be able to "swing it".

Stories of unpaid wages and transfer fees etc are bad enough, but as Maribor Kev points out, they haven't even filed their Company A/C's for 2008. In which case, it is very possible (likely?) that they're behind with the Inland Revenue.

And as ORA correctly states, the IR is taking an increasingly hard line with football clubs, including even small ones like Chester City and Accrington Stanley, so DCFC cannot really expect sympathy from that quarter.

[dortie]

As I see it, DCFC may be forced to consider the IL as being more financially viable than the 'A' League.



You are seriously living in cloud cuckoo land ! Although the situation is serious and creates alot of debat etc on football forums you will have something different to talk about next week. The mess will be resolved in some form or another, and its not me with my head in the sand, i know 2 Directors personally and have every faith in them in regards to our strategy over the next month or two. The fact is whether or not some IL fans would want us back or whether some LOI clubs/fans would like to see the back of us (cant imagine too many) we will remain part of the domestic league in the South. For the FAI there is more benefits of us remaining in the league than leaving it.

For 90%+ of Derry fans the IL would be a bad dream/nightmare and would actually result in the vast majority giving up their support of the club. Personally i would rather we ceased to exist completely than play in that league - and before you say it, not just because of the sectarian nature of your league. But in hindsight, do i want to listen to a bunch of muppets sing GSTQ or burn my national flag every week - feck that ! Had enough of that last month.

[ifk101]

I personally would not like to see Derry return to the IL (ffs like :D) but agree that the future outlook for the club is bleak.


That is some peoples argument, but they are wrong (imo). As I see it, DCFC may be forced to consider the IL as being more financially viable than the 'A' League.

How do you make that out? You do realise that the A Championship is regionalised so the difference in transport costs would be minimal. Then again you'd have to factor in the increase in "other costs" that a return to the IL would entail ......

[EalingGreen]

But that's pure conjecture.

You're assuming firstly that the LOI continues to see spending ad infinitum at an unsustainable level

I suspect that the LOI will now retreat from previously unsustainable spending levels, if nothing else through complete lack of choice.

The question is whether DCFC will still be around to participate in this new dispensation.


and secondly that the Irish League at no future point falls susceptible to that same madness.

What was that you were saying about "conjecture" at the start of your post?

Where is your evidence that the IL will fall prey to this, especially with their having seen what unsustainable spending by their Southern neighbours has done?

Quite honestly, after years of certain LOI fans looking down on the IL for being unambitious and "small town" etc, it's a bit rich for someone now to suggest that they're suddenly going to start "chasing the dream" - and in the middle of a recession at that! :rolleyes:



Firstly - we have consistently been one of the best supported clubs in the league since 1985. In a league where clubs spent within their means, we should be up there challenging for honours on a regular basis by dint of support alone. If we assume that the league won't continue with the current madness - and it would seem that there aren't any crazy spenders left to go bang once Bohs, Cork, Drogs and City face-up to their current circumstances* - then why would the IL be any easier for us to compete than a more rational LOI ?? :confused:
Leaving aside the possibility of DCFC nor being allowed to compete in the LOI next season (or even being around?), it stands to reason that if the finances were sorted out so that both Leagues were properly run, on a p-t basis, then DCFC could expect to be more genuinely competitive in the IL than the LOI.
After all, haven't you been telling us for years that the standard of football in the LOI is so much higher than the IL?



Secondly - what's to stop Glentoran starting an arms race in the IL ?

Dear oh dear. You don't know much about the Glens, do you? The fact is that due to previous incompetence by the Board etc (inc trying to compete with the IFA-subsidised Linfield), the club is £600k in debt. However, this is secured against the Oval, which they own and which despite being decrepit as a football ground, is still potentially very valuable for development purposes.

Moreover, unlike eg Bohs or Pats, the Glens have been just about managing that debt for some years, chiefly by refusing to get drawn into an "arms race". (Keith Gillespie was only signed, for example, on condition that a sponsor would cover his wages. Plus they desist from prioritising Europe, despite the sneers which follow heavy defeats etc). At the same time, they are the current IL Champions (and Setanta Runners-Up), so arguably they haven't suffered too much from their economising

Anyhow, whilst there is no money even to give the place a lick of paint, never mind "go nuclear", the Board at last looks to be living within its means and should not be forced to sell the Oval until it is ready to move to an alternative (Blanchflower Park has already been identified, though I'd say it's a long way off).



What's to stop Portadown being taken over by a sugar daddy all starry-eyed about Europe ? More conjecture to challeneg your conjecture.
And it seems you know even less about the Ports...

In fact, they already are owned by a "Sugar Daddy" of sorts, Bobby Jameson (though that's not how many people might describe him!)

Anyhow, after years of spending on players and wages to try and keep up with the "Big Two", Jameson has cut back on that, deciding instead to rebuild Shamrock Park completely, with three brand new stands, plus other improvements (new floodlights, training facilities etc).

When they screwed up with their application for the new Irish Premier League, some people feared that this would banjax the whole scheme; however, the floodlights are installed, two new Stands have been completed and the third has been deferred. Assuming this last goes ahead, Shamrock Park will arguably be better than any LOI ground bar Tallaght and possibly Turners Cross (though at least it will have a team to play in it)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamrock_Park
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/northern_ireland/portadown_shamrock.shtml



So the simplest response to all of this is thus : we are not going back to the Irish League - regardless of what moot, conjecture-laden, pigs might fly arguements people can dream up to support it.
The only people who appear to imagine that pigs might fly are those people at the Brandywell who have spent years imagining that the laws of (economic) gravity somehow don't apply to them...

[Ezeikial]

The mess will be resolved in some form or another, and its not me with my head in the sand, i know 2 Directors personally and have every faith in them in regards to our strategy over the next month or two.



Your confidence and loyality is touching. But do you know what this 2 month strategy that you have every faith in consists of? Or is it that much maligned concept of "blind faith"?

[Rovers Maniac]

Your confidence and loyality is touching. But do you know what this 2 month strategy that you have every faith in consists of? Or is it that much maligned concept of "blind faith"?

That's quite ironic coming from you :D

[EalingGreen]

Where in the IL ladder would a new club join?

If it came to it (and I agree it's a huge "if"), I suspect the IFA would try to find some way of accommodating them in the Premier, rather than the Championship.



Is there any really difference between starting anew in the A League or in the IFA Championship?You may have a point there.
However, I'd say the Irish League Championship is a good deal nearer the Irish Premier League than it is to the 'A' League, which I understand to be a mixture of LOI Reserve teams and what in Irish League terms would be called Intermediate clubs.
In any case, even if DCFC's crowds and sponsorship in the Championship were little more than in the 'A' League, at least their travelling expenses would be much lower. Plus they would only be one promotion away from the top division, not two.

[Ezeikial]

That's quite ironic coming from you :D

Have I upset you in some way?

[pineapple stu]

If it came to it (and I agree it's a huge "if"), I suspect the IFA would try to find some way of accommodating them in the Premier, rather than the Championship.
Good luck to them on that front. Given there was a row over who'd take Bangor's place, I'd say there's be a row here too. I don't know if there's any precedent for jumping a team straight in at the top flight of any league. And there's also no reason to suppose there'd be an opening at Championship level.


However, I'd say the Irish League Championship is a good deal nearer the Irish Premier League than it is to the 'A' League, which I understand to be a mixture of LOI Reserve teams and what in Irish League terms would be called Intermediate clubs.
On the A League, Derry would (if it came to it) be in a regionalised Northern section, which would help reduce travelling significantly. For example, Derry's A team group this year is Salthill (Galway), Drogheda, Harps, Castlebar (Mayo), Tullamore (Offaly), Dundalk, Sligo and Galway. The potential crowd against Harps would possibly make up for any increase in travel or reduction in number of games played and associated gate receipts.

I honestly wouldn't think there'd be much difference in standard between the A League and the Championship, although I've only been to one Championship game (and that involved Portadown). UCD won the A League last year and this year are going for the First Division title with about seven or eight of that league winning team. Mervue came third of eight in their A group last year and survived the First Division comfortably enough. The A League isn't that bad. In any event, I don't think the quality of the league would be relevant as either way, Derry wouldn't intend on staying there.

[EalingGreen]

You are seriously living in cloud cuckoo land ! Although the situation is serious and creates alot of debat etc on football forums you will have something different to talk about next week. The mess will be resolved in some form or another, and its not me with my head in the sand, i know 2 Directors personally and have every faith in them in regards to our strategy over the next month or two. The fact is whether or not some IL fans would want us back or whether some LOI clubs/fans would like to see the back of us (cant imagine too many) we will remain part of the domestic league in the South. For the FAI there is more benefits of us remaining in the league than leaving it.
You may or may not be correct - I personally do not know. Then again, I've not been prescriptive in anything I've posted, merely (openly) speculative.



For 90%+ of Derry fans the IL would be a bad dream/nightmare and would actually result in the vast majority giving up their support of the club. Personally i would rather we ceased to exist completely than play in that league - and before you say it, not just because of the sectarian nature of your league. But in hindsight, do i want to listen to a bunch of muppets sing GSTQ or burn my national flag every week - feck that ! Had enough of that last month.Your club, your opinion, your entitlement.

[marinobohs]

And about £150k

which is a great pity because there was some chance on the "Love".......;)

[EalingGreen]

(Originally Posted by EalingGreen)
"As I see it, DCFC may be forced to consider the IL as being more financially viable than the 'A' League"



How do you make that out? You do realise that the A Championship is regionalised so the difference in transport costs would be minimal. Then again you'd have to factor in the increase in "other costs" that a return to the IL would entail ......I was well aware that the 'A' is regionalised. Nonetheless, all bar Finn Harps 'A' of the present teams in the Northern 'A' region would involve further/more difficult travelling than the IL.
And the extra "other" costs (security etc) would be at least partially offset by increased visiting support (esp if they were in the IL Premier).
Moreover, dropping down to the LOI 'A' League would mean they would be two promotions from the LOI Premier and without money to pay decent wages, they might have difficulty attracting players who are both prepared to play at that level and good enough to get them up.

Whereas they would be only one promotion from the IL Premier (or none at all, if readmitted straight in).

[passerrby]

No. My understanding is that prize money for league finishes isn't doled out until the wage cap issue, and any points deductions, has been dealt with.

European participation money has been forward lent to some clubs.



Just what this thread needs - more conjecture....

Firstly a sum of money was paid on receipt of your license then a further amount was paid in the middle of the season both of these come from a clubs potential prize fund the balance is paid at the end of the season and is nothing to do with wage cap issues which will only impact on the following seasons licence
secondly if derry are unable to pay wages etc it is only common sense to assume they cannot pay other outstanding bills

[ifk101]

(Originally Posted by EalingGreen)
"As I see it, DCFC may be forced to consider the IL as being more financially viable than the 'A' League"

I was well aware that the 'A' is regionalised. Nonetheless, all bar Finn Harps 'A' of the present teams in the Northern 'A' region would involve further/more difficult travelling than the IL.
And the extra "other" costs (security etc) would be at least partially offset by increased visiting support (esp if they were in the IL Premier).
Moreover, dropping down to the LOI 'A' League would mean they would be two promotions from the LOI Premier and without money to pay decent wages, they might have difficulty attracting players who are both prepared to play at that level and good enough to get them up.

Whereas they would be only one promotion from the IL Premier (or none at all, if readmitted straight in).

Increased visiting support? :D I'd assume Derry would have to start of in Championship 2 if they were to re-enter the Irish League. How much of a travelling support do Chimney Corner bring with them?

Say for example they were allow to start off in Championship 1. Do you realise what the average attendence is at a Championship 1 game? We're takling double digit figures here, at a push 3 digit figures.

Any even if Derry get into the top division, how many IL teams bring a crowd with them? Can't imagine Dungannon and Institute travel with more than 10 fans.

Let's be honest here, there's no way re-entering the IL could be more financial viable based on the assumption of increased visiting support.

[EalingGreen]

Good luck to them on that front. Given there was a row over who'd take Bangor's place, I'd say there's be a row here too. I don't know if there's any precedent for jumping a team straight in at the top flight of any league. And there's also no reason to suppose there'd be an opening at Championship level.

The problem with Bangor declaring they would voluntarily withdraw from the IPL was that it was both unprecedented and mid-season.
Whereas the whole point about the IPL when it was recently set up was that it was essentially an Invitation League (to start with).
Therefore in principle, the IFA may be be able to invite DCFC to join them. And to head off any opposition from existing Prem or Championship clubs, the obvious way to get them into the Prem would be by expanding it from 12 to 14 clubs i.e. DCFC plus one other.
That way, no other club would lose out, in fact, one additional club would benefit, either by not being relegated from the Prem as expected, or by getting an unexpected promotion from the Championship.
Thereafter, at the end of that season, the Prem could revert to 12 teams, either by three down and one up, or by four down and two up.
Obviously DCFC would have to take their chance on not being one of the relegated clubs, but I imagine their fans would be pretty confident on that score.



On the A League, Derry would (if it came to it) be in a regionalised Northern section, which would help reduce travelling significantly. For example, Derry's A team group this year is Salthill (Galway), Drogheda, Harps, Castlebar (Mayo), Tullamore (Offaly), Dundalk, Sligo and Galway. The potential crowd against Harps would possibly make up for any increase in travel or reduction in number of games played and associated gate receipts.
You overlook the fact that the 'A' League has only 9 teams, so offers far fewer games than the IL Championship (14 teams).
And should Intitute get relegated from the Prem, that would be a "derby" game to replace the Harps. (OK, maybe that's pushing it a bit ;))



I honestly wouldn't think there'd be much difference in standard between the A League and the Championship, although I've only been to one Championship game (and that involved Portadown). UCD won the A League last year and this year are going for the First Division title with about seven or eight of that league winning team. Mervue came third of eight in their A group last year and survived the First Division comfortably enough. The A League isn't that bad. In any event, I don't think the quality of the league would be relevant as either way, Derry wouldn't intend on staying there.You might be right.

[EalingGreen]

Increased visiting support? :D I'd assume Derry would have to start of in Championship 2 if they were to re-enter the Irish League. How much of a travelling support do Chimney Corner bring with them?

Say for example they were allow to start off in Championship 1. Do you realise what the average attendence is at a Championship 1 game? We're takling double digit figures here, at a push 3 digit figures.

Any even if Derry get into the top division, how many IL teams bring a crowd with them? Can't imagine Dungannon and Institute travel with more than 10 fans.

Let's be honest here, there's no way re-entering the IL could be more financial viable based on the assumption of increased visiting support.
I think you need to revert to first principles here.

As I've repeatedly stressed, the only way DCFC might re-enter the IL is if they fail to get a Licence from the LOI. However, if that should prove to be the case, then (self-evidently) that would be because they are totally skint.

In which case, if they were to play in the 'A' League, they would struggle to attract new money (crowds, sponsors etc) to the B'well, so would have very little cash to pay players good enough to guarantee immediate promotion.
And even if they were able to struggle along for one season in the 'A' whilst they clinched that promotion, they would still be another season away from the LOI Premier. Could they manage two more seasons on "starvation rations"?

Of course, if the choice were between the 'A' League and the IL Championship (only), DCFC might well chose the former. However, that just means that if the IFA were minded to let DCFC back in the fold, they would need to find a way of getting them straight back in the Premier Division.

And as I argued earlier, there are ways which this could be done without provoking insuperable opposition from the existing clubs.

[ifk101]

However, that just means that if the IFA were minded to let DCFC back in the fold, they would need to find a way of getting them straight back in the Premier Division.

And as I argued earlier, there are ways which this could be done without provoking insuperable opposition from the existing clubs.

:D

Shifting the goal posts so to speak. So things haven't changed since Derry's time in the IL then?

[micls]

Unless you're Cork City.

What prize money did we get that any other club didnt?

[Mr A]

From the Derry forum:


FAI WANT CASH ASSURANCES
By: PHILIP QUINN

THE FAI are seeking assurances from Derry City that all player contracts are correct before advancing the club money from the Premier Division prize fund to help ease the financial crisis.

With two games to go, Derry cannot finish worse than fourth, which is worth €60,000.

After a meeting yesterday, the club's board and players provisionally agreed a payment plan to cover the outstanding wages of eight weeks owed to players.

While it could take Derry months to clear the money owed to players, once both parties agree to the plan and sign off on it, it would not be an issue when Derry City seek a UEFA licence for the 2010 season — the club have no intention of quitting the League of Ireland for the Irish League. Eight Derry City players are out of contract at the end of the season, including captain Peter Hutton, who plays his 662nd senior game tonight, — his last at the Brandywell — against Bray, having given 18 seasons of service to the club.

Derry manager Stephen Kenny wants to stay at the club and has not given up on qualification for the Europa League by finishing third.

PHILIP QUINN

That first paragraph is very interesting indeed.

[EalingGreen]

:D

Shifting the goal posts so to speak. So things haven't changed since Derry's time in the IL then?To an extent, yes.

But bear in mind that DCFC were a top flight team when they were in the IL and a top flight team since they've been in the LOI. And financial mismanagement notwithstanding, it would be hard to argue that they would not have IPL credentials if they were forced to exit the LOI.

Moreover, when the IL was re-organised a couple of seasons ago, it wasn't just the goalposts which were moved, but the whole playing field was relaid.

Leagues do re-organise from time-to-time, so to devise another such re-organisation which was of mutual benefit to both the IFA and DCFC would hardly be too radical a departure from past practice.

Besides, if the IFA ever needed any guidance on "moving goalposts", they need look no further than to their Southern chums. Or have you forgotten about eg the demise of Limerick and Cobh, as against the continued survival of Cork City or the purchase of United Park...:rolleyes:

[EalingGreen]

From the Derry forum:

FAI WANT CASH ASSURANCES
By: PHILIP QUINN

"THE FAI are seeking assurances from Derry City that all player contracts are correct before advancing the club money from the Premier Division prize fund to help ease the financial crisis"


That first paragraph is very interesting indeed.

I'll say! Note the use of "correct", as opposed eg to "paid up" or "settled".

Do I smell fudge bubbling away in the Abbotstown kitchens? Or is that the familiar aroma of books being cooked? ;)

[ifk101]

Besides, if the IFA ever needed any guidance on "moving goalposts", they need look no further than to their Southern chums. Or have you forgotten about eg the demise of Limerick and Cobh, as against the continued survival of Cork City or the purchase of United Park...:rolleyes:

How true EG, how true ..... :D

[MariborKev]

We still haven't paid Linfield for the Setanta Cup tickets we sold.....

[Flexy]

Believe the clubs debts sit at around £350k currently and with no income till next february March it will only get worse till then

[MariborKev]

Flexy,

How would we know?Not as if the board wll tell us.

[pineapple stu]

The more that comes out about this, the more amazed I am that we (eventually) got paid for Sammo.

Dick Shakespeare must be a hoor to negotiate with. :)

[MariborKev]

Did the Sammon case not rely on a personal involvement of John Delaney?

[pineapple stu]

I think so, but it went that far at least in part because we made such a fuss over it.

[belfastred]

We still haven't paid Linfield for the Setanta Cup tickets we sold.....


Yip Linfield claiming Derry owe them 5 grand

[passerrby]

Believe the clubs debts sit at around £350k currently and with no income till next february March it will only get worse till then

just what this thread needs more conjecture eh steve

[Flexy]

Flexy,

How would we know?Not as if the board wll tell us.
Kev brought up at the development meeting last night

[MariborKev]

Aye, me da heard similiar.

Time to wind up Wellvan and head for the A League.

[SMorgan]

Dungannon are set to take legal action against Derry City after the club failed to make an agreed installment payment by close of business on Friday.

[Ezeikial]

Dungannon are set to take legal action against Derry City after the club failed to make an agreed installment payment by close of business on Friday.

Have Derry engaged Tom Coughlan as a consultant?

[Dodge]

Dungannon are set to take legal action against Derry City after the club failed to make an agreed installment payment by close of business on Friday.

HOw long has this been going on for? Seems like its come up about 3/4 times now

[MariborKev]

Dodge,

It has been running on since McGinn got transferred.

I hope the FAI throw the book at us, we are a complete disgrace and I'm ashamed to call myself a Derry fan at the minute.

[Dodge]

I hope the FAI throw the book at us, we are a complete disgrace and I'm ashamed to call myself a Derry fan at the minute.

Ugh, hard times fellah.

[Mr_Parker]

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l44/Mr_Parker2006/scan0007-4.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l44/Mr_Parker2006/scan0006-4.jpg

[EalingGreen]

Dungannon are set to take legal action against Derry City after the club failed to make an agreed installment payment by close of business on Friday.

Let me see now, that's one IL team they're severely p1ssing off, with Linfield another (at least until they get paid for the Setanta tickets). And I wonder what Institute might think about having "noisy neighbours"?

At this rate, the IL mightn't even have DCFC back, even if they asked! ;)

[Mr A]

At this rate, there won't be a Derry City to ask.

[Ezeikial]

I can understand that if Derry have not been/are not now in a position to pay up on foot of the court order that you can't take blood from a stone. But if these press reports are true in relation to how they have snubbed Dungannon, McDaid not taking calls etc, it seems to be inepitude of the highest order. What was he thinking.....that Dungannon would just go away if he ignored them?

The similarities with the TNB model of how to run a club (into the ground) are striking