SeanDrog
24/09/2009, 7:47 AM
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/sadlier-casts-doubt-on-saints-future-as-owner-takes-stock-1894895.html
Sadlier casts doubt on Saints' future as owner 'takes stock'
By Neil Ahern
Thursday September 24 2009
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC chief executive Richard Sadlier has cast doubts over the future of the club, revealing that current owner Garrett Kelleher has not yet made any financial commitments beyond the end of this season.
Speaking yesterday at the unveiling of Pete Mahon as manager until the end of the season following the resignation of Jeff Kenna, Sadlier admitted that only a short-term appointment was possible because the future of the club is unclear.
The former Millwall striker said he has been speaking regularly to Kelleher, who purchased the Inchicore outfit in 2007, but has not yet received any assurances as to the property developer's future financial backing of the club.
"I've spoken to Garrett and certain members of the board and what they've said all along is 'at the end of the season we'll take stock and see where we are'.
"We don't know what way the league is next year. We don't know whether certain clubs will be in the Premier (League) next year so we'll wait until November or December.
"The structure, the budget, the shape of the club for next year is not yet known; we didn't want to make a decision today for next year.
"If I asked Pete to take the job for next year he would have asked 'what can I offer players? What's my budget for backroom staff?' and that's not yet decided.
"The main focus is on finishing this season as well as we can. Then throughout November and December we'll discuss next year and what kind of shape that will take."
Asked whether it was worrying for him and his own future that Kelleher could cease funding the club, Sadlier, replied: "That's the nature of my job.
Frustrating
"There are a lot of elements of my job that are very worrying and very frustrating and they're not elements I can change."
Sadlier also expressed disappointment that the financial problems which have plagued the League of Ireland since his arrival in 2007 have not be resolved, but denied that he will depart the Saints at the end of the season.
"I hope to be (here for the long haul). It's a different club from the day I arrived, certainly, and it's a different league from when I arrived, that's true.
"When I took this role 16-18 months ago no clubs were appearing in court simply to survive and I don't remember any club paying their staff 25pc of their wages."
- Neil Ahern
Sadlier casts doubt on Saints' future as owner 'takes stock'
By Neil Ahern
Thursday September 24 2009
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC chief executive Richard Sadlier has cast doubts over the future of the club, revealing that current owner Garrett Kelleher has not yet made any financial commitments beyond the end of this season.
Speaking yesterday at the unveiling of Pete Mahon as manager until the end of the season following the resignation of Jeff Kenna, Sadlier admitted that only a short-term appointment was possible because the future of the club is unclear.
The former Millwall striker said he has been speaking regularly to Kelleher, who purchased the Inchicore outfit in 2007, but has not yet received any assurances as to the property developer's future financial backing of the club.
"I've spoken to Garrett and certain members of the board and what they've said all along is 'at the end of the season we'll take stock and see where we are'.
"We don't know what way the league is next year. We don't know whether certain clubs will be in the Premier (League) next year so we'll wait until November or December.
"The structure, the budget, the shape of the club for next year is not yet known; we didn't want to make a decision today for next year.
"If I asked Pete to take the job for next year he would have asked 'what can I offer players? What's my budget for backroom staff?' and that's not yet decided.
"The main focus is on finishing this season as well as we can. Then throughout November and December we'll discuss next year and what kind of shape that will take."
Asked whether it was worrying for him and his own future that Kelleher could cease funding the club, Sadlier, replied: "That's the nature of my job.
Frustrating
"There are a lot of elements of my job that are very worrying and very frustrating and they're not elements I can change."
Sadlier also expressed disappointment that the financial problems which have plagued the League of Ireland since his arrival in 2007 have not be resolved, but denied that he will depart the Saints at the end of the season.
"I hope to be (here for the long haul). It's a different club from the day I arrived, certainly, and it's a different league from when I arrived, that's true.
"When I took this role 16-18 months ago no clubs were appearing in court simply to survive and I don't remember any club paying their staff 25pc of their wages."
- Neil Ahern