Fenn Announces his Retirement

[Dodge]

Glass houses there marino, Nutsy is far from clean in this area as he's, eh, had a word, with plenty of players under contract, eh, encouraging them to seek moves.

[pineapple stu]

but they could "encourage" Fenn to seek to have his contract dissolved. They did get Chris Turner to renege on an agreement to rejoin Sligo so there is form for this type of behaviour.
Without the registration being released, it seems all that's irrelevant. So why go to the bother of encouraging a player to retire when it's the simplest thing for Dundalk to hold ono to his registration and stop him from signing for anyone else for the rest of the season?

And the Chris Turner thing wasn't as you put it either, as I understand; Sligo were the ones who reneged on the contract offer, and Rovers capitalised on that. It's not Rovers' fault if other clubs make mistakes.

[Guinney]

What Neale Fenn did is absolutely disgusting. He conned his way out of a contract. The PFAI have harped on about clubs honouring players contracts - maybe they should mention that players should honours theirs to. Issues like this really knock the credibility of the league. Neale Fenn ruined his reputation with this, he has only a short time left in his career and when he goes looking for a coaching job when he hangs his boots up, I hope this incident stands to him and that no one will hire someone with such low integrity. Also I firmly believe the transfer dealings of Michael O'Neill need to be looked at. First Chris Turner now Neale Fenn and I'm sure there is plenty of other players he 'tapped'. Contact PFAI at http://www.pfai.ie/contact and tell McGuinness to get off his backside and do something about this, because Neale Fenn and Shamrock Rovers should not get away with this.

[Macy]

The cynic in me would wonder whether it was in Dundalks interest to get him off the payroll, and now they have the perfect cover from their own fans... It certainly appears to suit them that people ignore the registration issue.

[Guinney]

The cynic in me would wonder whether it was in Dundalks interest to get him off the payroll, and now they have the perfect cover from their own fans... It certainly appears to suit them that people ignore the registration issue.

Not a chance of this, did you see the size of the Dundalk squad. We already off loaded a couple of players like Synnott and Gregg. Foster was actively trying to get more players in not get rid of them. Dundalk FC acted in good heart (maybe a little naive) and let Fenn go for ''Personal reasons''. It back fired and Fenn deceived the club.

[marinobohs]

Without the registration being released, it seems all that's irrelevant. So why go to the bother of encouraging a player to retire when it's the simplest thing for Dundalk to hold ono to his registration and stop him from signing for anyone else for the rest of the season?

And the Chris Turner thing wasn't as you put it either, as I understand; Sligo were the ones who reneged on the contract offer, and Rovers capitalised on that. It's not Rovers' fault if other clubs make mistakes.

Ah yes, Stu, I was forgetting its NEVER shams fault all everyone elses :D first love and all that.........

[marinobohs]

Glass houses there marino, Nutsy is far from clean in this area as he's, eh, had a word, with plenty of players under contract, eh, encouraging them to seek moves.

All managers "tap up" players Dodge always have, always will. Difference here is that player(s) may have been encouraged to escape his contract by a paticular club. I Think that is slightly different scenario.

[pineapple stu]

Seriously mb - how do Rovers encourage Dundalk to release his registration?

There's no point selectively considering the facts that lead to the conclusion you want (i.e. Rovers are nasty, horrible people).

[Dodge]

There's absolutely no difference at all between the case I'm talking about. Except the outcome. In the case I'm talking about the player couldn't get out of his contract, and he was transferred to another club. In this case Fenn got out of his contract.

[GGAJD]

Rovers were in talks with Karl Sheppard over the weekend, he was seen in the Maldron with two suits on Sunday, if a deal had have been reached, Fenn wouldn't have got a call from Rovers and he possibly would have gone to shligo, and would there have been a six page thread on it on here??? Would there balls.

[marinobohs]

Seriously mb - how do Rovers encourage Dundalk to release his registration?

There's no point selectively considering the facts that lead to the conclusion you want (i.e. Rovers are nasty, horrible people).
Come on Stu, I said they may have encouraged fenn to seek dissolution of his contract, obviously there was no contact between the clubs - therin lies the problem. Not sure how much clearer I can make it. (please notice the MAY part - unlike rubbish regularly spouted about Bohs "as fact" on here)

[redobit]

Rovers were in talks with Karl Sheppard over the weekend, he was seen in the Maldron with two suits on Sunday, if a deal had have been reached, Fenn wouldn't have got a call from Rovers and he possibly would have gone to shligo, and would there have been a six page thread on it on here??? Would there balls.

Why wouldnt there be, serious issues have been raised.

[total hoofball]

The cynic in me would wonder whether it was in Dundalks interest to get him off the payroll, and now they have the perfect cover from their own fans... It certainly appears to suit them that people ignore the registration issue.

No. Immediately after Fenn 'retired' Dundalk signed Welsh striker Matthew Tipton as a replacement.

Fenn's farewall interview states that he still planned to be ''playing a little bit of football'', reading between the lines thats Inter or Junior football (or if you're REALLY cynical, Shamrock Rovers), so its likely he requested them to release his registration for that reason.

[total hoofball]

I can't but help feel that the timing of Fenn's out of the blue retirement, a couple of days before the closing of the transfer window, stinks to high heaven.

[GGAJD]

Why wouldnt there be, serious issues have been raised.

OK maybe your right they are serious questions reguarding Fenn's departure, but would every second poster be stating that Cooke encouraged Fenn to quit in a big underhand move by your lot if he'd gone out west? I doubt it.

Rovers main target before the window closed was Sheppard, that fell through for whatever reason, so Rovers ask Fenn his situation, he states he's a free agent, Rovers have that (apparantly)confirmed by the pfai and sign him, I don't see what Rovers have done wrong in that respect. Whatever about how Fenn got his contract cancelled is another matter and needs clarifying, but the conspiracy theorists/anti MON heads on here make me laugh with their crackpot theories.

[total hoofball]

OK maybe your right they are serious questions reguarding Fenn's departure, but would every second poster be stating that Cooke encouraged Fenn to quit in a big underhand move by your lot if he'd gone out west? I doubt it.

Cut the victimisation ******** out, it's a dispicable act by Fenn and whatever club he joined would be under a cloud of suspicion especially since there is form here with Shamrock Rovers

[pineapple stu]

Immediately after Fenn 'retired' Dundalk signed Welsh striker Matthew Tipton as a replacement.
Dundalk were quick on the ball there; must have been tapping Tipton up. :p

Arse; he was a free transfer. Ruins that joke.

[marinobohs]

OK maybe your right they are serious questions reguarding Fenn's departure, but would every second poster be stating that Cooke encouraged Fenn to quit in a big underhand move by your lot if he'd gone out west? I doubt it.

Rovers main target before the window closed was Sheppard, that fell through for whatever reason, so Rovers ask Fenn his situation, he states he's a free agent, Rovers have that (apparantly)confirmed by the pfai and sign him, I don't see what Rovers have done wrong in that respect. Whatever about how Fenn got his contract cancelled is another matter and needs clarifying, but the conspiracy theorists/anti MON heads on here make me laugh with their crackpot theories.

Yes because we know the "model club" would do no wrong :rolleyes: pure coincidence that the two "contract breaking deals (Fenn and Turner) revolve around the same club ?

or perhaps, as ever, you believe that no one should question anything at Rovers ?

[pineapple stu]

Again, you ignore that Sligo reneged on Turner's contract and make it all out to be Rovers' fault. In fact, Sligo were the ones investigated after it, as I recall.

Not saying that Rovers are squeaky clean here, but you need to start looking at all the facts.

[marinobohs]

There's absolutely no difference at all between the case I'm talking about. Except the outcome. In the case I'm talking about the player couldn't get out of his contract, and he was transferred to another club. In this case Fenn got out of his contract.

Dodge, if its the Ndo case
- player asked for transfer from club A# to club B#
- club A (holder of registration) put huge price on player, as entitled to.
- club B do not meet price and do not sign player
_club A pay players wages to play for bitterest rivals of club B in petty move.

So if Dundalk announce that they are to continue paying fenn while he sees out the season at Bohs then, yes, the cases will be the same :o

# clubs A and B may or may not be St Pats and Bohs.

[marinobohs]

Again, you ignore that Sligo reneged on Turner's contract and make it all out to be Rovers' fault. In fact, Sligo were the ones investigated after it, as I recall.

Not saying that Rovers are squeaky clean here, but you need to start looking at all the facts.

Stu, I heard from someone close to the shams board that MO'N told Turner at the time "I want to sign you but you have to get out of that contract". Mentioned it here at the time, and have never heard it disputed (appreciate that shams are the only ones have "sources" :)).

Would be surprised if many contracts in LOI are 100% watertight, but dont think that clubs trying to disrupt them (if that is what happened) is of any benifit to the League.

[pineapple stu]

And if that exchange happened after Turner went to Rovers and said "Here, Sligo are reneging on my deal - any chance what you offered me is still on the table?", then I don't see any problems with that.

Again, I'm not saying Rovers are squeaky clean here, but I think your posts would be taken a lot more seriously if you considered all the factors rather than just say "Rovers bad!"

[total hoofball]

Dundalk furious at Rovers' swoop for 'retired' Fenn

By Daniel McDonnell

Tuesday August 03 2010


DUNDALK are fuming at the news that Shamrock Rovers are in advanced discussions with Neale Fenn, a few days after the veteran striker had his contract with the Louth club terminated on the basis that he was retiring from the game.

The Hoops were one of a number of clubs who contacted the 33-year-old when his parting of ways with the Oriel Park outfit was announced and they are hoping to agree personal terms by the weekend.

Dundalk agreed to part company with Fenn (left) by mutual consent after manager Ian Foster heard the striker's personal reasons for bringing his career to a close.

Foster refused to comment on the situation yesterday and it's understood that the Lilywhites hierarchy are waiting for official confirmation before commenting officially on the matter.

It's clear, however, that they would not have let the player go if they had any inkling that he might make a comeback in different colours. Rovers are entitled to sign Fenn, who was present at the first leg of their Europa League meeting with Juventus last Thursday, as he is a free agent. Any professional who is out of work before July 31 can sign for any club before the end of this month.

Fenn, who has been playing professionally in this country for the last seven years, will be able to collect a lump sum -- a portion of the tax he paid during that time -- when he officially confirms that his playing days are over. It now appears that payment will be delayed until after the end of this campaign.


- Daniel McDonnell

Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/dundalk-furious-at-rovers-swoop-for-retired-fenn-2281735.html


Nice to see Fenn on the day of his retirement celebrating it at Tallaght Stadium of all places! :pirate:

[boneym]

yes and who was he celebrating it with " the one and only Stephen Mc Guinness "

This was planned and Dundalk did make a huge mistake but in fairness they didnt expect Fenn to pull off a stunt like that, they took him at face value. He a made a mockery of players contracts but Mc Guinness wont care . Fenn can F**k off and crawl back under the rock he came out off but let me tell you O neill would be better keeping him out of Oriel the next time the two sides meet as Dundalk fans are furious and who can blame them.

[Macy]

Fenn's farewall interview states that he still planned to be ''playing a little bit of football'', reading between the lines thats Inter or Junior football (or if you're REALLY cynical, Shamrock Rovers), so its likely he requested them to release his registration for that reason.
On the same money?


Fenn's farewall interview states that he still planned to be ''playing a little bit of football'', reading between the lines thats Inter or Junior football (or if you're REALLY cynical, Shamrock Rovers), so its likely he requested them to release his registration for that reason.
Still naive to cancel it until Dundalk saw who he wanted to play with - there was no need to release his registration at that point. Of course, it also really could be as simple as him not realising that he couldn't get his tax back straight away.

[boneym]

Dundalk acted in good faith after listening to his sob story. He knew exactly what he was at. If he was innocent wouldnt he be making a statement regarding this to clear his supossedly good name. He has once again given LOI football a bad name and I also think that Rovers should of been more professional in their handling of this.

[marinobohs]

And if that exchange happened after Turner went to Rovers and said "Here, Sligo are reneging on my deal - any chance what you offered me is still on the table?", then I don't see any problems with that.

Again, I'm not saying Rovers are squeaky clean here, but I think your posts would be taken a lot more seriously if you considered all the factors rather than just say "Rovers bad!"

and yours might be taken more seriously if they consisted of anything but made up excuses for shams ("Shams good" ?????)

[CMcC]

So its another full-time player at the 'part-time' club then.

[osarusan]

Seriously mb - how do Rovers encourage Dundalk to release his registration?

There's no point selectively considering the facts that lead to the conclusion you want (i.e. Rovers are nasty, horrible people).

In fairness Stu, a suggestion by Rovers that Fenn ask Dundalk to release his registration so that he could play 'a little bit of football' for nobody specific (but let Dundalk assume that, given his comments about 'not being able for it anymore', this would be LSL or the like) is hardly Machiavellian stuff is it?

Pesonally, I doubt this is the case, but it's not really so crazy as to be impossible. The fact that this all happened just before the July 31st deadline. after which would have made it impossible to do so, does make it slightly suspicious to my mind.

However, I still think it more likely that he simply intended to retire, and then info regarding his tax and an offer from Rovers made his change his mind.

[Dunny]

Statement expected later.


Lads Fenn asked the club to cancle his reg as he wanted to continue playing junior football........DFC board are in no way to blame for the "deleted" lying to them. Statement from the board will be on DFC.com later

[dfx-]

Yes because we know the "model club" would do no wrong :rolleyes: pure coincidence that the two "contract breaking deals (Fenn and Turner) revolve around the same club ?

or perhaps, as ever, you believe that no one should question anything at Rovers ?

Explain where Rovers broke either contract? Explain what contract Fenn had when Rovers signed him...or Turner's contract. Explain what Rovers fans should be questioning..


Dodge, if its the Ndo case

Or Rowe...

[pineapple stu]

I've already said that I'm not saying Rovers are squeaky clean in all this. It looks to me like Fenn knew what he was doing, Dundalk were fools and Rovers at best capitalised, and maybe were involved. But others are saying Rovers must be to blame here because they got Turner to renege on his contract with Sligo, when it was clearly found that Sligo had reneged on Turner. There's people blaming the FAI and Rovers without any real rational thought processes (which, in fairness, at least you've undergone), and it just sounds like vacuous knee-jerking "Blame the FAI!" or "Rovers are nasty; I told you so before when the manager wouldn't shake hands!" from too many posters.

[marinobohs]

Explain where Rovers broke either contract? Explain what contract Fenn had when Rovers signed him...or Turner's contract. Explain what Rovers fans should be questioning..

perhaps you are slow so I will explain it again - I suggested shams may have encouraged players to break contract(s), never that shams broke contracts.
Try reading my previous post where i explained this quite clearly.



Or Rowe...

Ah yes, the fabulous Rowe era at Dalymount ! we talk of little else. can only hope Fenn wins as much at SDCC ground.

[osarusan]

My point was that you (Stu) seemed to be asking how Rovers could play a part in Dundalk releasing his registration as if it was impossible that they could ever influence it, whereas I think it's not a particularly far-fetched scenario, although i still think other scenarios are more likely.

I may have misinterpreted your posts though.

[dfx-]

So nothing but maybes then, mb. Well maybe we'll question it. If there was any reason to be suspicious.


Ah yes, the fabulous Rowe era at Dalymount ! we talk of little else. can only hope Fenn wins as much at SDCC ground.

Who said anything about him having to join Bohs...

[Dodge]

wouldn't have got a call from Rovers and he possibly would have gone to shligo, and would there have been a six page thread on it on here??? Would there balls.

Take the rought wioth the smooth fellah, you've got tons of good, positive posts about the European run, tallaght etc etc so don't try and claim the majority here are anti Rovers...

[marinobohs]

So nothing but maybes then, mb. Well maybe we'll question it. If there was any reason to be suspicious.



Who said anything about him having to join Bohs...

Lack of definite proof (or indeed any) never stoped shams making wild allegations now did it ? :confused:

Think you may find the player signing for the club (shams in this case) is central to the discussion

[pineapple stu]

My point was that you (Stu) seemed to be asking how Rovers could play a part in Dundalk releasing his registration as if it was impossible that they could ever influence it, whereas I think it's not a particularly far-fetched scenario, although i still think other scenarios are more likely.

I may have misinterpreted your posts though.
The "I just want to play LSL" was an angle I hadn't properly considered alright, but my main point was that people were jumping to the conclusions they wanted to jump to without really thinking things through properly.

[dfx-]

Lack of definite proof (or indeed any) never stoped shams making wild allegations now did it ? :confused:

And naturally you obviously believed all accusations like you may do now, yes?

Central to the maybes and fanciful thinking or as you like to call it 'discussion' is whether they encouraged Fenn to leave. Maybe that's why Bohs fans are up in arms about it..maybe they know how devious a behaviour it is..

[Philly]

It's easy to jump to conclusions here. However, if Fenn ddid intend to retire and then changed his mind after Rovers made him an offer he could not refuse, then who is to argue with that? I mean, if it can be shown that Rovers were tapping him up before he retired and it was all some plan, then they should be punished. However, I doubt that was the case. They could have just signed him a few months ago if that was the case.

[passerrby]

dont think rovers or dundalk did anything wrong ,fenn is a b*****k, dundalk will not shout to loud as they will be happy to get him of the payroll

[SkStu]

Fenn signing for another team is despicable given the fact that he was retiring.

Rovers involvement may be questioned too as that is the team he signed for.

My rationale is that there is no way he would have made a mistake about his tax refund. Any player would know their position prior to retiring - its a big sell when signing a player to a contract in the league and you would at least do a little bit of homework. So Fenn wants to retire for personal reasons, claim a lump sum and play a little bit of junior footie. His personal reasons have disappeared, he wont be getting his lump sum and he is playing professional football for Rovers. Now, if i follow that line of thinking to its conclusion it leads me to believe that Fenn was looking for a way to join Rovers (this was the team he signed for afterall). He may or may not have been coached by Rovers on how to do that. But Rovers have plenty of previous on this sort of stuff. Ergo Rovers are bad, Fenn is scum, Bohs are good, Hunt is God.

[Red4Eva]

Sligo were the ones who reneged on the contract offer, and Rovers capitalised on that.

Where did you pull that out of? Absolutely no truth whatsoever in that.

[marinobohs]

It's easy to jump to conclusions here. However, if Fenn ddid intend to retire and then changed his mind after Rovers made him an offer he could not refuse, then who is to argue with that? I mean, if it can be shown that Rovers were tapping him up before he retired and it was all some plan, then they should be punished. However, I doubt that was the case. They could have just signed him a few months ago if that was the case.

If fenn did as you suggest then he is 100% at fault and should not have shafted Dundalk after they allowed him "retire" (at least give Dundalk first option on his now revitalised services). if he was tapped up by shams then they are at fault (although dont hold your breath waiting on FAI to take action).

Bearing in mind the recent shenanagins (to be diplomatic) about Chris Turner it is at least disappointing to see the same club involved again.

[marinobohs]

Where did you pull that out of? Absolutely no truth whatsoever in that.

...................never let the truth get in the way of justifying the shams :rolleyes:

[pineapple stu]

Again, we see you automatically latching on to anything which proves what you want to be proven though and calling it "the truth".

[dong]

I would like to see wha you have to say about Red4eva's question Stu?
Struck me as a bit odd as well when you said it.

[Red4Eva]

Again, we see you automatically latching on to anything which proves what you want to be proven though and calling it "the truth".


Dodged my question nicely there and turned it into a criticism of someone else. Think I might report your post for wumming :)

[pineapple stu]

The general consensus on the thread on here at the time was that Turner had been offered a contract - and been paid a E5k signing on fee, as per here (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0311/turnerc.html) - but then offered a lower one, which he turned down. It's not hard proof, I'll admit, but it was by far the most rational argument I've heard. (And that thread ended in hyperbole against Rovers too, ignoring all the facts. It's hard not to get irritated by that all the time, and to judge the posters accordingly.)

Sligo and Turner were the ones reported after an investigation, whereas Rovers were cleared, again as per the article above. So to say that this is a black mark against Rovers is a bit much. Again, quite possible that Rovers weren't squeaky clean, but when their case was held up on the basis that Sligo made an admin error, it's stretching it to ignore all that.

[Red4Eva]

Sligo and Turner were the ones reported after an investigation, whereas Rovers were cleared, again as per the article above. So to say that this is a black mark against Rovers is a bit much. Again, quite possible that Rovers weren't squeaky clean, but when their case was held up on the basis that Sligo made an admin error, it's stretching it to ignore all that.

How were we and Turner punished? We weren't. Just because there was an investigation doesn't mean all parties involved are guilty.