Drogheda

[Lim till i die]

Spot the Difference:

http://www.munsterlit.ie/Writer%20images/Sweeney,%20Eamonn.jpg



http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cuYgxkBtpKo/TGAnhe6kBDI/AAAAAAAAAIM/r3wlvyAl-CU/s1600/Waffle+Pic.gif



Tis a tricky one, don't beat yourself up if you can't get it.

[legendz]

Ha ha!! ;)

[iceman]

Its actually a very funny set-up with Drogheda , people involed with the club are saying that the board have stepped down and the club is being run by the claret&blue club. New people are running day-to-day things up there and yet any c&b member (who are keeping the club afloat) will tell you that they had no say or vote on whats going on.:confused:
Old habits remain.

[marinobohs]

More about in the Sunday Indo today
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/common-sense-not-so-common-in-irish-clubs-2466492.html

Not a very interesting article - more a Sligo "gloat" over the wrong of not including them in the proposed All Ireland League (author writing with his Sligo hat on and not a LOI one). Nothing of any significance and, given previous difficulties at Sligo they are hardly text book model financially either.

Would like to see Mr Sweeney write more positive articles on the LOI he professes to care about (if that is allowed at the Indo :o)

[Cuyahoga]

Not a very interesting article - more a Sligo "gloat" over the wrong of not including them in the proposed All Ireland League (author writing with his Sligo hat on and not a LOI one). Nothing of any significance and, given previous difficulties at Sligo they are hardly text book model financially either.

Would like to see Mr Sweeney write more positive articles on the LOI he professes to care about (if that is allowed at the Indo :o)
I agree with you on the point about the article been a gloat aboout Sligo but in fairness his articles over the years have been generally positive for the League.

[Schumi]

I have a lot of time for Eamon Sweeney after reading his excellent book on Sligo Rovers but his newspaper pieces are hit and miss. marinobohs has it spot on here.

[oriel]

He usually writes some great stuff, but thought his comment on the 'tradtional powers of Sligo and Dundalk' was a bit strange, more so for Sligo, last lge titles was in 1977 for them & 1995 for Dundalk (and trust me, will be a long time until the next one too !)

[marinobohs]

I agree with you on the point about the article been a gloat aboout Sligo but in fairness his articles over the years have been generally positive for the League.

Agree Cuyahoga, excellent writer and his book about supporting Sligo was class but think its a great loss when any real LOI fan with media access writes "knocking" the League - apart from the fact its so easy :rolleyes:. Enjoyed his piece around the FAI Cup Final but not so this more recent effort.

[oriel]

LMFM radio sportsnews tonight reported that Drogs may have to go with an all amateur side for this year, with little hope of raising the money needed. I didnt hear the start of the report, so does this imply they wont even be in the FD next year ? I wouldn't like to see them drop out of the league, as any chance they have to re-build from the FD will be virtually gone if they depart senior football.

[cornflakes]

Will they drop to the A championship?

[Jofspring]

I take it Salthill and Mervue are all amateur sides so i don't see why Drogheda couldn't play First Division if these clubs can.

[gufcfan]

New people are running day-to-day things up there and yet any c&b member (who are keeping the club afloat) will tell you that they had no say or vote on whats going on.
Sounds eerily familiar.

[Spudulika]

Wexford have pretty much kept themselves amateur and have been developing little by little. It may be a state of play where an expanded Premier is pro or semi-pro, while the new 1st is only amateur. The same happens in many of the German leagues where payments are strictly forbidden (outside of expenses) and rules are rigidly enforced. It was certainly this way before the re-structuring of the leagues a while back, 1 club in the Hessenliga was thrown out for paying more than the allowed amount, it was a small difference but there was no leeway given.

[Macy]

There's no need for the first to be totally amateur - we just need licencing enforced (same as the premier) so clubs don't overspend. It appears to be more an issue in the premier division anyway - most first division clubs appear to be, or have, restructured their budgets to sustainable amounts. Drogheda just need to join this club!

[Spudulika]

There's no need for the first to be totally amateur - we just need licencing enforced (same as the premier) so clubs don't overspend. It appears to be more an issue in the premier division anyway - most first division clubs appear to be, or have, restructured their budgets to sustainable amounts. Drogheda just need to join this club!

You've a point, especially in terms of licence monitors, though a blind eye is turned too often to clubs behaving irresponsibly and this is more than just poor management. It's down to, "ah sure, the lads will sort if out." It's easy for the FAI to go after those out of favour (Big Tom being a prime example), though stopping under the table payments is one thing that would ensure clubs can at least compete on a level playing field. I await with no sense of hope the first player or official to be honest enough to step forward with the information that will put an end to a practice we all know and tolerate (especially when it's your own club and you want it to be successful). It'll take a scenario like The Untouchables to have it happen, though Kevin Costner hasn't the energy and Sean Connery doesn't much care for football.

[iceman]

Latest on the Drogheda forum is that the club are going cap-in-hand to the fans again.
This time they want 100 fans to come up with €2000 each (€200,000).
Cant see them getting it.

[D.24saint]

Latest on the Drogheda forum is that the club are going cap-in-hand to the fans again.
This time they want 100 fans to come up with €2000 each (€200,000).
Cant see them getting it.

that plan seems a bit
http://rosemaryrowe.typepad.com/creampuff_revolution/WindowsLiveWriter/CreampuffCantBelieveShesMissingPieSeason_9144/Pie%20in%20the%20Sky%5B4%5D.jpg

[Jofspring]

Can't see them finding 100 fans with that kind of cash to throw away. Will the fans get anything back in return barr a slightly better team fielded or is this money purely for the running of the club?

Drogheda need to just face up to facts it seems and have a squad of all amateurs. If this means struggling for the season then so be it but they have to start again from the looks of it and not try come back as competitive straight away.

[osarusan]

not try come back as competitive straight away.
Not until the second game of the season at least.

[pineapple stu]

They've launched it anyway (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0112/drogheda.html). Really don't understand why they need (as opposed to want) that kind of money.

[Spudulika]

Jesus, this type of scheme is doomed to failure, look at Dundalk as a prime example. Especially, if it's to be believed, that the same goons are running the club. A club I worked with have just launched something of this type, looking to raise c. 3grand a week. What's absolutely scary is that the money is going into a black hole, paying for one man and his hangers on's drive for political office. Drogheda's attempt looks sensible in comparison but still crass.

[Buile Shuibhne]

Have Drogheda applied for a licence and what budget have they submitted?

The RTE piece implies that they have FAI backing for the new scheme?

Will they impose a rolling deadline to enable Drog - in whatever form - gain a licence?

[pineapple stu]

From the Drogheda website Q&A about the share issue (http://www.droghedaunited.ie/shares.php) -


Q. What happens if sufficient funds are not raised in advance of the 31st January?

A. All monies received for shares will be lodged in a dedicated bank account. If sufficient funds are not raised by the 31st January, all monies will be refunded. The proposers will then recommend that the club be wound up.
WTF?!

[avvenalaf]

The way things are going, Thurles Town will be back in the Premier Division in March.

[Nesta99]

That really sounds like a big dose of emotional blackmail!! If the supporters dont raise another 200k in a matter of a couple of weeks then there will be a 'recomendation' to wind the club up (as opposed to an actual winding up order). A few years of faux success really seems to have blinded some to the possibility of 10years odd in the 1st division (cough) and allow some financial breathing space to implement and develop income streams. Yes a much harder job languishing in the 1st than sitting top of the Premier and winning Setanta and Cup but as Spudulika said 'look at Dundalk as a prime example'.

[Spudulika]

Drogheda can rescue themselves but they are laying down a legacy of mistrust and, from what I heard locally in December, disgust with the local business community. It's going to get harder for them from now on. Winding the club up is the easy thing to do, it's far harder to have to face being a battling 1st Division club rebuilding from the ground up. I am certain that with a small budget and amateur players they will be able to compete, there are plenty of decent players around and a good boss would move them on. However this won't fit for some of the ego's behind the club.

[horton]

After reading that FAQ on the website, it seems as if the egos behind the club are trying to lay fault with supporters for not fully coming to the rescue of the club. Absolutely shocking the way that they have worded that.

[Mr A]

A bit confused by all this. If they need this money just to get through this season with an amateur squad due to high fixed costs, won't they be in the exact same position this time next year? What am I missing here?

Edit- ok, read the FAQ. They expect to be self sufficient after two years and the 200k should get them that far.

Hmmm. This is still all a bit odd though.

[BonnieShels]

The way things are going, Thurles Town will be back in the Premier Division in March.

Someone's been reading Gods vs Mortals!

[Nesta99]

Well that 200k would allow them to sign some if the better players in the league, when they get in to Europe and win the odd cup then prize money can be reinvested to get a team together that will win the league (as long as there isnt a manager in place that takes 2 to 3 seasons too long to win that elusive league title playing the anti-football that will fail attract the masses of South Louth and North Meath). Some of that 200k can be put toward a planning application for a new ground in the middle of 10000 new homes. CL money and earnings on a land sale will thus make Drogheda Utd the model club and forever self sufficient!!

Seriously though self sufficient on 200k well if that is possible and such a business plan has been devised by the lads United Park please run for general election - you will get my vote....

[jinxy lilywhite]

I think the only way forward for Drogs supporters is for some of them to get off with a thousand fat chicks for €200 or a hundred fat chicks for €2,000 on behalf of the club.

seriously though. best of luck but is it not just trying to catch a falling knife here. maybe its time for the old lady should be put to sleep. Build again. Yeah you'll **** off a few creditors but at least you'll starting from a clean slate and develop more modest ambitions

[ndrog]

Well that 200k would allow them to sign some if the better players in the league, when they get in to Europe and win the odd cup then prize money can be reinvested to get a team together that will win the league (as long as there isnt a manager in place that takes 2 to 3 seasons too long to win that elusive league title playing the anti-football that will fail attract the masses of South Louth and North Meath). Some of that 200k can be put toward a planning application for a new ground in the middle of 10000 new homes. CL money and earnings on a land sale will thus make Drogheda Utd the model club and forever self sufficient!!

Seriously though self sufficient on 200k well if that is possible and such a business plan has been devised by the lads United Park please run for general election - you will get my vote....


ok so seemingly im not aloud to respond to posts such as this for some reason , not sure why ? But if my post is seen as trolling what is the likes of this ?

[pineapple stu]

It's sarcasm. Your post, as explained to you by PM, was trolling.

[Nesta99]

pm a reply ndrog

[Mr A]

Drogheda Utd future in serious doubt (http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/4783/)

[iceman]

So the directors of Hinge Trading are prepared to let the club sail off into the sunset.
Change of tune from 2008 when they were pleading with a High Court judge for protection from the courts.

[Schumi]

Drogheda Utd future in serious doubt (http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/4783/)

I still don't understand why (assuming that this isn't a case of crying wolf) they can't reduce their budget to eliminate the projected deficit rather than raising a large sum of money. The minimum costs of a First Division season with amateur players can't be that big surely?

[redobit]

If the FAI own the ground, does some of the debt come from money owed through back rent.

[D.24saint]

The only future the club seems to have is for the Claret & Blue club to run Drogheda United with a Bohs style membership set up.

[Ezeikial]

The only future the club seems to have is for the Claret & Blue club to run Drogheda United with a Bohs style membership set up.

That was Plan B.



Frank Pentony, another long-time supporter, addressed the audience when asked by one “is there a plan B?” “This is plan C”, answered Frank. “Plan A was to try and get the Claret & Blue Club to a point where it could take over the club, that didn’t work, plan B was to try and get an investor, that didn’t work, this is the last throw of the dice”.

[ClaretnBlue]

I'm a realist rather than a pessimist and sorry to say its allover for us bar the crying and blamegame.

[pineapple stu]

But how?! When ye've a Trust and small debts and ground sponsorship and a fan base bigger than half the First Division anyway. Nothing makes sense in all this.

[marinobohs]

But how?! When ye've a Trust and small debts and ground sponsorship and a fan base bigger than half the First Division anyway. Nothing makes sense in all this.

Have to agree with Stu on this one, surely a reduction in budget - even to amateur status - and an organisation of creditors will allow club continue (however hampered) ? They have a place in the first division and (presumably) FAI are not going to turf them out of Hunky Dory Park ? Most/all first division clubs will have a budget alot less than 200K. I appreciate there is a weariness about many Drogs fans given recent years but hope there is still enough willingness to rally to the cause yet again.

[White Horse]

But how?! When ye've a Trust and small debts and ground sponsorship and a fan base bigger than half the First Division anyway. Nothing makes sense in all this.

I have rarely come across a town and fans so apathetic as in Drogheda at the moment.

I don't know why, but it appears all the passion and fight have been sucked out of them.

It would be sad to see them fade away like this but I share the pessimism of some of their fans on this thread.

[Lim till i die]

I vaguely remember once upon a time doing a little exercise on excel on the cost of an amateur set up. (Real party animal me)

Anyway roughly you'd be talking:

Players: 20 * 50 * 36 = 36000
Staff: 450 * 36 = 16200
Physio: 150 * 33 = 4050
Officials: 750 * 17 = 12250
Travel: 400 * 25 = 10000
Insurance: 15000
Training: 10000
Audited Accounts: Another 10000??

I'm leaving out a LOT of stuff there I'm sure that's just what comes into my head at this moment, that's 113500

Now seeing as you have an amateur side, your crowds are now rubbish, say 10th place Drogheda attract 150 a week at a generous average of 8 quid a skull. 17 home games gives you total gate receipts for the year of 17200. Make it an even 20 grand we'll say they got Shamrock Rovers away in the cup.

Add on a (generous given the times we live in fifteen grand for sponsorship)

That's a grand total of 35 grand income.

Leaving a shortfal of 78500 with everything cut to the bare bone.

Looks like piddling money but it has to come out of someones pocket. :ball:

Also to suggest "Most/All first division clubs will have a budget a lot less than 200k" is nonsense.



EDIT: Just realised I made a post on page one of this thread with drastically different figures before any smartaras points it out!! I stand over both posts this one is the bare bones scenario! :)

[pineapple stu]

I'm leaving out a LOT of stuff there I'm sure
Yeah, there's the likes of E150 a game for an ambulance at the ground - little things like that will add up quickly enough - and the league entry fees are something outrageous (though with prize money, it kind of turns into a deposit in the Premier anyway). But on the flip side, you've got the C&B club - what's that? 200 members giving a fiver a week? That's E50k right there. And don't they get car park money or something like that? Edit - and bar money as well, though it's not a very big bar.

But in fairness, your post does point out how much work there is keeping even the smallest LoI club going.

[Lim till i die]

The amount of people I'd talk to who are under the impression that "amateur" = "free" :)

Also, I'd be amazed if they actually have 200 people giving them a fiver a week in reality, if they do, fairplay. :ball:

[pineapple stu]

Don't know how many they have alright. I think the board set a target of 500 for a takeover, and they fell short (which is no disgrace obviously).

[iceman]

C&B Subscriptions €50k
Car Park c €30k
Bingo €40k
Suppose they would be the main ones , then theres rental from the Mobile Phone transmitters on the floodlight pylons , advertising boards behind the away shed , bar income etc ...
All adds up.

[Magicme]

Why would they need to pay an ambualance at their ground when the hospital is just across the road.