Sligo

[Mr A]

Can see where Sligo are coming from on this. The Co-op structure has the inherent disadvantage when compared to members clubs that the membership/ share payment is a one off, meaning that the members clubs have an advantage in terms of annual income. It can also have the disadvantage that a relatively large share price can be off-putting, meaning that people who have long since lost interest still have a say while people who'd like to be involved may not be able to pay the share price in one go. I think people at Harps have been looking at a transition towards an annual membership fee but legally it's a tricky one. Plus people signed up on the basis of permanent share ownership and may resent a change, especially if they can't now afford a subscription. I suspect a compromise very similar to Sligo's may be the end result- i.e. no legal change but a request for a voluntary annual payment.

On the other hand the press release makes links this to the summer break and therefore gives the impression of financial difficulty when really this early in the year there shouldn't be. Maybe that's no harm to get people motivated to pay. But obviously people are going to look at what was posted on the Sligo site and suspect there are problems afoot.

I'm going to stick with original guess that Sligo's board have been concerned about foot's traffic levels and therefore were deliberately somewhat vague in order to get a bit of buzz going.

[El-Pietro]

we're a Co-op - we pay €120 membership every year.

[redarmyfaction]

This is a non issue for most Rovers fans, most are unaware of it, I only became aware of it on this site. I expect nothing but badness from Dale Farm, it being the default of the stupid, but the incipient gloating from some other clubs is disappointing.

[redobit]

Can see where Sligo are coming from on this. The Co-op structure has the inherent disadvantage when compared to members clubs that the membership/ share payment is a one off, meaning that the members clubs have an advantage in terms of annual income. It can also have the disadvantage that a relatively large share price can be off-putting, meaning that people who have long since lost interest still have a say while people who'd like to be involved may not be able to pay the share price in one go. I think people at Harps have been looking at a transition towards an annual membership fee but legally it's a tricky one. Plus people signed up on the basis of permanent share ownership and may resent a change, especially if they can't now afford a subscription. I suspect a compromise very similar to Sligo's may be the end result- i.e. no legal change but a request for a voluntary annual payment.

.

Good post Mr.A. Somthing that ye might consider is what has recently been added to at Rovers. If youre a 500 club member for 3 years (from now on) you become a full member.

[A face]

How much do Shams 400 Club Members pay each year?

[Mr A]

we're a Co-op - we pay €120 membership every year.

It's one thing if that's the structure from the start.. it's harder to change an existing structure. Personally I'd like to see membership fees come in at around the €100 a year mark and also agree with redobit's idea- I know this has been suggested previously.

[dfx-]

How much do Shams 400 Club Members pay each year?

400 club doesn't exist anymore...it is now Rovers' members' club.

€50 per month, with no further 'donations' when money is down and lack of home games are...wait for it...budgeted for. :tremble:

[Sonny]

lack of home games are...wait for it...budgeted for. :tremble:

Madness!!

[poster]

€50 per month, with no further 'donations'

€600 a year to be a member :sweat:

No wonder Mo'N wanted more more more...

[L.T.F.C.]

€50 a month? Ouch!

[redobit]

Haha. €50 a month. And them with all their money.

Can you imagine what the Shams fans would be saying if it was us: Their diluded paying that. Pulling the wool over their own fans eyes. Robbing their fans, blah blah blah.

Ah, it really is true what they say about people in glasshouses, ye really shouldn't throw stones.

[Mr A]

Balls to that. This is the League of Ireland.

People in glass houses should not only throw stones, but also grenades and if possible the enraged participants from monkey knife fights.

And often this should be vertically upwards.

[A face]

€50 per month, with no further 'donations' when money is down

So thats €600 per member every year for Shams members and Sligo Rovers are asking their members who pay nothing to make a €100 donation and they are the bad ones??? What gives??? I really dont think Shams fans can criticise here to be honest. City trust members pay €120 a year and i think that is fair enough, and i'd advocate that all LOI clubs should be doing something similar, people will and do disagree with that and thats perfectly fine, i can see their point as well but i think Sligo Rovers appealing to members in this way is perfectly fine, they probably forecast how much they'll get and thats fine. Shams depending on €600 per annum is more worrying imo.

[Sonny]

Shams depending on €600 per annum is more worrying imo.

What the **** is worrying about a steady income stream?

[Dodge]

So thats €600 per member every year for Shams members and Sligo Rovers are asking their members who pay nothing to make a €100 donation and they are the bad ones??? What gives??? I really dont think Shams fans can criticise here to be honest

In fairness, its always been that price for Rovers. So anyone signed up knows what they have to pay.

The Sligo press release sounded like they were pleading with fans to give extra to cover a shortfall in the summer. It was Sligo themselves that mentioned shortfall, 5weeks without a home game etc etc

Now some sligo lads have come out and clarified its just an annual donation thingy and they all seem happy with it., but the press release reads like them being a bit desperate

Loads of clubs have annual/monthly fees/donations/patronage so most clubs' fans are against the basic idea of fans contributing. In fact most realise its by far the safest bet in terms of fundraising

[Charlie Darwin]

Balls to that. This is the League of Ireland.

People in glass houses should not only throw stones, but also grenades and if possible the enraged participants from monkey knife fights.
Umbrellas.

[dfx-]

So thats €600 per member every year for Shams members and Sligo Rovers are asking their members who pay nothing to make a €100 donation and they are the bad ones??? What gives??? I really dont think Shams fans can criticise here to be honest..

Yeah, it's not about the amount being asked for by Sligo. It's that they're asking, beit 10c or €100, perhaps they haven't budgeted correctly. If they have enough to get through the year, they don't need to ask.

[redobit]

What the **** is worrying about a steady income stream?

Absolutely nothing. But that said I dont think any club would like to be dependng on geting €600 from each member every year with the way the economy is in this country.

[Sonny]

Absolutely nothing. But that said I dont think any club would like to be dependng on geting €600 from each member every year with the way the economy is in this country.

The economy has been this way for some time now and membership numbers have remained steady. The membership also includes a season ticket so the actual cost is €400. It's absolutely baffling that people can't differentiate between a clear pricing structure which delivers a dependable, regular revenue stream and asking for an ad hoc donation.

[dfx-]

At what point are Rovers depending on anything?

We set the price, people pay it, we know what we have to spend, we add in attendance figures, we add in sponsorship, we add in season ticket sales, we add in player sales and all income streams and we budget before the season, beit one home game or three home games in the Summer and beit €10 or €50 a month. It's not some mystery. That's not what Sligo are doing by this annual donation nonsense.

[dong]

Do ye get much for the 600 bucks?

[Sean South]

The economy has been this way for some time now and membership numbers have remained steady. The membership also includes a season ticket so the actual cost is €400. It's absolutely baffling that people can't differentiate between a clear pricing structure which delivers a dependable, regular revenue stream and asking for an ad hoc donation.
It was said on your forum before it got deleted that membership is down 30% this year.

[MMVIII]

Yeah, it's not about the amount being asked for by Sligo. It's that they're asking, beit 10c or €100, perhaps they haven't budgeted correctly. If they have enough to get through the year, they don't need to ask.

Why do you keep mentioning not budgeting correctly? Let it go man.

The obsession with all things Sligo Rovers amongst the Shams support is both embarrassing and hilarious. I thought we were the obsessed ones?

[Sonny]

It was said on your forum before it got deleted that membership is down 30% this year.

OK pal;)

[askmehoop]

Do ye get much for the 600 bucks?

2 league championships, all ireland cup and europa group stage football. Well worth it ;-)

[SkStu]

Do ye get much for the 600 bucks?

about 0.96c to the euro? :)

[Dave_SRFC]

Why do you keep mentioning not budgeting correctly? Let it go man.

The obsession with all things Sligo Rovers amongst the Shams support is both embarrassing and hilarious. I thought we were the obsessed ones?

Deluded! why would we be obsessed by a less successful club Sappy?

[Charlie Darwin]

Sligo and Shamrock Rovers fans on the internet tend to be ludicrously obsessed with one another's club. The other 99% of each side's fanbases are far more reasonable.

[shellyriver]

Sligo and Shamrock Rovers fans on the internet tend to be ludicrously obsessed with one another's club. The other 99% of each side's fanbases are far more reasonable.

Well put, nothing resembling an abject generalisation:rolleyes:

[Charlie Darwin]

I think my use of the word 'tend' was a fairly clear indication that I was making a generalisation. Obviously I wasn't including myself.

[Eminence Grise]

Here's a fundraising suggestion:

Every time a Sligo fan bites at a Hoops post, they should give €5 to the club. And vice versa. Within weeks, both clubs will either have revenue streams exceeding the GDP of Luxembourg or it will be so costly they'll give up and the rest of us will get some peace!!!

[punkrocket]

about 0.96c to the euro? :)

Is that real bucks or canadian ones?

[born2bwild]

Balls to that. This is the League of Ireland.

People in glass houses should not only throw stones, but also grenades and if possible the enraged participants from monkey knife fights.

And often this should be vertically upwards.
Great ideas there for half time on-pitch entertainment.

[SkStu]

Is that real bucks or canadian ones?

hmmm, that'd be the euro, Punk!

[marinobohs]

Great ideas there for half time on-pitch entertainment.

....or post match norm in Tallaght :o