View Full Version : A Couple of Questions Re Dundalk
bluewhitearmy
05/07/2012, 11:22 AM
Really hope Dundalk survive it would be awful for a club like that to go .
Quayman
05/07/2012, 12:50 PM
Gerry Matthews has a lot to answer for, simple as, as well as his lapdog Paul Johnston. The man has been simmering money out of the club for ages now that the construction industry has gone belly up over the past 4 years. Simple question is to ask what ever happened the Danny kearns money...probably say its just resting in his accounts or something.
PFAI tweet:
Dundalk in real danger of closing long meeting with them today after they met with the FAI. Hopefully all stakeholders can come together.
PFAI tweet:
yeah, but Monaghan do it and its wrong....
bluewhitearmy
05/07/2012, 3:57 PM
yeah, but Monaghan do it and its wrong....
There is a huge difference between saying there is a meeting and letting people know they have no club over Twitter.
Spudulika
05/07/2012, 6:32 PM
I wouldn't pay much heed to the PFAI, they've proven to be useless in the past and their main mans performance again last week really damaged their credibility. But it's bad in Oriel, too much bad blood to make it work.
Charlie Darwin
05/07/2012, 7:05 PM
I can't tell if it's a good sign or a very, very bad sign that the PFAI aren't threatening legal action yet.
wonder88
05/07/2012, 10:42 PM
Looking bad enough up in Dundalk, to think that it was only a few years ago when we had the promotion battle with them to get into the promised land of the brand new FAI Premier league. A battle they won on the field of play, but which we (Galway Utd) won where it really counted i.e. with the top administrators of soccer in this country. Galway Utd of course are no longer with us but I hope Dundalk can survive. Not sure what positive contribution the PFAI can make to LoI soccer as they have been a (major) factor in destroying the league.
Guinney
06/07/2012, 12:12 AM
Dundalk is trending on Twitter #saveourclub
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/548039_10151263515979676_1009272624_n.jpg
bullit
06/07/2012, 2:07 AM
Trending on Twitter is all very good but Dundalk fans now need to start getting some funds organised if they want to save the club!! To instill some trust among contributors to such a fund, those monies need to be ringfenced by either the trust or an independent broker and kept away from Matthews & company.A statement needs to be forthcoming about this scenario.
The owners of the ground(the Casey family)also need to be more pro active with fans.They have been very quiet of late. tell us what legal or court actions are currently active against GM and v the YDC ?
Dundalk fans will rally to the cause and try 100% to save the club, but they wont blindly hand over money without knowing where it is going !!
CraftyToePoke
06/07/2012, 2:58 AM
Would be terrible if this happened, I remember the Dundalk/Derry City cup final in the mid to late 80's, 88 maybe. It was one of the first times I had seen Irish club sides on television and it was a contributing factor in my beginning to attend L.O.I. games. I just hope this can be sorted out, very sad to lose any club, but Dundalk are one of those institution clubs in the Irish game.
BonnieShels
06/07/2012, 2:59 AM
Came in here expecting worse news after what Dunny wrote in the "Say anything..." thread.
Put the heart across me.
Donm't mind twitter. Anto Flood trended yesterday. Means nothing.
sullanefc
06/07/2012, 8:38 AM
Trending on Twitter is all very good but Dundalk fans now need to start getting some funds organised if they want to save the club!! To instill some trust among contributors to such a fund, those monies need to be ringfenced by either the trust or an independent broker and kept away from Matthews & company.A statement needs to be forthcoming about this scenario.
Sounds eerily familiar to TNB V FORAS. Hand over cash to try and save the club and see it go down a black hole V give money to the trust for a possible take over.
In our case, TNB was simply looking for too much to hand over the club and it had to be liquidated and started up again. It might be a catch 22 that the trust finds itself in.
A very wise poster on our forum noted the Bradford Bulls Rugby League issue at the moment. Fans raised £500,000 to save the club, it went down a black hole and now the club are still going in to liquidation.
Be careful and good luck.
Guinney
06/07/2012, 12:50 PM
Trending on Twitter is all very good but Dundalk fans now need to start getting some funds organised if they want to save the club!! To instill some trust among contributors to such a fund, those monies need to be ringfenced by either the trust or an independent broker and kept away from Matthews & company.A statement needs to be forthcoming about this scenario.
The owners of the ground(the Casey family)also need to be more pro active with fans.They have been very quiet of late. tell us what legal or court actions are currently active against GM and v the YDC ?
Dundalk fans will rally to the cause and try 100% to save the club, but they wont blindly hand over money without knowing where it is going !!
Agreed especially with regard to the Twitter. Don't get me wrong it was great to see the club get some attention last night even if it was just over Twitter, but it's easy just to press retweet or post something on Twitter, what the club needs is the people of the town & surrounding area to start getting behind the club and start going to games again. The hardcore fans are going everyweek no matter what, but to many have stopped going to games this year and simply put the attendances are not good enough. We played the league leaders last week and only 750 turned up to Oriel. Compared to last when we got 1600 at the Sligo game.
Dillonman
06/07/2012, 12:50 PM
DUNDALK FC STATEMENT:
The Board have met with both Fran Gavin of the FAI and Stephen McGuinness & Ollie Cahill from the PFAI on Thursday morning. Both meetings have been very constructive and the Club acknowledge the part both organisations have played. However the club remains in a perilous financial state and the Board are still working extremely hard to secure the Clubs participation for the remainder of the season.
We acknowledge the worry and concern of the Clubs supporters but would ask for your continued support and we will continue to keep you informed as the situation becomes more clearer. Hopefully this will be a lot more sooner than later but as there are some sensitive issues at play we are unable to state when we can make further statements.
Doesnt tell us more than we already know.
Would be terrible if this happened, I remember the Dundalk/Derry City cup final in the mid to late 80's, 88 maybe. It was one of the first times I had seen Irish club sides on television and it was a contributing factor in my beginning to attend L.O.I. games. I just hope this can be sorted out, very sad to lose any club, but Dundalk are one of those institution clubs in the Irish game.
1988, must have been 25,000 crammed into Dalymount, and possibly 18,000 Derry fans, they had unbelievable support that day, never saw anything like it since or before, and I can still see John Cleary tuck his peno (that never should have been awarded) into the corner and about 10,000 Derry fans not moving.
Serious sitation ok, and all caused by the owner and his downturn business ventures, crucial is the white elephant YDC (youth devel centre), which he owns, he also owns the club but not oriel park. His biz plan was good from 2006 onwards, turned us from loss making to break even to profit of 50k when winning the first div in 2008. Then it all went downhill, mainly due to his lack of interest in the football side (its a fact he has NEVER attended an away game, including setanta final & two euro games). Yes he improved the infrastructure around oriel, 2k seats, tarmac walk in and all around the front, new offices, new shop, built a shed, improved media areas, floodlights, but crucially ignored pleas from fans to improve the away section, no roof, no proper toilets etc.
Also his choice of managers have been very poor, from Sean Connor to Foster, both on HUGE wages (to be fair Foster had one good season, but deserved to be sacked in the second, not just contract not renewed), and now McCaffrey, to be fair not the last mans fault, he is jsut out of his depth. Added to the conflict is the zero communication with fans, and poor treatment of last years sponsors fastfix, who tried (we are told) to take over with a cash injection (again we are told) twice, but he wouldnt entertain them. Other massive mistakes were dreadful decisions like putting in that awful pitch, no one likes it and it has either driven players away or prevented better ones joining, plus its first 2 year revenue is now only a fraction of what is was meant to deliver. Its a pure nuisance, nothing less.
Matthews Im told from anyone I have asked, is a one man show, his way or the highway, and thats what happens when you own a business outright. All points to a man trying to protect his own biz, and is prepared to let the football side go to the wall, has already said he wont be applying for a 2013 licence.
Not sure how long we have left, Im told possibly July to sort things out, also heard 48 hours, but no communication means, no one really knows.
Fogra, thanks to all other fans for support, not sure who said 'Irelands second most sucessfull team' but we lost that some time ago, think we are joint 3rd now, but history means nothing now.
A kind of bizarre piece on it on extratime.ie.
http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/8444/fai-and-pfai-meet-dundalk/
bullit
07/07/2012, 8:35 AM
A kind of bizarre piece on it on extratime.ie.
http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/8444/fai-and-pfai-meet-dundalk/
Today is Saturday!!
Sam_Heggy
07/07/2012, 8:43 AM
I like Dundalk FC, great history, good ground and the majority of their support is excellent.
Had a really mixed bag with them in 07 in the 1st Div. From getting showered in bottles in Oriel to swapping scarves in Finn Park in a great LOI moment.
Really hope we do not see the back of Dundalk.
passerrby
07/07/2012, 2:03 PM
To all dundalk fans I say don't worry in the slightest ,next season you will have new owners a new team and a new future, all you have to do is survive till the end of the season and your future is safe. Best of luck to you all I wii be there to see you next season
Nesta99
07/07/2012, 3:10 PM
To all dundalk fans I say don't worry in the slightest ,next season you will have new owners a new team and a new future, all you have to do is survive till the end of the season and your future is safe. Best of luck to you all I wii be there to see you next season
Hmmm! Are you being very optimistic, is my sarcism detector on the blink, or do you know something?
bullit
07/07/2012, 4:58 PM
Matthews sounded confident enough just now on DundalkFM that the club can see out the season WITH the help of funddys from fans.He is defo going end of season 2012.Affiliation fees are parked by the FAI & planning pemission money for the YDC is being payed off at €300 pw.He also said that Dundalk would be back playng on a grass pitch end of 2014Those where the main points in a 66 min interview.The income from the friendly v Chelsea xi is vital though he said and he urged fans to get behind the club because he dosnt "want to lock the gates".
If anyone wants to buy a ticket for the Chelsea game i will post a link soon.
Dillonman
07/07/2012, 5:26 PM
To all dundalk fans I say don't worry in the slightest ,next season you will have new owners a new team and a new future, all you have to do is survive till the end of the season and your future is safe. Best of luck to you all I wii be there to see you next season
Yeah come on spill the beans!
marinobohs
09/07/2012, 10:46 AM
Hmmm! Are you being very optimistic, is my sarcism detector on the blink, or do you know something?
Are the words "Roddy" and "Collins" about to add to the soap opera ????
Louth4sam
09/07/2012, 3:15 PM
Are the words "Roddy" and "Collins" about to add to the soap opera ????
I'd happily take him over the buffoon we currently have.
cheifo
09/07/2012, 5:17 PM
Recall as a cub trying to tune the radio in to get commentary of Dundalk v Spurs in early eighties, and feeling so proud that they represented their country so well in Europe. Also recall standing at the fence in FP watching Barry Kehoe at FP and thinking what a player. The history of the Club makes Dundalk one of the flagship entities in the LOI. Really hope this can be sorted out and we see you all up at Finn Park in the near future.
Some Tweets..
The DFC Community Trust have today released a short statement. It read:
‘The DFC Community Trust met with Dundalk FC owner Gerry Matthews and General Manager Paul Johnston to discuss the viability of a trust takeover on Friday June 29.
‘Resulting from this meeting the Trust has requested a statement of affairs for the club and we are awaiting a response.
‘Later today (Monday) representatives from the Trust are meeting with the FAI at Abbotstown to discuss the current situation at Dundalk FC.’
Colm Murphy @dfccolm
Positive meeting with the FAI earlier with the @DundalkFCTrust. Lot of work ahead.@DundalkFC
@McLaughlinGavin
@DundalkFC board are to invite expressions of interest in relation to the sale of the club's long term lease, the YDC and Hiney Park #loi
Really hope this can be sorted out and we see you all up at Finn Park in the near future.
Why do you want us to be relegated though? ;)
Trainee
09/07/2012, 11:42 PM
The DFC Community Trust have today released a short statement. It read:
‘The DFC Community Trust met with Dundalk FC owner Gerry Matthews and General Manager Paul Johnston to discuss the viability of a trust takeover on Friday June 29.
Someone want to tell them we are in july:o
I'd happily take him over the buffoon we currently have.
You know things are bad when...
:D
Dundalk F.C. is up for sale.
http://www.dundalkfc.com/dundalk-fc-for-sale
eL Bettor
10/07/2012, 9:40 AM
Is Dundalk's squad likely to go the way of Galway from last year, shipping hiding after hiding as the season goes on, with most of the squad who started the season released to cut costs?
marinobohs
10/07/2012, 9:48 AM
I'd happily take him over the buffoon we currently have.
Personally think Dundalk fans have suffered enough already L4S :o great guy but if Roddy is the answer then you had better change the question. Quickly. :D
Always liked Oriel and had Dundalk down as a 'big' LOI club so hope they can pull things around.
GCdfc
10/07/2012, 10:13 AM
What's Hiney Park?
The pitch behind Oriel. It was once owned by the club and then sold to Gerry Matthews in order to keep the club afloat about 5 years ago. It is a training pitch. I don't know if any of the teams play matches there.
Louth4sam
10/07/2012, 10:16 AM
It's a park beside Oriel. One of our former chairmen had to good sense to buy it when it was pretty worthless. The club then sold it to Gerry Matthews for €750k before he bought the club.
We were massively in debt when it was sold and probably would have went to the wall. Matthews claimed the good will he received for saving the club after purchasing it encouraged him to firstly help with the club and then take it over.
Louth4sam
10/07/2012, 10:18 AM
Personally think Dundalk fans have suffered enough already L4S :o great guy but if Roddy is the answer then you had better change the question. Quickly. :D.
I don't think you've ever experienced anything like McCaffrey! There is no way Roddy could be worse.
marinobohs
10/07/2012, 10:27 AM
I don't think you've ever experienced anything like McCaffrey! There is no way Roddy could be worse.
Dublin City, Shams (pre 05 version) Cork City (although very short lived) Mons. Rodrigo seems to be a very unlucky appointment :o
As Oscar Wilde might have said (if he were an LOI fan) - "to be involved with one club going under is unfortunate, to be involved in 3/4 looks like carelessness" :cool:
Nesta99
10/07/2012, 12:08 PM
Debts were in the region of 250k at that time accrued by the Co-Op. A chunk of money paid for the 3g surface, refurbishment of floodlights and our then CEO may *ahem* have got a piece too. Was sold for good bit less than 750k which was a fire sale in the context of the property markets at the time. Eamonn Hiney(RiP) was a man with massive integrity and foresight and in selling Hiney Park we sold a part of us all - arguably necessary as it might have been, but he saved us..
Louth4sam
10/07/2012, 12:18 PM
Was sold for good bit less than 750k which was a fire sale in the context of the property markets at the time.
Don't think it was. The land is zoned for recreation and I don't see this ever been changed. If anything it was a very fair deal for the club.
Nesta99
10/07/2012, 12:35 PM
Rezoning was applied for in an effort to maximise the asset! The application wasnt in in time for the sale so wasnt subsequently persued. Was cheap considering the potential value, and was sold quickly as we couldnt wait for the planning application to be processed. It may never have been allowed to have been rezoned so in that case it was a reasonable price. Anyway the bigger the price the bigger the % the club wouldnt have got...
Also recall standing at the fence in FP watching Barry Kehoe at FP and thinking what a player. .
And what a player Barry Kehoe was, close call but my favourite ever Dundalk player, worth the admission fee alone and great memories of cold sunday afternoons in Oriel Park in the 80's. Only won 2 league titles & 1 FAI Cup, and very sadly missed when he died.
Should be interesting to see how the sale of the club goes, at least its out in the open now and all bids will be considered. Huge change of heart from Matthews who wouldnt even conisder two potential offers last winter. Then agaain, very changed times. Not sure how, but I think we will be ok.
Sean McCaffrey gone from Oriel Park, Darius Kierans taking over.
http://www.dundalkfc.com/dundalk-fc-part-company-with-sean-mccaffrey
nigel-harps1954
12/07/2012, 5:38 PM
Well that's one step in the right direction.
Charlie Darwin
12/07/2012, 5:40 PM
That's the wage bill cut in three. Possibly the catering bill too.
bullit
12/07/2012, 5:43 PM
Yehaaaaa !!!!!
what does "mutual understanding" mean?
we'll pay you off when we have it?
White Horse
12/07/2012, 6:47 PM
what does "mutual understanding" mean?
we'll pay you off when we have it?
I heard that it is part payment of his salary over the term of his remaining contract. I don't know the percentage involved but there is a net saving to the club.
Best for all parties. I like Darius and he is good with the players.
Spudulika
12/07/2012, 7:00 PM
Darius was very clever in getting into the right position. Better than a porn star, tan and all! However, you live by the sword....
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