Drogs to dump Cooke?

[oriel]

Ok Drogs fans, now that the season is over, can we have the full story or at least what you know on the real reasons why Cooke was not offered a deal.

Something very bizzare is going on, he claimed yesterday that no club official spoke to him in the 2 week period leading up to the Cup Final, thats just nuts if its true.

Is the fall out over his comments on the potential new ground? I have to say I think this is just madness letting a miracle worker like him go, and just who on earth does the board think will do better?

[White Horse]

The Board of Drogheda United will be moving swiftly over the coming days to appoint a new first team manager following the end of Mick Cooke’s three year tenure yesterday.

A number of very interesting applications have been received, including several from the UK, and the Board will be meeting with a selection of these as well as approaching others who have been identified as potential candidates over the coming days.

http://www.droghedaunited.ie/news/post.php?s=2013-11-04-managerial-announcement-within-10-days

No reprieve for Mick Cooke.

[markc1184]

Ok Drogs fans, now that the season is over, can we have the full story or at least what you know on the real reasons why Cooke was not offered a deal.

Something very bizzare is going on, he claimed yesterday that no club official spoke to him in the 2 week period leading up to the Cup Final, thats just nuts if its true.

Is the fall out over his comments on the potential new ground? I have to say I think this is just madness letting a miracle worker like him go, and just who on earth does the board think will do better?

Not many seem to have the full story. Plenty of rumours depending on which side of the fence you fall. I know I'd like a full explanation of whats gone on. I don't agree with what has gone on, how Mick has been treated and how the whole situation has been handled. Mick didn't mince his words last night, saying he believes the club will move forward but only if the current board is moved on.

[nigel-harps1954]

Robbie Horgan to be unveiled as Droghedas new manager in the next week, apparently.

[Ezeikial]

Ok Drogs fans, now that the season is over, can we have the full story or at least what you know on the real reasons why Cooke was not offered a deal.



Mick Cooke claimed yesterday that Drogheda broke the original story to the media, which is contrary to the claims made here that it was Cooke who went to the media in the first place

MiniMourinho (http://foot.ie/members/17153-MiniMourinho) is the only Drogs fan here who claims to know anything - although his claims have been odd in the extreme.

[MiniMourinho]

Regardless of how odd my claims may seem, its common knowledge that the club didn't break the news. In fact they were the ones wanting Micks contract renewal to wait until the end of the season. They confirmed that they didn't break the story. However, once it broke and there was an avalanche of media requests, they made a tiny short statement confirming it. Which is what MNS ran with on that Monday night.

Valid questions were raised on the Drogs forum...Why wouldn't Mick wait until the end of the season to discuss his contract? Why would he want it to go public asap? The answer allegedly was to put pressure on the board because he was aware of the public outcry there would be. It is logical to expect a board of volunteers to quit in the face of public demand since it wouldn't be worth the hassle and persecution, right? If you read my last post a few pages back you'll see that he allegedly couldn't wait until the end of the season because his contract would expire leaving him powerless in the whole plan.

The sad thing is nobody genuinely thinks Mick is cunning enough to come up with the whole crazy takeover thing. But unfortunately he was allegedly naïve enough to get on board with those who were. A new stadium could make Drogheda United very attractive once more from a financial point of view. Promises of inflated budgets were allegedly made to him. Guilty by association? You cant have managers plotting to conspire in hostile takeover bids of a members owned club can you? All the cup finals in the world this season are not worth risking going back to 2007 and examinership for the Drogs surely.

Sounds like some crazy day-time soap-opera doesn't it? Now imagine the club publically stating all this. Can you imagine the legal implications of slander and defamation if they did? Perhaps the reason why despite the enormously negative and sometimes vile public reaction they have remained utterly quiet on legal advice?

The board (of people who are club members, supporters and volunteers) have been called some truly awful things since all this broke, but not once did the words, selfless, loyal and for the love of the club, ring out. Mick on the other hand has been lauded as honourable and followed like a Messiah because he gets results on the field. I remember how 2007 felt to nearly lose the club. Three cup finals and all the wins in the world in one year are not worth that.

Regardless, the game is up because Mick is now gone. The club will move on without him.

[Jofspring]

I presume the Drogheda players are all out of contract at the moment? Good chance for clubs to make moves for the likes of Ryan Brennan, Paul O'Connor and Derek Prendergast if the manager isn't sorted in the next week or so.

[Lim till i die]

Id say most of the squad will follow Mick Cooke to Athlone.

A lot of them are his players rather than Droghedas, followed him from Monaghan no reason they wont do the same.

[Charlie Darwin]

Valid questions were raised on the Drogs forum...Why wouldn't Mick wait until the end of the season to discuss his contract?
Is this a serious question? Would you wait until your work contract had expired and you were out of work before you decided to ask for a new one? Get real.

Look, I wouldn't be shocked if Cooke did instigate the publicising of the fact he had disagreements with the board over his contract status, but the fact is he is a working man and if his current club - at which he's far exceeded any reasonable targets - can't offer him stability then he is perfectly entitled to speak to other clubs and make his frustrations known. It's not as if he's being paid millions - there's a reason why half the managers in the LOI are still driving taxis and working in day jobs, and it's not out of an intense love for 80-hour work weeks.

[MiniMourinho]

Is this a serious question? Would you wait until your work contract had expired and you were out of work before you decided to ask for a new one? Get real.

Look, I wouldn't be shocked if Cooke did instigate the publicising of the fact he had disagreements with the board over his contract status, but the fact is he is a working man and if his current club - at which he's far exceeded any reasonable targets - can't offer him stability then he is perfectly entitled to speak to other clubs and make his frustrations known. It's not as if he's being paid millions - there's a reason why half the managers in the LOI are still driving taxis and working in day jobs, and it's not out of an intense love for 80-hour work weeks.


Whilst under contract with a club, i dont think it is acceptable for a manager to speak to other clubs without consent of his current club. Whatever his earnings are have no impact on that.

[Charlie Darwin]

Whilst under contract with a club, i dont think it is acceptable for a manager to speak to other clubs without consent of his current club. Whatever his earnings are have no impact on that.
You asked why he didn't wait until the end of the season to discuss his contract, not to discuss terms with other teams. Your suggestion that he wait until his previous contract has expired is ridiculous.

[oriel]

I agree, he was totally within his remit to ask the club where he stood mid season. Appreciate the response from MM, but it still appears Drogs have lost a great manager over an internal falling out over opinions, and if thats correct, it seems a really strange way to part company considering what he has achieved.

If a manager was rated over 2 seasons, Cooke would possibly have been the best performer in the league, especially with the moderate resources and facilities he had to operate with.

Besides, I can't think of who they have lined up who will return even part of what he has delivered.

[MiniMourinho]

No no no. Mick was offered a contract renewal for 2014 earlier this year and up until this kicked off hadnt signed it. When the above allegations came to light and the club realised his alleged involvement, the contract renewal that Mick had not signed was revoked. Nobody knows why Mick didnt sign a contract that he was supposedly happy with for over 4 months up to that point. If he wanted it so badly as he has portrayed since, why didnt he sign straight away?

With this in mind how could the board club allow him to sign a new contract there and then, knowing what was going on? I do know that when they revoked the contract renewal they expressely told Mick due to the current cup fixtures coming up that it could not be further discussed until the end of the season in an effort to deal with it in house. Mick allegedly decided to blow it completely wide open to the press in an effort to force the club into backing down or walking out.

And the media circus that has insued since has been driven by him and those other interested parties. Some of them being members of the local media themselves.

[White Horse]

It would appear from MM's comments that the issue resolves around a new stadium.

I am curious to understand how this would make the club more financially attractive. This stadium would cost money to build and would initially put the club under pressure to fund it. In addition, the FAI cup final proved that the club's appeal in very limited at the moment. 4,000 fans for a final in the Aviva is not a great indication of a large support base.

Are the directors in favour of the new stadium or was this an agenda being pursued by Cooke and the people behind the stadium proposal?

[MiniMourinho]

I believe that the board are pro the stadium but only on realistic expectations. Thats why they have dug their heels in against this other group. They have a track record of financial mismanagement.
They dont believe the stadium would be a cash cow like Mick and others may.

[White Horse]

I believe that the board are pro the stadium but only on realistic expectations. Thats why they have dug their heels in against this other group. They have a track record of financial mismanagement.
They dont believe the stadium would be a cash cow like Mick and others may.

It sounds like the direcors have more realistic expectations. A manager has to respect the strategic decisions made by the board.

[MiniMourinho]

Everyone wants a new stadium. Everyone believes it is the best hope at improving the club locally. Unfortunately some people dont believe in being prudent. The current board have shown that in the last three years they are nothing if not financially savy and prudent. The point is that in this case the manager, who was egged on by others, allegedly thought he could force the board out, allowing his buddies to come in and take over. An unacceptable scenario that seems to have lead to the removal of one of our most successful managers ever. Its a really sad ending. But im more comfortable with the thought of not challanging for cup finals next year than i am knowing people like him with personal agendas are gambling with the clubs future again.

Mick says he's been treated like a leper. Im my book he is far worse. I would be worried if any club considering hiring him only took his results into account and not the elephant in the room as to why a massively successful manager was let go. Then again, some people might not care.

[Mr A]

Alarm bells ring for me whenever a manager tries to meddle in board matters. Very dangerous ground. Funnily enough the consensus on the Harps forum was to give Hutton another chance until he mentioned changes needed at board level. Not the same of course but shows people are wary of that and rightly so in my opinion.

[MiniMourinho]

Alarm bells ring for me whenever a manager tries to meddle in board matters. Very dangerous ground. Funnily enough the consensus on the Harps forum was to give Hutton another chance until he mentioned changes needed at board level. Not the same of course but shows people are wary of that and rightly so in my opinion.

On Sunday night at the homecoming Mick Cooke stood up in front of the crowd on the stage and proclaimed that the only way the club could move forward is for the current board to resign. One last desperate attempt to stir it.

[Martinho II]

Mick Cooke has previous form for this. When he left Monaghan utd for Drogheda he left a lot of ****ed off monaghan utd fans behind. It didnt make sense at the time but after wots happened recently now it does! remember Magicme on about it before about Mick Cooke!

[Magicme]

Mick is a good guy but the way he left us will always stick in my craw. Think Drogheda were mad to get rid of him though.

[White Horse]

On Sunday night at the homecoming Mick Cooke stood up in front of the crowd on the stage and proclaimed that the only way the club could move forward is for the current board to resign. One last desperate attempt to stir it.

There were less than 100 fans there, from what I heard. No wonder his comments had no impact.

[Straightstory]

Bad times for Drogheda. The general apathy to LOI in this country particularly reflected in the way support has fallen off for the Drogs. Losing Cooke will certainly result in the club struggling to stay in the Premier next season. I fear the worst - we could be wound up within a few years. I shall then possibly emigrate, despairing as I am of Irish football 'fans' - by which I mean barstoolers and event junkies. They are surely amongst the very worst in the entire world.

[Louth4sam]

Bad times for Drogheda. The general apathy to LOI in this country particularly reflected in the way support has fallen off for the Drogs. Losing Cooke will certainly result in the club struggling to stay in the Premier next season. I fear the worst - we could be wound up within a few years. I shall then possibly emigrate, despairing as I am of Irish football 'fans' - by which I mean barstoolers and event junkies. They are surely amongst the very worst in the entire world.

You are more that welcome to defect to your neighbours a few miles up the M1. We'll look after you! :D

[Straightstory]

It may only be a matter of time for you too, my friend. We're all doomed!!!!

[White Horse]

Any truth in the rumour that Sami Ristilä is back in Drogheda? New manager?

[SeanDrog]

Any truth in the rumour that Sami Ristilä is back in Drogheda? New manager?

I have heard his name mentioned as a candidate but no more info than that.

[oriel]

It may only be a matter of time for you too, my friend. We're all doomed!!!!

I don't really think we ALL are SS. Plenty to look forward for us next season, and a lot of other clubs in similar position. Some are facing bad times, that's true, but nothing new and don't try and reel the whole scene into your current troubles.

It was less than 18 months that we were trying to save the club, this year, small chance of making a tiny profit, so it can be done. It might be tough for Drogs as they appear to have lost connection with core support and the Cooke disaster won't have helped, but it's not over.

[KeepersBall]

Oriel my auld segotia you are so right.
Our board have lost connection with the core support, and that will see them depart sooner rather than later.

[SeanDrog]

I was thinking seriously about getting back involved as a volunteer (something like a pre season marketing campaign etc) and had five others lined up to help too (include guys who run international brands) but reading this stuff for the last few days has reminded me of the bile that can exist by being involved.

Much easier to just buy my season ticket and go to the games and enjoy it rather than becoming a target of the "knockers".

Mod edit: I accidentally nuked part of this post. Apologies for that.

[MiniMourinho]

I was thinking seriously about getting back involved as a volunteer (something like a pre season marketing campaign etc) and had five others lined up to help too (include guys who run international brands) but reading this stuff for the last few days has reminded me of the bile that can exist by being involved.

Much easier to just buy my season ticket and go to the games and enjoy it rather than becoming a target of the "knockers".

Absolutely nailed it. If you have the time and the drive, which it sounds like you do, you should go for it. Its exactly what is needed in Drogheda. The only way to beat the knockers is to make the club successful by playing your part positively.

[Mr A]

It's always the same- every club has a massive surplus of people who'll happily tell you what is being done wrong and a shortage of people who'll actually get involved and make a contribution.

My attitude is- if helping out at the club is something you'd get satisfaction from then it's a real pity to let the knockers take that away from you.

[lollymcd]

There'll always be those of us who just want to support Drogheda United because that's what we've done for decades. We'll be on the terraces next season regardless of the board and the manager. We might not be able to volunteer for extra things but we will be there on Friday nights. People please bear this in mind when you talk about "whole cohorts" of supporters leaving or boycotting the club.

Saying that, it'd be great to hear who the manager is (officially) before the end of the week.

[Straightstory]

It's the general apathy towards League of Ireland football that's so depressing: the general feeling that things are never going to get better, and we're forever stuck with low attendances, ramshackle grounds, indifference - and sometimes downright hostility - from the press and public, and lack of sponsorship.
There's just no sign of things ever improving. I used to think the success of the national team would improve things for football in Ireland, but it hasn't at all. Hence, I don't care that much about the national team any more.

[Straightstory]

Robbie Horgan has been officially announced as the new Drogs manager. Good luck, Robbie!

[Dodge]

It's the general apathy towards League of Ireland football that's so depressing: the general feeling that things are never going to get better, and we're forever stuck with low attendances, ramshackle grounds, indifference - and sometimes downright hostility - from the press and public, and lack of sponsorship.
There's just no sign of things ever improving. I used to think the success of the national team would improve things for football in Ireland, but it hasn't at all. Hence, I don't care that much about the national team any more.
You're looking at it wrong IMO.

Go to the games, enjoy when your team does well. Do what you can to help your club be better. Stop worrying about what people who will never be fans of you club think.

If crowds stay the same, so be it. I'm following my club 25 years and all the begrudging ***** in the world can't take away some of the best memories anyone could have.

It doesn't matter if there's 100 or 10,000 at a game. As long as clubs can pay their way, there'll be football to enjoy for those who want it.

[SeanDrog]

Absolutely nailed it. If you have the time and the drive, which it sounds like you do, you should go for it. Its exactly what is needed in Drogheda. The only way to beat the knockers is to make the club successful by playing your part positively.

Very strange - my post that mini quotes is "gone" ?

[White Horse]

Robbie Horgan has been officially announced as the new Drogs manager. Good luck, Robbie!

He'll need it!

[White Horse]

Very strange - my post that mini quotes is "gone" ?

And it was a bloody good post, and one that applies generally to all clubs.

[Mr A]

Very strange - my post that mini quotes is "gone" ?

You should have a PM about this. My fault. I managed to hit edit instead of quote and accidentally overwrote your post. Rather than have my words in place of yours I thought it better to delete it. Sorry about that!

Then I went back and restored the bit I could retrieve from quotes. Just to keep everyone as confused as possible.

[SeanDrog]

You should have a PM about this. My fault. I managed to hit edit instead of quote and accidentally overwrote your post. Rather than have my words in place of yours I thought it better to delete it. Sorry about that!

Then I went back and restored the bit I could retrieve from quotes. Just to keep everyone as confused as possible.

Lol that's ok , mystery solved

[lollymcd]

Robbie Horgans Claret and Blue Army! (I hope!)

http://www.droghedaunited.ie/news/post.php?s=2013-11-14-horgan-appointed-as-new-drogheda-united-manager

[White Horse]

Director Noel Heeney said: “All three impressed but we agreed that the plans that Robbie presented to us, his strong financial understanding and his ambition and strength of character made him the right man for the job at this time.

I don't every recall seeing a manager appointed due to his "strong financial understanding". An accountant maybe, but not a manager.

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/robbie-horgan-drogheda-manager-1174887-Nov2013/?utm_source=twitter_self

[SeanDrog]

Director Noel Heeney said: “All three impressed but we agreed that the plans that Robbie presented to us, his strong financial understanding and his ambition and strength of character made him the right man for the job at this time.



I don't every recall seeing a manager appointed due to his "strong financial understanding". An accountant maybe, but not a manager.

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/robbie-horgan-drogheda-manager-1174887-Nov2013/?utm_source=twitter_self


Maybe they took on your point about other ways to release their side of the story , to me it's saying Cooke (as they see it) didn't have this "understanding".

[Dodge]

I don't every recall seeing a manager appointed due to his "strong financial understanding". An accountant maybe, but not a manager.


A few have in this league. When Rovers announced Michael O'Neill they did. And clubs on the brink in recent years have mentioned it too.

In this case it sounds like a pop at Cooke but I don't see an issue in highlighting that a manager knows what kind of budget he's letting himself into

[KeepersBall]

Bottom line here folks would you trust Horgan after he failed to honour the tradition of falling on his sword along with the man who brought him into the club.
And if you wouldn't do you think many players will.
I know players will go anywhere for the right price, but the right price won't be available from the Drogs.
Horgan has said that he will look at the young players coming through.
That's good but the reality is he may well have no choice.

[Sheridan]

Bottom line here folks would you trust Horgan after he failed to honour the tradition of falling on his sword along with the man who brought him into the club.
You know that "tradition" is just something Pat Dolan made up, yeah?

[MiniMourinho]

Bottom line here folks would you trust Horgan after he failed to honour the tradition of falling on his sword along with the man who brought him into the club.
And if you wouldn't do you think many players will.
I know players will go anywhere for the right price, but the right price won't be available from the Drogs.
Horgan has said that he will look at the young players coming through.
That's good but the reality is he may well have no choice.

Like any player in the league who goes where for the money, why is Robbie Horgan supposed to rule himself out of a paying job just because his previous boss was let go? Get real you're in cuckoo land.

[KeepersBall]

Ah the big man Pat Dolan. Now there's a man I wouldn't have minded seeing in the hot seat ( Maybe seats given Pats bulk) at Hunky Dory Park.

[Louth4sam]

If rumours were true that Russell was available, this is a shocking decision. Could be a real struggle for Drogheda next year