Drogs in turmoil Rico gone

[KeepersBall]

Rico left Drogheda United earlier today
Was just about able to operate with the budget he was allocated, but wanted to live in the town and it appears the few remaining board members couldn't facilitate that.
As of now we have no chairman, no gaffer and no players.
Word is Mick Cooke may be coming back, although when things are this desperate clubs usually send a SOS to one man and one man only.

[Ezeikial]

You better get the tyres pumped up

[Longfordian]

Rico left Drogheda United earlier today
Was just about able to operate with the budget he was allocated, but wanted to live in the town and it appears the few remaining board members couldn't facilitate that.
As of now we have no chairman, no gaffer and no players.
Word is Mick Cooke may be coming back, although when things are this desperate clubs ysualltvsend a SOS to one man and one man only.

http://c1.thejournal.ie/media/2011/03/roddy1-310x415.jpg

[White Horse]

Cooke did the business once, he can do it again.

This time, there is no board to argue with.

[JC_GUFC]

When is the licensing deadline? Drogs must be in danger of missing this in their current state. They don't even have anyone to appoint a manager even if Roddy has a chauffeur lined up.

[Ezeikial]

The Board of management of Drogheda United can confirm that Damien Richardson will not be remaining as manager of Drogheda United next season.
Richardson was appointed Drogheda boss in July and guided the club to Premier Division safety alongside his assistant Darius Kierans.
Speaking on his departure, Richardson said ‘I enjoyed my time at Drogheda tremendously and would have loved to remain as manager had the circumstances been different. I wish the club nothing but the best in the future.’
Everyone involved with Drogheda United would like to thank Damien for his commitment and enthusiasm and wish him the best in the future.
- See more at: http://www.droghedaunited.ie/news/post.php?s=2014-11-13-damien-richardson-departs-drogs#sthash.vZWjNwVp.k5dnFecj.dpuf

http://www.droghedaunited.ie/news/post.php?s=2014-11-13-damien-richardson-departs-drogs

[Aaron]

Everyone involved with Drogheda United would like to thank Damien for his commitment and enthusiasm and wish him the best in the future.

The tea lady then

[Acer]

Cooke did the business once, he can do it again.

This time, there is no board to argue with.

We have a 9 person board at the moment.

Some new faces though, that weren't there for cooke's last reign.

[Louth4sam]

Finished 2nd in 2012 and in 2014 "guided them to safety" is an achievement. Sad state of affairs

[White Horse]

We have a 9 person board at the moment.

Some new faces though, that weren't there for cooke's last reign.

Are those 9 people directors? I read somewhere that there is only one director. I might be mistaken.

I'd love to see Darius step up but he always seems to have a problem with having the right badges.

[Acer]

Are those 9 people directors? I read somewhere that there is only one director. I might be mistaken.

I'd love to see Darius step up but he always seems to have a problem with having the right badges.

You read it on our forum, which you appear to live on.

It's no big secret - at this moment in time we're short a director who also needs to act as chairman. Nobody wants to volunteer to take the role - not one of the 9 board members or a white knight from outside the club (unless they're working very quietly in the background....) We need a chair - that's the crisis

[White Horse]

Nobody wants to volunteer to take the role - not one of the 9 board members or a white knight from outside the club (unless they're working very quietly in the background....) We need a chair - that's the crisis

There must be someone from one of the businesses in the town or from a sponsor to take on that role. I would imagine the 9 people on the board of management are the ones who run the club and do all the hard work.

Its a pity about Richardson, he and Darius looked a really strong management team.

[dong]

Sad indeed but really hammers home how close to the brink pretty much every club is in this league.
A couple of bad decisions, a few serious injuries to some key players at the wrong time and it can snowball very quickly.

[White Horse]

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/damien-richardson-would-open-drogheda-4628278

Interesting interview with Richardson. He wanted to live locally but the club would not meet that expense. He was prepared to work within the budget. He also talks about the club's plan to build a new stadium in the near future.

The article also referred to supporters of Trevor Crolly on the management board. Was Rico forced out?

[Longfordian]

All he wants is the club to pay for a house. How much could you rent a half decent house in Drogheda for out of curiosity? I can't be bothered checking Daft myself. I have to say I can see the club's POV on this one, if money is really tight it's not really a necessary expense. Drogheda isn't a huge drive from Dublin.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/damien-richardson-would-open-drogheda-4628278

Edit - bah already posted but what the hell

[White Horse]

All he wants is the club to pay for a house. How much could you rent a half decent house in Drogheda for out of curiosity? I can't be bothered checking Daft myself. I have to say I can see the club's POV on this one, if money is really tight it's not really a necessary expense. Drogheda isn't a huge drive from Dublin.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/damien-richardson-would-open-drogheda-4628278

Edit - bah already posted but what the hell

http://www.daft.ie/lettings/windmill-road-drogheda-louth/1495544/

Just beside United Park, €450 per month.

[Longfordian]

Doesn't seem like Rico's kind of pad tbh

[Dodge]

If you believe anything a manager (or player) says about contract negotiations you must be new to the league.

Rico is a grade A spoofer, and I've no doubt this latest charade is another example

[Sheridan]

If you believe anything a manager (or player) says about contract negotiations you must be new to the league.

Rico is a grade A spoofer, and I've no doubt this latest charade is another example
I logged in to Thank this post.

Jesus Christ, fellas, have you learned nothing?

[Acer]

Bizarre - At least, it's not the reason I was expecting for his departure. Is it normal for LOI clubs to pay for their managers accommodation?

I have to say, I agree with the Board on this one. We have a small enough budget as is. Should we sacrifice more of it to rent Rico a place? I don't think so.

[Mr A]

If Rico wants to rent a place surely it's up to him to allocate the money from his budget. Asking for it separately is the same as asking for an increased budget, so saying he was willing to work within it is simply nonsense.

[KeepersBall]

The reason he wanted to stay in town was so he could work with the younger players at one stage in the day when they were finished college, in the hopes that additional coaching would improve them quicker.
He had decided in order to stretch the budget to have a 16 man squad of senior players with five under 19s to supplement it.
Word is with what he was on if he did pay the rent himself and fed himself he'd be broke at the end of the month.
Whether or not it's the norm it seems the club were paying his rent until October, he was staying in a house belonging to either the current or former kit man, who is now owed two months rent.
Personally seeing as I don't think the board, such as it is, will go for Roddy, I'd like to see Cooke return.
Crolly couldn't succeed on a much bigger budget at Rovers.
There is,of course one other scenario.
In order to manage in the Premier division you only have to get a place on the pro licence course, so surely there's bound to be one somewhere Darius can get on.
I am hearing other clubs are already interested in taking him as coach, and if he goes there will genuinely be uproar from the fans

[KeepersBall]

You read it on our forum, which you appear to live on.

It's no big secret - at this moment in time we're short a director who also needs to act as chairman. Nobody wants to volunteer to take the role - not one of the 9 board members or a white knight from outside the club (unless they're working very quietly in the background....) We need a chair - that's the crisis
One of the directors <SNIP> did want to be chairman, but was shafted in a vote for the job three weeks back and resigned.
Since that we have had two chairmen who lasted a total of five days or so between them.
There would probably be a sack the board campaign if we had one to sack.

[MiniMourinho]

one of the directors, <snip> did want to be chairman, but was shafted in a vote for the job three weeks back and resigned.
Since that we have had two chairmen who lasted a total of five days or so between them.
There would probably be a sack the board campaign if we had one to sack.

<snip>

[Longfordian]

Not to be a backseat mod but some of these comments about people who aren't really public figures are sailing a bit close to the wind. Especially the most recent one.

[nigel-harps1954]

Pretty sure Stephen Kenny still lives in Donegal while managing Dundalk. If he can make the trip up and down from there, surely Rico could manage the one hour trip up and down from Dublin?

[jinxy lilywhite]

Awful sad state of affairs in Drogheda. It really goes to show the stupidness of previous administration in disposing of Cooke in last year.

What is the ownership structure in Drogheda. Do the fans own the club or what?

Last year I did write to Santa after the Fai cup semi to make Dundalk go one step further in the league and make Drogheda suffer with their smugness. I had thought the Robbie Horgan appointment was that but old saint nick has taken it too far.

[MiniMourinho]

Amazed how people just forget what really happened with Cooke! But anyway....

This problem has been coming for years. Long before Mick Cooke. Basically about 1000 or so drogs love going to games but only about 10 of them are willing to give their free time to make it happen.

Every problem stems from that.

Apathy.

[Yossarian]

Basically about 1000 or so drogs love going to games but only about 10 of them are willing to give their free time to make it happen.


So the same problems that every other club has to deal with then.

[Dillonman]

Hang on a minute. Richardson wanted extra money to rent a house in drawda? Does he not live in bloody bettystown. Literally five minutes drive outside drawda?!

[MiniMourinho]

Except some have now stepped down and there is no one willing to replace them.

[Acer]

Except some have now stepped down and there is no one willing to replace them.

There are still 9 people on the board though. I'm not sure how big other clubs' boards are but I would have thought 9 would be more than enough to run a small club like ours.

Also, harsh on <SNIP>. The guy that was voted in his place wasn't exactly David Gill or Daniel Levy.

its nice that for once our problems aren't financial but I'd love just one off-season to see our name without the words 'crisis' or 'turmoil' beside it.

[Mr A]

<DONS MOD HAT>

Folks, if you're going to name directors etc on here please post sources. I don't know this situation well enough to always know what's a matter of public record or not so will lean towards caution in letting names be mentioned.

[KeepersBall]

Agreed Mr A, and my source for the story about the director being shafted, has four legs a waggy tail and normally goes woof woof, but this time it growled.
It was the dog on the street.
As for <SNIP> being my source, the Drogs boardroom, it's going to be a telephone box for ext season, has more leaks than Irish Water.
It would be easier for Mini Mourinho to figure out who didn't talk than who did.
The club won't fold, because the people of the town like the idea of having a LOI club, if not the idea of actually going up and watching them.
And I wonder did MM ever think that it was not a case of people not wishing to volunteer, but rather a case of them not wishing to volunteer to work alongside people they had little respect for.
With previous administrations there was rarely a lack of volunteers.
Either way we are where we are, and something needs to be done to steady the ship rapidly.

[MiniMourinho]

So the same problems that every other club has to deal with then.


There are still 9 people on the board though. I'm not sure how big other clubs' boards are but I would have thought 9 would be more than enough to run a small club like ours.

Also, harsh on <SNIP>. The guy that was voted in his place wasn't exactly David Gill or Daniel Levy.

its nice that for once our problems aren't financial but I'd love just one off-season to see our name without the words 'crisis' or 'turmoil' beside it.

Sure nine is enough enough. But it's nine on the board of management who are also directors, turnstile operators, lotto organisers, chief pot washers etc etc. It's literally about 9 people running the ENTIRE club. I'm reliably informed that they have been asking for more volunteers for at least a year, but no one has stepped up. It's just gotten too much and so some stepped down. Unless people get involved there is no plan B.

[MiniMourinho]

So the same problems that every other club has to deal with then.


Agreed Mr A, and my source for the story about the director being shafted, has four legs a waggy tail and normally goes woof woof, but this time it growled.
It was the dog on the street.
As for <SNIP> being my source, the Drogs boardroom, it's going to be a telephone box for ext season, has more leaks than Irish Water.
It would be easier for Mini Mourinho to figure out who didn't talk than who did.
The club won't fold, because the people of the town like the idea of having a LOI club, if not the idea of actually going up and watching them.
And I wonder did MM ever think that it was not a case of people not wishing to volunteer, but rather a case of them not wishing to volunteer to work alongside people they had little respect for.
With previous administrations there was rarely a lack of volunteers.
Either way we are where we are, and something needs to be done to steady the ship rapidly.

The chairman's seat is empty. Put your money where your mouth is.

[KeepersBall]

Word reaches me this morning that the board, or whoever, have been talking to John Gill.
Ah well

[White Horse]

Word reaches me this morning that the board, or whoever, have been talking to John Gill.
Ah well

John deserves his chance to manage in the top division. I don't know why teams have overlooked him in the past. Dundalk treated him shabbily when he brought us up.

[Mr A]

Right, last warning- stop with the names unless you have a proper source. Infractions will follow if I have to get involved again.

Also, it's better if people report stuff than comment in thread. It's easy to miss stuff on here, I do occasionally do other stuff you know!

[Lim till i die]

If you believe anything a manager (or player) says about contract negotiations you must be new to the league.

Rico is a grade A spoofer, and I've no doubt this latest charade is another example

This, this a million times this.

Rico proved himself a whore the time of the Man United farce.

His unsavoury damnation of Drogheda as a result of what is at its essence a purely fiduciary dispute is unfortunately quite typical of the type of bombastic chicanery one has come to expect from this quintessential, avaricious, nest featherer, his corpulent greed finding its equilibrium only in his base cadishness.

[KeepersBall]

The chairman's seat is empty. Put your money where your mouth is.\Unfortunately rather like the current board I don't have the money.
Unlike them I knew that ages ago which is why I never got involved at that level

[Dalymountrower]

This, this a million times this.

Rico proved himself a whore the time of the Man United farce.

His unsavoury damnation of Drogheda as a result of what is at its essence a purely fiduciary dispute is unfortunately quite typical of the type of bombastic chicanery one has come to expect from this quintessential, avaricious, nest featherer, his corpulent greed finding its equilibrium only in his base cadishness.

Effervecent post.

[MiniMourinho]

So the same problems that every other club has to deal with then.


\Unfortunately rather like the current board I don't have the money.
Unlike them I knew that ages ago which is why I never got involved at that level

Definition: Volunteering*is generally considered analtruistic*activity and is intended to promote goodness or improve human*quality of life. In return, this activity can produce a feeling of self-worth*and*respect. There is no financial gain involved for the individual.

No money needed.

[CrowdedHouse]

His unsavoury damnation of Drogheda as a result of what is at its essence a purely fiduciary dispute is unfortunately quite typical of the type of bombastic chicanery one has come to expect from this quintessential, avaricious, nest featherer, his corpulent greed finding its equilibrium only in his base cadishness.

He couldn't have written it better himself!

[born2bwild]

This, this a million times this.

Rico proved himself a whore the time of the Man United farce.

His unsavoury damnation of Drogheda as a result of what is at its essence a purely fiduciary dispute is unfortunately quite typical of the type of bombastic chicanery one has come to expect from this quintessential, avaricious, nest featherer, his corpulent greed finding its equilibrium only in his base cadishness.
Hilarious.

[KeepersBall]

Definition: Volunteering*is generally considered analtruistic*activity and is intended to promote goodness or improve human*quality of life. In return, this activity can produce a feeling of self-worth*and*respect. There is no financial gain involved for the individual.

No money needed.Am a bit confused. First MM tells me to put my money where my mouth is.
Now here he is telling me there is no money involved

[MiniMourinho]

It's a figure of speech. It meant now is your chance to stop being an armchair politician. Step forward instead of endlessly criticising the volunteering of others.

[Charlie Darwin]

No club bringing in 1,000 average a game should be in financial trouble in this league. Doesn't stop clubs managing it, mind.

[brendy_éire]

Pretty sure Stephen Kenny still lives in Donegal while managing Dundalk. If he can make the trip up and down from there, surely Rico could manage the one hour trip up and down from Dublin?

He still lives in Fahan, but he stays down during the week. Did the same when he was at Shams.

Assuming it's not Bettystown, Dublin to Drogheda really isn't that much of a commute. Pizza would have done a similar journey when he was at Harps.

[Acer]

Sure nine is enough enough. But it's nine on the board of management who are also directors, turnstile operators, lotto organisers, chief pot washers etc etc. It's literally about 9 people running the ENTIRE club. I'm reliably informed that they have been asking for more volunteers for at least a year, but no one has stepped up. It's just gotten too much and so some stepped down. Unless people get involved there is no plan B.

Completely agree and that's also the regular criticism that you hear about the current board - the majority are more suited to being turnstile operators and lotto sellers than being on the board of the football club. The examinership process and all that surrounded it killed the club's ties with most businesses in the area so any hope of getting a board made up of people with business acumen evaporated. Now, it's anyone that's willing to volunteer will be put on the board - no matter how unsuitable they are. Unfortunately, a lot of fans appear to still be under the illusion that we can get another board in. It's not going to happen and either people help the current lot (to help them overcome their shortcomings) or quit complaining. I'd like to see the former.

Ultimately, the current 'board' are paying for the sins of a past administration. I'm sure we'll get a new chair in time but the fundamental problems that have destroyed the club will remain unless more people come together and we can get the correct people into the correct roles.


No club bringing in 1,000 average a game should be in financial trouble in this league. Doesn't stop clubs managing it, mind.

We're not in financial trouble and I agree, nor should we be.