Athlone Town

[ATFC-1887]

Sounds like we are rightly screwed. Surprised if we have a club next year

http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/6618557/Athlone-woes-on-rise.html?CMP=spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-IrishSunSport-_-20150902-_-SunIESport-_-SunIESoccer-_-231003440

[nigel-harps1954]

Funny, at Harps last home game v Shelbourne, one Cork Tom told me that Athlone were screwed and they wouldn't be in the league next year.

The oracle has spoken....The Sun has listened.

[Spudulika]

I hope this can be sorted in the Midlands. Athlone was always a good place to go for a game and I used to like when they'd come up to Dublin and the resulting goalfest (early '90s). I thought they'd a major cash injection and sorted all their debts some time ago?

[Jofspring]

Sadly this is what I was hearing from friends of players back in May so it's been coming for a while. If Athlone do pull out and with stories circulating about Cabinteely looking to do the same due to costs it really makes the first division a joke next season.

There is a serious problem in Limerick over the last number of years with traditionally strong teams having to pull out of the leagues and come back a few years later starting from the bottom. You have league of Ireland clubs continually struggling to get through a season and you have an international team as weak as it has been in a long time and not looking like it will get much better. Football in Ireland is in a seriously poor state. Barr Dundalk I think most people would have to admit the league is getting weaker despite the injection of a few ex-Irish internationals.

[White Horse]

Sadly this is what I was hearing from friends of players back in May so it's been coming for a while. If Athlone do pull out and with stories circulating about Cabinteely looking to do the same due to costs it really makes the first division a joke next season.

There is a serious problem in Limerick over the last number of years with traditionally strong teams having to pull out of the leagues and come back a few years later starting from the bottom. You have league of Ireland clubs continually struggling to get through a season and you have an international team as weak as it has been in a long time and not looking like it will get much better. Football in Ireland is in a seriously poor state. Barr Dundalk I think most people would have to admit the league is getting weaker despite the injection of a few ex-Irish internationals.

This is unfortunately all too true.

I am hearing worrying reports from people in Drogheda about whether they will be able to continue in the first division, if relegated.

The only money coming into Irish football is European money. That is exclusively for the benefit of four clubs (five this year). The rest don't have a pot to p1ss in.

[Mr A]

Even before the season there were disturbing noises from Athlone, and those have only increased as the year has gone on. It seems they gambled on promotion this season and it never looked like happening. Hopefully they pull through though.

[D24Saint]

This is unfortunately all too true.

I am hearing worrying reports from people in Drogheda about whether they will be able to continue in the first division, if relegated.

The only money coming into Irish football is European money. That is exclusively for the benefit of four clubs (five this year). The rest don't have a pot to p1ss in.

This is truth I haven't a clue how clubs run only only merger gates & poor prize money this is why armageddon is feared if we dont get europe this year it has become vital to nto just compete but to survive.

[ATFC-1887]

I hope this can be sorted in the Midlands. Athlone was always a good place to go for a game and I used to like when they'd come up to Dublin and the resulting goalfest (early '90s). I thought they'd a major cash injection and sorted all their debts some time ago?
This was to clear the stadium debt. The club itself has long running historical debt I believe

[ThePrisoner]

This was to clear the stadium debt. The club itself has long running historical debt I believe

The stadium is owned by Athlone Town Stadium Limited CRO370008. This company does not operate/run Athlone Town FC. The stadium was part financed by a grant of €2,850,000 from the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and this amount was secured as a charge on the company's assets in 2007. Per the abridged audited accounts there was a sum of €3,103,649 in long term creditors at May, 2014. There is no breakdown of this figure available.

I do not know the entity that runs ATFC.

I recall a number of years ago, reported by RTE, that ATFC received a bequest. I understood at the time that it was to go towards the club's debts.

[Spudulika]

This is truth I haven't a clue how clubs run only only merger gates & poor prize money this is why armageddon is feared if we dont get europe this year it has become vital to nto just compete but to survive.

Before the Cork match I was doing a radio piece here about Pats and how European football was vital. 1 of the studio guests had the cheek to ask me - "What is wrong with Irish clubs, why can't they balance their budgets?" It took all within me to keep from telling him to, you know, his club, Zenit, are not just outside the FFP, they were bankrupt only a few years ago and but for the need for Gazprom to limit taxes and wash money, they'd be gone.

From what I believe Irish clubs do a great job just to survive, but when survival (financial) is the key aim, where is growth, development and expansion. After a while you just get tired of surviving and think, there has to be something better than this! Dundalk are lucky as they've hit a run of good form under a good coach, with good players. A downturn and Oriel is a wasteland again. And if the boys from Fastfix pull back, it's over for the club.

I really hope Athlone pull through, and Cabinteely too.

[oriel]

Im not sure what the wage structure is the FD, but there will always be a few trying to spend big(ish) to get promoted. However I really think clubs in the FD should just pay expenses, maybe some/most are, and offer it out to players to at least have a chance of playing at a higher level. It would be a disaster if Athlone pulled out, especially after making such brilliant stadium progress, but then again trying to attract fans to watch FD is not an easy job.

Spud, just on Dundalk, you should know that 'The boys from fastfix' are actively trying to resolve the lease issue, this is the main stumbling block on why the ground has not been improved of late, however I will admit it has been left in a poor state for decades now with little spectator investment apart from new seating to areas already there. There are also no signs they will 'pull back', and even without any European money and moderate second place prize money, they returned a small profit from the Football Club in figures that were released in 2014 (that did not include the league winning prize money)

Back on topic, I hope Athlone can sort things out, but a more widespread problem is that First Division.

[Spudulika]

Im not sure what the wage structure is the FD, but there will always be a few trying to spend big(ish) to get promoted. However I really think clubs in the FD should just pay expenses, maybe some/most are, and offer it out to players to at least have a chance of playing at a higher level. It would be a disaster if Athlone pulled out, especially after making such brilliant stadium progress, but then again trying to attract fans to watch FD is not an easy job.

Spud, just on Dundalk, you should know that 'The boys from fastfix' are actively trying to resolve the lease issue, this is the main stumbling block on why the ground has not been improved of late, however I will admit it has been left in a poor state for decades now with little spectator investment apart from new seating to areas already there. There are also no signs they will 'pull back', and even without any European money and moderate second place prize money, they returned a small profit from the Football Club in figures that were released in 2014 (that did not include the league winning prize money)

Back on topic, I hope Athlone can sort things out, but a more widespread problem is that First Division.

Oriel, I know you read my comment in a positive like, the 2 boys are brilliant and in my dealings with them in the past showed they are not just Dundalk men, but out and out decent guys who love sport, Dundalk and doing the best. The lease issue scared away other investors who were in talks with Gerry, and if it stays the same Oriel is not going to be the place it can be. I would love if they could get some sense from the Casey's (not that they're not sensible) and really get the club the way they want it.

You hit the nail on the head, the First Division is the issue. I had a look last night on the crowd numbers, when a team drops to it, the crowds are 1/3 or more down. This reflects teams with big travelling support or curiosity value. It really looks like 1 league of 16 teams is the only way to go.

[total hoofball]

The annual "club in a mess because of the FAI approving their desperate fantasy uncosted budget at licensing."

[Martinho II]

The stadium is owned by Athlone Town Stadium Limited CRO370008. This company does not operate/run Athlone Town FC. The stadium was part financed by a grant of €2,850,000 from the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and this amount was secured as a charge on the company's assets in 2007. Per the abridged audited accounts there was a sum of €3,103,649 in long term creditors at May, 2014. There is no breakdown of this figure available.

I do not know the entity that runs ATFC.

I recall a number of years ago, reported by RTE, that ATFC received a bequest. I understood at the time that it was to go towards the club's debts.

pardon my lack of knowledge what is earth is a bequest?

[Longfordian]

Something you leave in your will.

[Ezeikial]

... they returned a small profit from the Football Club in figures that were released in 2014 (that did not include the league winning prize money)


There was figures released in 2014? News to me, although I am aware that Ciaran Bond said in newspaper interview that the club turned a profit in 2013.

Can you enlighten as to where these figures were released?

[Louth4sam]

There was figures released in 2014? News to me, although I am aware that Ciaran Bond said in newspaper interview that the club turned a profit in 2013.

Can you enlighten as to where these figures were released?

Figures were released this year. Club turned a loss in 2013 but a profit in 2014. 2013 was realistically a profit as European money hadn't been taking in to account.

[Ezeikial]

Figures were released this year. Club turned a loss in 2013 but a profit in 2014. 2013 was realistically a profit as European money hadn't been taking in to account.

How were they released? Were they published? Is there a link?

[Louth4sam]

There was figures released in 2014? News to me, although I am aware that Ciaran Bond said in newspaper interview that the club turned a profit in 2013.

Can you enlighten as to where these figures were released?

Cro.ie

Need to pay to download.

[KeepersBall]

This is unfortunately all too true.

I am hearing worrying reports from people in Drogheda about whether they will be able to continue in the first division, if relegated.

The only money coming into Irish football is European money. That is exclusively for the benefit of four clubs (five this year). The rest don't have a pot to p1ss in.

The chairman told me directly that Drogs could NOT survive in division 1.
However that may have changed now that United Park has been sold and City North hotel is set to invest.

[Dunny]

The chairman told me directly that Drogs could NOT survive in division 1.
However that may have changed now that United Park has been sold and City North hotel is set to invest.
Show us.
City North Hotel:confused: are they major or wha?
Good luck to Athlone,hope they make it through the mire and come back out again,really decent club.

[Nesta99]

Bottom line more so with the drogs than Athlone probably, once again built a squad that they are struggling to sustain and cause the club to allegedly fold if relegated. Bar the pitch, United Park wouldn't take a huge amount in upkeep and with the recent talk about pitches throughout the league it could be a minimal outgoing. With income from gates, say 200 in attendance at €20 a head = €4k so roughly €2k per week or however this can be tweaked, Claret and Blue blue club income, sponsorship, some bumper gates depending on opposition etc. Why the whole scaremongering when there is income. Old hat but even an amateur team could be cobbled together to keep the club going until finances improve suficiently.
The coaching team cant have been cheap though JMc leaving saves a bit.

Athlone it seems that plenty of power wrangling at board level have held them back, but were unlucky really as while Cooke didnt work out but Long got them within touching distance of safety but games ran out and then lost an obviously a very talented manager who has done a great job at Bohs. Then Cooke gets appointed to Bray and redeemed himself by helping to steadying the lub.

[White Horse]

However that may have changed now that United Park has been sold and City North hotel is set to invest.

Be careful what you wish for.

A new ground will increase your overheads. Look at Athlone. What has their new ground contributed?

Mick Cooke showed how it was possible to achieve success at a club with a low fanbase. He was rewarded by being run out of town.

[ThePrisoner]

The chairman told me directly that Drogs could NOT survive in division 1.
However that may have changed now that United Park has been sold and City North hotel is set to invest.

Per the FAI's audited accounts for 2013, they own United Park (along with St Colman's Park). Can you confirm if United Park has been sold and if Drogheda received any of the proceeds?

[ThePrisoner]

Figures were released this year. Club turned a loss in 2013 but a profit in 2014. 2013 was realistically a profit as European money hadn't been taking in to account.

Dundalk's figures:

2013 Loss €26,906
2014 Profit €53,229

The European money flowing from second place in the 2013 season is accounted for in the 2014 season and not the 2013 season.

[Darklordsbane]

say 200 in attendance at €20 a head = €4k s



Who charges €20 entrance I've only ever been charged €15 premier and €10 first division

[nigel-harps1954]

Drogheda hardly charge €20 into United Park? Any wonder their crowds have gone to sh!te if so.

[White Horse]

Drogheda hardly charge €20 into United Park? Any wonder their crowds have gone to sh!te if so.

Certainly €20 if you are an away fan and want to sit. I think the standing away section is €15. Not sure about the prices for home fans.

[nigel-harps1954]

Jesus, that's a disgrace. Such terrible prices to stand in the most unstable bucket of a stand in the country (outside of Finn Park).

[Dodge]

AFAIK Dundalk and Drogheda are the only 2 clubs to charge €20 into the stand. Must be a Louth thing

[nigel-harps1954]

To a certain extent, you can understand Dundalk with supply and demand, but Drogheda, who are rarely getting above 500 at their games, are hardly going to attract many people to the games charging them 20 euro to have a seat?

[Jofspring]

€20 is very steep for LOI no matter what club it is.

[White Horse]

€20 is very steep for LOI no matter what club it is.

The stand price was raised to €20 in Oriel Park as the budget was increased to keep the likes of Richie Towell, Daryl Horgan, Stevie O'Donnell etc. at the club.

Dundalk have no sugar daddy and cannot expect to get the numbers through the gate as Cork. The current success is built on a balanced budget.

[Nesta99]

Even with 200, a very modest estimate for Drogheda if in the 1st division it is still €3k+ a bit from stand tickets - I still dont get why the Drogheda chairman claims that relegation will kill the club off. Use a long term plan similar to Wexford Youths who are now in the promotion mix after 8 seasons from scratch (the same length Dundalk were in that division). My point was more that Drogheda could have a minimum of 3k per week from ticket sales not including other income, which is probably more than many others in the 2nd tier yet the continue on. So is there a lack of will from the Drogheda board to dig deep if relegated or it is a rallying call of sorts, is there an ego thing that would see the club fold rather than going amateur and youth orientated? . I didnt intend my guesstimate of ticket price,income and attendance as anything more than an adjunct to the point that clubs like Drogheda and Athlone are talking about their doomsday rather than just changing their business practices and by proxy their players profile to stay afloat. Their players may be payed very little as stands now, but have players that play for nothing, their payment is their development as footballers. If this model type is still unsustainable then start calling it a day.