Limerick To Be Liquidated

[Mr A]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1211/1098460-limerick-fc-set-for-extinction-following-court-hearing/

While not unexpected, this is desperately sad. A lot of good people with no club to support this season.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Not an unexpected outcome, but yes, very disappointing to have reached this point. The story of Limerick's mismanagement over the last 5-10 years rivals the FAI for incompetence.

But anyway, I hear the Bruff facility will open any day now!

[NeverFeltBetter]

https://twitter.com/Cunneen92/status/1204756574717304833


2013: All in on Stuart Taylor; given money.
2014: Budget cut; sacked. Russell in.
2015: Budget cut; all but down; given money; relegated anyway.
2016: Pointlessly large FD budget.
2017: Budget cut; Russell departs; multi-year deal for McDonald.
2018: Budget cut; McDonald leaves.
2019: Liquidated

[NeverFeltBetter]

Sorry to triple post, but had to link Pat O'Sullivan's astonishing comments in court today: https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/501058/it-is-scandalous-the-way-thefaihas-treated-me-limerick-fc-owner-pat-o-sullivan-tells-court.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I've seen a couple of journalists on Twitter now happy to reveal the efforts the club hierarchy went to try and stymie negative reporting in the not-too-distant past.

[Sonny]

Sad to see another Limerick club fall by the wayside. Another club run into the ground by a Walter Mitty chancer.

[sbgawa]

With pat out of the way a new limerick club should be possible but probably not in time for next season

[joey B]

Its incredible how much money can be wasted by people who obviously hadn't a clue how to run a football club and refused to listen to people trying to help them,hopefully A club will be back in the league next year on a fan run sustainable model.....

[sbgawa]

Yeah the money he is talking about having put in is incredible.

[Mr A]

He struck me as a man whose heart was in the right place, but he listened to all the wrong people and wasted money left, right and centre. Then he could not let go having sunk so much into it. It's a real shame.

[Martinho II]

Sad day for Limerick football after their crowds picked up in recent years. Hopefully they will rise from the ashes again and do a Galway Utd but somehow I doubt it.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Its incredible how much money can be wasted by people who obviously hadn't a clue how to run a football club and refused to listen to people trying to help them,hopefully A club will be back in the league next year on a fan run sustainable model.....

I really don't think so. The efforts to get trusts going have been difficult to put it mildly. The interest just isn't there, alongside bad feeling between different groups. Perhaps the crisis point might inspire something, but this just isn't Cork.

[wonder88]

Huge amount of money put in by Pat O Sullivan, shows there is no significant interest in having a LoI club in Limerick. I saw somewhere stated that approx 200 is the number of supporters the club had. That is not enough, unless your like UCD. Really there needs to be 500 supporters to be a viable club in the league of Ireland.

[redarmyfaction]

Will the players get their phones back or have the FAI sold them in CEX to pay the heating?

[disgruntled]

Sad to see this happening in Limerick again.
Owner just didn't seem to have an idea & he'd rather see it die than step away.
Hopefully something good will come out of it & they can rise again but its almost impossible if fans won't support you.

[sbgawa]

Surely some of the people who were trying to but the club off Pat but couldn't agree to his terms can step in now and start afresh.

[Martinho II]

Will the players get their phones back or have the FAI sold them in CEX to pay the heating?

Whats this about redarmy?

[Martinho II]

Didnt know that OSullivan was JP McManus brother in law. So much for that arrangement!

[redarmyfaction]

Whats this about redarmy?
Phones were taken off Limerick players in a betting investigation there a few months back.

[4tothefloor]

Didnt know that OSullivan was JP McManus brother in law. So much for that arrangement!
That’s probably because he isn’t his brother in law.

[NeverFeltBetter]

That’s probably because he isn’t his brother in law.

Yeah, the Irish Examiner said that - here: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/soccer/how-the-vision-for-a-new-limerick-fc-disappeared-969915.html - and I was mystified. I've never heard of such a connection between the two.

[blueblood]

O'Sullivan and McManus are married to sisters I believe.
Anyone news on development's? There was supposed to be some news on Friday but haven't heard anything.

[sbgawa]

When u say news on Friday do you mean news of a new entity?
Would be great to see Limerick back in the league on a proper basis.
What is happening with the underage stuff? the current u13/15/17/19 setup?
Given there is no LOI club in Limerick (if Limerick don't reform) they could carry on in underage on the same basis as Kerry or Mayo i suppose but who funds it ??

[NeverFeltBetter]

There were a few rumours floating around of last-ditch efforts to save things, a few councillors giving out (silence from TD's fairly deafening), but all a bit insubstantial. Better chance of some new entity being rushed through licensing for 2020, but doubt even that would happen.

[blueblood]

When u say news on Friday do you mean news of a new entity?
Would be great to see Limerick back in the league on a proper basis.
What is happening with the underage stuff? the current u13/15/17/19 setup?
Given there is no LOI club in Limerick (if Limerick don't reform) they could carry on in underage on the same basis as Kerry or Mayo i suppose but who funds it ??

Something about plans for 2021 season for the senior team and ladies and underage continuing in 2020.

[blueblood]

There were a few rumours floating around of last-ditch efforts to save things, a few councillors giving out (silence from TD's fairly deafening), but all a bit insubstantial. Better chance of some new entity being rushed through licensing for 2020, but doubt even that would happen.
All quite on that front too, I'm hoping no news is good news 😬

[Mr A]

Throwing together a new entity much harder than it used to be- back in the day just a cobbled together senior side was enough, now there are four other teams that come with it. Probably better to aim for next year than to dive in and get swamped from the start.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Would agree. If it means a better prepared Limerick club for 2021, I'm happy to wait. I'll be off to Dalymount for a few games instead!

[blueblood]

I agree take year out, no point rushing things for the sake of it. Take a bit of time and get it right and get football people involved hopefully start fresh, try rebuild bridges and build up a bit of trust with local business again and I think the only way to do that would be taking a year out even just to reiterate that it's a new club with absolutely nothing to do with the others who have caused so much damage over the last few years. Hopefully absence makes the heart grow fonder for football fans too. Saying that it's possible some new entity have been preparing for the last few months and have everything in place already which would be great but it's wait and see I guess

[Nesta99]

Would agree. If it means a better prepared Limerick club for 2021, I'm happy to wait. I'll be off to Dalymount for a few games instead!

Well you have time to grow a beard and take up pipe smoking at least!

[sbgawa]

Another bohs fan in the making :)

[NeverFeltBetter]

One of those councillors, an Independent named Frankie Daly representing the north city ward, had this to say on his FB page:


Further Update: Limerick FC Statement - Let’s Try and Save Senior Soccer in Limerick.


1. Contacted the examiner re examiner ship of process ( Baker Tilly) - this process expired.


2. Contacted the FAI to explore Senior Soccer in Limerick for the new season. Had positive engagement with FAI and ( Fran Gavin Director of competitions) future of Senior soccer in Limerick.


3. Wrote letter to Minister Shane Ross ‘
Minister Shane Ross TD,
I would like to meet urgently for the purpose of establishing a structure which would lead to the regeneration of senior soccer in Limerick City.
The good news to date is that I am getting tremendous encouragement from people in all corners of Limerick City and County.
I am eager to progress this for the people of Limerick.
I look forward to hearing from you -
Sincerely,
Cllr (Independent) Frankie Daly
0834403282’’


4. A meeting was held this evening the 16th December with representatives from the 1. Academy , 2. Women’s Team, FAI dev officers, Senior management from Last year with with the view to putting an in-term committee together to help retain Senior soccer, and underage and women’s teams structures in Limerick and for the Mid West Region.
The meeting was very positive.


Lastly again thanks to everybody that has contacted me over the last few days to offer help, support, and others guidance - there are many people I have not gotten back to yet due to the huge interest by the limerick public. I intend to get back to everybody - If this happened in Dublin it would be sorted in jig time - we the people of Limerick deserve better and I am demanding that we are supported by the Minister on this as the 3rd City and need meaningful support.
Keep an eye on this page for further updates as we try to create a fresh start for Limerick Senior soccer and Academy , Womens teams in a united and coordinated way.
Yours in Sport,
Frankie

[NeverFeltBetter]

And Maria Byrne: https://twitter.com/senatormbyrne/status/1206625660971765762

I'm sure the Seanad will burst into action to save the club. Will she still be talking about Limerick FC when running for the Dail in a few months (or when/if in it, she is Michael Noonan's designated successor)?

[blueblood]

One of those councillors, an Independent named Frankie Daly representing the north city ward, had this to say on his FB page: thanks for that

[pineapple stu]

, a few councillors giving out (silence from TD's fairly deafening).
Genuine question - what were TDs supposed to do here?

[SkStu]

I agree take year out, no point rushing things for the sake of it. Take a bit of time and get it right and get football people involved hopefully start fresh, try rebuild bridges and build up a bit of trust with local business again and I think the only way to do that would be taking a year out even just to reiterate that it's a new club with absolutely nothing to do with the others who have caused so much damage over the last few years. Hopefully absence makes the heart grow fonder for football fans too. Saying that it's possible some new entity have been preparing for the last few months and have everything in place already which would be great but it's wait and see I guess

So, would this technically be Limerick 38 or 39?

[blueblood]

So, would this technically be Limerick 38 or 39?
That's the year the club was formed, if we're back in 2020 season it'll obviously be Limerick 20 until we need a new name in a few years. If only we had sold the Market's Field even though we don't own it 🤔🤔🤔

[NeverFeltBetter]

Genuine question - what were TDs supposed to do here?

Writing at my desk (shh) so forgive the scatter-brained nature of my ramblings.

I don't mean to imply that TD's can wave a magic wand and fix the situation, but they can employ soft power here as they have done in the recent past.

Just a very short while ago, Limerick councillors, Senators and TD's were tripping over themselves to call attention to/speak out about the proposed closing down of the Lyric FM studio in the city, to the extent that the decision to do so has been deferred after government pressure/intervention/a word in the ear.

Now, a football club is not the same as a radio station (though, with "up to 30 employees", not all of them full-time I would wager, Lyric FM wouldn't exactly be miles ahead of Limerick FC in terms of contribution to the local economy, at least when the club was functioning in the halcyon days of two years ago), but given that Limerick FC is a business in the city, and enjoys a core following of a few hundred, you would expect the same kind of response. Hell, they held a special city council meeting over Lyric FM. Elected representatives can condemn inaction and awful ownership, they can raise the profile of the issue in the media, they can offer to mediate, they can lend support and credence to any new entity being considered by having their name attached.

While I'm not discounting that the city's TD's may have tried to do something privately, they haven't been vocal and I don't expect them to be either. The goodwill isn't there like it was with Lyric, and I fully accept that this is the club's fault.

[Martinho II]

I was listening to rtes game on podcast last week and they mentioned that Annacotty are interesting in entering a team in 1st division as they have the structures in place! whether this is true is another matter.

[marinobohs]

That's the year the club was formed, if we're back in 2020 season it'll obviously be Limerick 20 until we need a new name in a few years. If only we had sold the Market's Field even though we don't own it 🤔🤔🤔

Much easier to rob players wages, abandon injured player and then fold (again). Then whine for Government / Sara Claus to clear up your mess. Sure, it’s the Limerick way.

[sbgawa]

Or sell your stadium twice........
Let he without sin cast the first stone.

[marinobohs]

Or sell your stadium twice........
Let he without sin cast the first stone.
Go bust, misuse tax payers money, get relegated and buy the former clubs history and tack it on to a new club. Sinless 😎

[blueblood]

Much easier to rob players wages, abandon injured player and then fold (again). Then whine for Government / Sara Claus to clear up your mess. Sure, it’s the Limerick way.

Nah selling property that isn't yours to sell sounds much easier, in fact it's so easy some club decided to do it numerous times 😂😂😂. Btw you won't find anybody who will defend what POS did over the last few years so I don't think anybody is going to get upset by your silly comment!
It seems the majority of LOI people aren't happy that Limerick FC are gone but some childish people like to kick others when they are down but this is LOI and trouble is never far away but some forget this.

[sbgawa]

Go bust, misuse tax payers money, get relegated and buy the former clubs history and tack it on to a new club. Sinless 😎

You don't do irony do you.....
My biblical quote was exactly why I wasn't throwing stones at limerick.
Every club has its own Glitw moment....

Oh......and it wasn't even a corner :)

[pineapple stu]

Writing at my desk (shh) so forgive the scatter-brained nature of my ramblings.

I don't mean to imply that TD's can wave a magic wand and fix the situation, but they can employ soft power here as they have done in the recent past.

Just a very short while ago, Limerick councillors, Senators and TD's were tripping over themselves to call attention to/speak out about the proposed closing down of the Lyric FM studio in the city, to the extent that the decision to do so has been deferred after government pressure/intervention/a word in the ear.

Now, a football club is not the same as a radio station (though, with "up to 30 employees", not all of them full-time I would wager, Lyric FM wouldn't exactly be miles ahead of Limerick FC in terms of contribution to the local economy, at least when the club was functioning in the halcyon days of two years ago), but given that Limerick FC is a business in the city, and enjoys a core following of a few hundred, you would expect the same kind of response. Hell, they held a special city council meeting over Lyric FM. Elected representatives can condemn inaction and awful ownership, they can raise the profile of the issue in the media, they can offer to mediate, they can lend support and credence to any new entity being considered by having their name attached.

While I'm not discounting that the city's TD's may have tried to do something privately, they haven't been vocal and I don't expect them to be either. The goodwill isn't there like it was with Lyric, and I fully accept that this is the club's fault.
I do think that Lyric is very different to Limerick. Lyric has far more people (voters) interested in it - 100k listeners per the most recent JNLRs, compared to the few hundred you mention going to Limerick games. It's effectively a state body and financially it's much easier to argue for its retention compared to a bankrupt football club which needs a new wealthy owner but has just come out of a process to find one, and hasn't.

I also think Lyric - even with, say, 20 full time staff - would have a much larger contribution to the Limerick economy, which had only a handful of full-time staff, and which has once again hit a number of local businesses.

Obviously it's very unfortunate that the club has gone - there's a number of factors, from O'Sullivan seemingly having no business cop-on to the FAI underfunding the league to the strength of junior football in the area I presume - but I don't see what TDs can really do to help an at present unviable private business.

[Mastershake87]

Bohs fans taking pop shots at the current demise of Limerick FC right now is perplexing. You may not think it but there is a very sizeable football community here that wont be able to see their local team play senior football next year. The first time since 1937. Every team in this league has had to borrow, scrounge and beg at times to keep the show going. Bohs are going well at the moment but we were going well just over two years ago. A collapse can happen to any club in this country in a short period of time. See Waterford and Cork City currently struggling. The Waterford situation in particular is quite similar to our own and i'd be fearful for them this year.

[marinobohs]

Nah selling property that isn't yours to sell sounds much easier, in fact it's so easy some club decided to do it numerous times 😂😂😂. Btw you won't find anybody who will defend what POS did over the last few years so I don't think anybody is going to get upset by your silly comment!
It seems the majority of LOI people aren't happy that Limerick FC are gone but some childish people like to kick others when they are down but this is LOI and trouble is never far away but some forget this.

Tell Sean Russell about "easy".
Instead of whining about it why don't Limerick fans do something to save their club. Then again, turning up to games was too much effort for most of them.

Keep laughing at property deals, it will help pass the time with no football 😁

[Nesta99]

Tell Sean Russell about "easy".
Instead of whining about it why don't Limerick fans do something to save their club. Then again, turning up to games was too much effort for most of them.

Keep laughing at property deals, it will help pass the time with no football 

Eh this is the Irish football public you are talking about and is an issue across the board, any LoI fan should know this all too well, the FAI know it too! Bohs sell out a very restricted capacity ground and you're are behaving as if you are selling out the national stadium. Before you bite back yes Dundalk crowds should be better than what they are considering unprecedented success and we could look to Bohs great strides in rebuilding the fanbase; We face a very difficult time especially without a supporters club/trust if Peak6 decide to leave, Oriel Park is a kip, and this seasons shirt is not great etc etc. Talk about believing the hype though...football fans tend to have short memories but this is more obtuse than selective memory! I was starting to 'like' Bohs for as much as a rival fan can like any rival club, wumming or not the above is just a bit daft Marino all things considered.

[blueblood]

Tell Sean Russell about "easy".
Instead of whining about it why don't Limerick fans do something to save their club. Then again, turning up to games was too much effort for most of them.

Keep laughing at property deals, it will help pass the time with no football 😁

Just to make it clear I'm not interested in getting into a slagging match with you, everyone knows what happened Sean Russell was wrong amongst other things POS did, I just can't comprehend LOI supporters slagging/kicking other clubs when they're in serious trouble, All LOI clubs have list of feck ups some longer than others just because Bohs or whoever are doing ok at the moment doesn't necessarily mean trouble isn't far away, I'd honestly hate to see ANY LOI club go out of business.

[sbgawa]

Its a pity POS dragged it out to the last minute , with a couple of months to get organised a new Limerick team could have been up and running for this season.
Is there any word on the underage structures ? will Limerick be i the 13's 15s etc

[ArFella]

Bohs fans taking pop shots at the current demise of Limerick FC right now is perplexing. You may not think it but there is a very sizeable football community here that wont be able to see their local team play senior football next year. The first time since 1937. Every team in this league has had to borrow, scrounge and beg at times to keep the show going. Bohs are going well at the moment but we were going well just over two years ago. A collapse can happen to any club in this country in a short period of time. See Waterford and Cork City currently struggling. The Waterford situation in particular is quite similar to our own and i'd be fearful for them this year.

To be fair it's not Bohs fans taking shots, its just marino, who takes petulant shots at everyone on this forum at every opportunity presumably because it makes him feel 'big', you'll enjoy your time on here much more if you just ignore him.