2025 Licensing Thread

[culloty82]

In recent seasons, the awarding of Premier and First Division licences has generally happened on the Tuesday/Wednesday immediately after the FAI Cup final, but will it be postponed a week this time until the play-off has concluded (though both Drogheda and Bray have presumably applied for Premier licences anyway)? And now that Dundalk are under new ownership, are we expecting them to pass with relatively flying colours?

[dundalkfc10]

In recent seasons, the awarding of Premier and First Division licences has generally happened on the Tuesday/Wednesday immediately after the FAI Cup final, but will it be postponed a week this time until the play-off has concluded (though both Drogheda and Bray have presumably applied for Premier licences anyway)? And now that Dundalk are under new ownership, are we expecting them to pass with relatively flying colours?

According to local media, we have been giving a few extra week to sort out licencing but most of the application is due in this Friday

Owner today has appointed new manager, advised season tickets be out next week, new jersey and sponsor to be announced in the next week and new pitch and floodlights to start early December.
I'd be fully confident he has assurances we will get a license as it's confirmed we have a manager on a 2 year deal and Horgan and Dervin confirmed as staying plus a few more to be announced

[placid casual]

Is the licence not based on the ability for each club to be able to finance the coming season,which for dundalk is still up for discussion no?

[Longfordian]

I'm sure no LOI owner would be making assumptions on things that may not actually happen.

[Nesta99]

Is the licence not based on the ability for each club to be able to finance the coming season,which for dundalk is still up for discussion no?

Good question! Creative accounting is something that all LoI clubs....scratch that all football clubs the world over are experts at. It does beg the question on what the bar is, how outrageous proposed budgets must be to be rejected. Dundalk FC generates income, aside from matchday and sponsrship there is obviously the YDC and 2 bars, it would comfortably run as an amatuer club. Discretionary stuff like playing budget?? For some reason things seem kinda positive off the field, there is liitle concrete behind that bar that so far things seem tp be progressing eg a new jersey - PlayerFit must have been paid, maybe are getting money up front but they havent walked. There hasnt been a Revenue winding up notice...yet. ST sales start next week. Work starts on floodlights and pitch in weeks(Ill be happy to see that actually happen rather than just spoken about as it will indicate there is money to facilitate grants use). YDC has reopened to the public after years of lip service. FAI are giving room to work on licence with most already submitted, so all sways toward the positive side. FAI could reject application but thats a real headache for them. Payments to former players is a complication, one at least is based on interprestation of an additional clause for a player already having maybe paid circa 200k so as long as its disputed and in some process it kinda stays away short term. O'Donnell will probably play ball with some agreement and Annesley I can imagine the amount involved isnt huge in thats its make or break, it could be covered.

I'd be pretty sure advance payment has been made of prizemoney and the timing of the solidarity lump sum if advanced by the FAI could be enough to pave the way to a licence for 2025 but still just buying time unless there is more to things than is known. It will be rinse and repeat without the ability to get advances if there is additional messing and/or Trust, Club, Support Club efforts slide.

[dundalkfc10]

Is the licence not based on the ability for each club to be able to finance the coming season,which for dundalk is still up for discussion no?

The owner said today the budget has been confirmed for next season and I'm led to believe most of the lads under contract are staying on

[placid casual]

We'll see what pans out I guess.

I did predict in another thread that you'd get kilduff. It's a good managerial appointment for both ,in my view. He gets to cut his teeth in men's football away from the glare ( is there any glare?!) of the Premier division and dundalk gets a manager who knows and cares about the club and not just some sam allardyce managerial novice.

[Another Bohemia]

We'll see what pans out I guess.

I did predict in another thread that you'd get kilduff. It's a good managerial appointment for both ,in my view. He gets to cut his teeth in men's football away from the glare ( is there any glare?!) of the Premier division and dundalk gets a manager who knows and cares about the club and not just some sam allardyce managerial novice.

Maybe I'm just being pessimistic here but from Kilduffs standpoint this is probably the riskiest role he could have taken? Let's even exclude the potential licensing hurdles and points deductions and assume all is well at Dundalk and they figure out a plan without SCARP. Others have mentioned that a lot of the under contract players are returning. These are players who massively underperformed in a lot of cases and there probably wouldn't be a budget to move on from them so that's the squad. How does the worst squad in the premier stack up against some better first division teams? The average LOI or Dundalk fan will see some names like Horgan and think they'll win the first at a canter. If they don't that could be a real problem for Kilduff. We can say that he's a legend or cult hero in Dundalk but so was O'Donnell? It may take time for a rookie manager to get up to speed with the men's game and will he be afforded that time by the fans? Some already have their sights in the next European run! A minority I'm sure but let's not pretend a vocal minority can't influence others around them.

I do think it's a good appointment from Dundalk point of view if they can keep expectations realistic and let him grow into the role a bit.

[Nesta99]

Maybe I'm just being pessimistic here but from Kilduffs standpoint this is probably the riskiest role he could have taken? Let's even exclude the potential licensing hurdles and points deductions and assume all is well at Dundalk and they figure out a plan without SCARP. Others have mentioned that a lot of the under contract players are returning. These are players who massively underperformed in a lot of cases and there probably wouldn't be a budget to move on from them so that's the squad. How does the worst squad in the premier stack up against some better first division teams? The average LOI or Dundalk fan will see some names like Horgan and think they'll win the first at a canter. If they don't that could be a real problem for Kilduff. We can say that he's a legend or cult hero in Dundalk but so was O'Donnell? It may take time for a rookie manager to get up to speed with the men's game and will he be afforded that time by the fans? Some already have their sights in the next European run! A minority I'm sure but let's not pretend a vocal minority can't influence others around them.

I do think it's a good appointment from Dundalk point of view if they can keep expectations realistic and let him grow into the role a bit.

I can assure you this isnt the case, few Dundalk fans think things will be won at a canter. I also disagree on the risk to Kilduff, its a free hit. 2yr contract that we'd struggle to pay off. Depending on who actually stays there is the basis for a decent young squad, local or academy players with Horgan, Dervin, hopefully Hakiki. Anaamasihun, Keogh, Molloy, Kenny as a few that you could develop a decent side with. If Gullan stays and is part of 2 up front there is goals there, even at keeper you'd hope Munro will be sufficient if there are no other obvious keepers there. Its not a bounce back sde or manager, seems that there is longer thinking, a bounce back will be a bonus. Im sure many would expect a playoff slot which is not unreasonable. The 'Europe 2026' will be drained out of them after a year in the 1st Division and 8th 2026 will keep them quiet.

If I had a wish list it would be to fund a full time position, architect/engineer type as a facilities deveopment or project manager. Id give up promotion if that salary or a wedge on a company to do the needed leg work was diverted away from the playing squad. I think what will be key to everything staying relatively sane will be communication. If we cant afford a squad for promotion and have money to draw down grants then let the fans know. As has been said plenty there is lots to run in this saga and very caustiously the tide might be turning.

[Another Bohemia]

I can assure you this isnt the case, few Dundalk fans think things will be won at a canter. I also disagree on the risk to Kilduff, its a free hit. 2yr contract that we'd struggle to pay off. Depending on who actually stays there is the basis for a decent young squad, local or academy players with Horgan, Dervin, hopefully Hakiki. Anaamasihun, Keogh, Molloy, Kenny as a few that you could develop a decent side with. If Gullan stays and is part of 2 up front there is goals there, even at keeper you'd hope Munro will be sufficient if there are no other obvious keepers there. Its not a bounce back sde or manager, seems that there is longer thinking, a bounce back will be a bonus. Im sure many would expect a playoff slot which is not unreasonable. The 'Europe 2026' will be drained out of them after a year in the 1st Division and 8th 2026 will keep them quiet.

If I had a wish list it would be to fund a full time position, architect/engineer type as a facilities deveopment or project manager. Id give up promotion if that salary or a wedge on a company to do the needed leg work was diverted away from the playing squad. I think what will be key to everything staying relatively sane will be communication. If we cant afford a squad for promotion and have money to draw down grants then let the fans know. As has been said plenty there is lots to run in this saga and very caustiously the tide might be turning.

So, looking at the players listed there and looking at the first division for next year, assuming Drogheda don't go down, what team would have players with a similar pedigree to those listed as Dundalk players for next year? Wexford lost their manager, Bray could be good but they are a bit of an erratic team who I'm not sure have a manager for next year? UCD are very much dependent on players improving which could happen, Valeo are pulling out of Athlone. I'm not saying every Dundalk fans will think they should win at a canter but I'd be surprised if there aren't more fans than you think going "We can easily bounce back and win the 1st". I don't think it's a free shot for Kilduff at all but let's wait and see.

[Nesta99]

It'd be more a hope than an expectation. Any of the 1st Division clubs could bully a new and young Dundalk side even with some experienced heads. I wouldnt bet that Kerry with players together for a few seasons could get at Dundalk. If we have some significant investment and a handy squad is built with proven 1st division performers of course expectations will rise but can be kept in check with some reality reminders ie that this is an entire club rebuild not just assembling a team for promotion. Killer will be given plenty of time and he has Burns and Spain now with him, a stronger coaching combination imo than other managements teams for a number of years, of coure Kilduff will need to rely on his management team rather than ignore. If we sign duds at least they will be cheap and not a flipping mass recruitment from Scotland highlands. Could raid a few Athlone lads. I hope we walk the division, if we dont we avoid the additional costs of putting together a PL side which if communicated to fans they will suck it up bar the few never happy usuals.

[Mr A]

Valeo are pulling out of Athlone.

First I've heard of this?

[Another Bohemia]

First I've heard of this?

It's mentioned on the first page of the 2025 transfer rumours thread. I should have had a ? Instead of a full stop at the end of the sentence.

[oriel]

So, looking at the players listed there and looking at the first division for next year, assuming Drogheda don't go down, what team would have players with a similar pedigree to those listed as Dundalk players for next year? Wexford lost their manager, Bray could be good but they are a bit of an erratic team who I'm not sure have a manager for next year? UCD are very much dependent on players improving which could happen, Valeo are pulling out of Athlone. I'm not saying every Dundalk fans will think they should win at a canter but I'd be surprised if there aren't more fans than you think going "We can easily bounce back and win the 1st". I don't think it's a free shot for Kilduff at all but let's wait and see.

I'm expecting Drogs to win the play off, then in my view it will be one of the weakest FD since its inception when we had likes of EMFA and Newcastle West, maybe I`m been a little unkind, but I don't see any stand out clubs and certainly not too many will have any recent decent exp in the PD. I`m not saying Dundalk will win it, as have no idea what the squad will look like, budget not yet confirmed, but Temple saying could be 0.5M.

I still remain to be convinced we can avoid SCARP, and the debt is still significant, so all of that will be a massive cloud over how 2025 will work out, unless Temple has investors lined up, as Kilduff must have got some solid assurances to sign for 2 years.

Overall, I`m actually looking forward to the FD, something different, and as said on separate thread, its fully deserved that we were relegated.

[LTFC]

Actually, from a first div pov , and assuming Drogs beat Bray, there is no obvious runaway champions next season - last 3 seasons there has been. Could mean one of the 10 takes the chance to win title even if they know that staying up is unlikely. If you offered me a First Div title in 2025 and a second season of relagation and dismal nights in 2026 I'd take it!

[Acornvilla]

I feel like if Dundalk are to avoid any points deductions and are a largely full time setup, with players like Horgan/Dervin and probably a couple of other staying and some very talented local kids as a starting point, they'll do what Cork did and win it by 20, they might not be an excellent team, but being full time alone is a massive advantage. It's also probably as good a season as Dundalk could have asked for to be in the 1st div, with no 2nd bigger club. There is always the chance of UCD will being class and destroy everyone too tbf. Has other clubs improving their academies and giving decent pathways in to 1st team, like Rovers,Pats,Bohs in the Dublin area hurt them at all?

[Buckett]

I thought they were changing to part time and training in the evenings? They'll still be good enough to challenge for the title.
Would training in the evenings mean less income from renting their facilities to the public though?

[Acornvilla]

I thought they were changing to part time and training in the evenings? They'll still be good enough to challenge for the title.
Would training in the evenings mean less income from renting their facilities to the public though?
The land of Dundalk is rife with rumors, but from what I've heard going around the plan is to be full time but to move training to accommodate some people, maybe a lot of the younger guys who are going to be promoted to 1st team will still have school to navigate and day time training just won't work. It definitely leaves scope to be more like the Drogheda situation, where I imagine quite a lot of their squad are full time, but others like Deegan, Markey and whoever else, who wanted to keep their other jobs could make it work. We'll probably know a lot more by January what sort of squad they're putting together.

[dundalkfc10]

I thought they were changing to part time and training in the evenings? They'll still be good enough to challenge for the title.
Would training in the evenings mean less income from renting their facilities to the public though?

Seems we are going to evening training to accommodate some of the younger players.
On renting out facilities, their is a local winter league in Dundalk who are using oriel currently 3/4 nights a week sometimes 2 games a night at 6.40 and 8.20
Games were regular in oriel but stopped for years but they have been using oriel this season since it started a few weeks back. I assume they won't be able to use it anymore unless they move some games to the weekend

The YDC is open though with the astro pitches open from 7-10 every night, and is hosting kids birthday parties too which wouldn't be affected

What we need to do is get the bar open in the YDC. On this years ago, in the first Division you were able to drink pints in the smoke area of the lillywhite (the away end) and watch the games
This could be a big money spinner but is it allowed?

[Buckett]

We have a smoking area beside the bar in Terryland where you can watch the game from. You can also see the pitch from inside the bar. Needless to say, I haven't been outside since the bar opened!

[dundalkfc10]

We have a smoking area beside the bar in Terryland where you can watch the game from. You can also see the pitch from inside the bar. Needless to say, I haven't been outside since the bar opened!

Is it allowed to bring your pints out to the smoking area during the game though?

Not that it matters to me, as I'd regularly take 4 cans and have them in the Shed but pints are better than cans

[Buckett]

Ya you can drink in the smoking area, plastic pints though.

[oriel]

Is it allowed to bring your pints out to the smoking area during the game though?

Not that it matters to me, as I'd regularly take 4 cans and have them in the Shed but pints are better than cans

Is that you or your mates flag then, that is on display sometimes? 'Football is nothing without CANS' and a photo of a few Harp cans next to DFC crest?

[Nesta99]

Is it allowed to bring your pints out to the smoking area during the game though?

Not that it matters to me, as I'd regularly take 4 cans and have them in the Shed but pints are better than cans

Which is against the clubs ground regulations, not that it matters to you!

[Kiki Balboa]

Just allow drinking in the stands, and let clubs have the Revenue

[brendy_éire]

Just allow drinking in the stands, and let clubs have the Revenue

Baffling that's it's not allowed by the league (or is it the individual clubs?). The FAI allowed them in stands at Lansdowne during COVID, and have since gone back to banning them.
If people want a drink at a match, they're going to get it. Makes more sense for the clubs to make a few quid from it.

Always think back at a recent stag do, we went to a Borrusia Mönchengladbach match. The 12 of us had four pints each. An extra €240 in revenue for the club. We do we do our own clubs out of the money?

[dundalkfc10]

Is that you or your mates flag then, that is on display sometimes? 'Football is nothing without CANS' and a photo of a few Harp cans next to DFC crest?

No that's not us but I know the lads who your talking about


Which is against the clubs ground regulations, not that it matters to you!

What difference does it make if someone has a few cans while watching the game.
The club even have a big bin in the middle of the shed for empty cans this years as they got fed up of them getting left lying around everywhere

[outspoken]

Baffling that's it's not allowed by the league (or is it the individual clubs?). The FAI allowed them in stands at Lansdowne during COVID, and have since gone back to banning them.
If people want a drink at a match, they're going to get it. Makes more sense for the clubs to make a few quid from it.

Always think back at a recent stag do, we went to a Borrusia Mönchengladbach match. The 12 of us had four pints each. An extra €240 in revenue for the club. We do we do our own clubs out of the money?
Thank God it's not allowed at Ireland matches. Mate of mine was at the rugby the other day, he was drove spare by the amount of people coming in and out constantly for drinks and the toilets. If you can't go 45 mins without a drink then do you really love the sport?

[Nesta99]

No that's not us but I know the lads who your talking about



What difference does it make if someone has a few cans while watching the game.
The club even have a big bin in the middle of the shed for empty cans this years as they got fed up of them getting left lying around everywhere

Whats the difference? Might be that on many occasions cans get thrown on the pitch thown at players oo linesman resulting in fines. Did you ever question why they are not allowed? Its the same way regulations on pyro is ignored and costs the club and the culprits would shout no pyro no party bs and as whats the difference. But sure continue to ignore club rules, in a self entitleed, couldnt give a fook way. You mentioned taking your son to Drogheda last night of the season, do you take your son to Oriel and drink cans?

[oriel]

Thank God it's not allowed at Ireland matches. Mate of mine was at the rugby the other day, he was drove spare by the amount of people coming in and out constantly for drinks and the toilets. If you can't go 45 mins without a drink then do you really love the sport?


Can't stand that at Aviva for Rugby games, not that I go, just looking at the state of them with their plastic pints in the seats, and as you say the constant flow in and out, drinks / jacks.

Now I won't be a spoils sport, its of course a choice and I had a delayed return to my seat for the second half in one of the cup finals 2015-19, (met a mate who flew home for the final - got chatting at HT) but that is all behind the glass and you are not impeding anyone. For the Rugby crowd, a lot of them just seems to be about the non stop drinking during the game. Its not a good look.

[Another Bohemia]

Whats the difference? Might be that on many occasions cans get thrown on the pitch thown at players oo linesman resulting in fines. Did you ever question why they are not allowed?

In fairness you can make the same argument about bottles of water or cola? You wouldn't argue for banning them. I'm sure a scalding cup of tea or coffee would do infinitely more damage if thrown at a player yet they aren't banned? The FAI ban it but it's not because it could be thrown on the pitch, it's likely just following the rules the UK set up I the 80's likely to help deal with their hooligan problem.

[dundalkfc10]

Whats the difference? Might be that on many occasions cans get thrown on the pitch thown at players oo linesman resulting in fines. Did you ever question why they are not allowed? Its the same way regulations on pyro is ignored and costs the club and the culprits would shout no pyro no party bs and as whats the difference. But sure continue to ignore club rules, in a self entitleed, couldnt give a fook way. You mentioned taking your son to Drogheda last night of the season, do you take your son to Oriel and drink cans?

I've never thrown a can onto the pitch. If someone wants to throw something on the pitch you can buy cans and bottles of soft drinks all round the stadium

No my son is only 8 too young for cans yet

He goes to the home games with his mammy if you want to know that bad. Wouldn't take him into the Shed especially with all the cannabis smoke

By the way have you ever cursed while at a game in Oriel? That's against the rules

[dundalkfc10]

On the plus side I've heard last few days that Dundalk have secured new investors to be announced in the next few days

Gerry Malone (the well trusted ?) journalist is now reporting it aswell

[Nesta99]

In fairness you can make the same argument about bottles of water or cola? You wouldn't argue for banning them. I'm sure a scalding cup of tea or coffee would do infinitely more damage if thrown at a player yet they aren't banned? The FAI ban it but it's not because it could be thrown on the pitch, it's likely just following the rules the UK set up I the 80's likely to help deal with their hooligan problem.

Yes but water or cola doesnt alter the behaviour of the consumers. Yes they can also be thrown and are but there is an obvious difference. It is unlikely that a half dozen bottles of coke are drunk prior to the game and then topped up at the game resulting in inapropriate behaviour. You see the comments above about the look of pints allowed at rugby matches, agree or disagree, you should see the pie eyed state of a large group skulling cans in the shed in Oriel. If it is against ground regulations and 'fans' just couldnt be bothered to follow and it costs - cherry pick regulations to ignoore or for a club not to enforce then where do you stop. If a club decides to allow beers to be coonsumed in the ground then so be it if its is controlled eg in plastic containers, where people can be refued if excessively druk and the club benefits financially. Same with organised or cold pyro. Ultimately it is about not caring what the club requests of fans in terms of rules, that they dont care - have these kind ever paid a fine they are responsible for, Dundalkfc10?

[oriel]

On the plus side I've heard last few days that Dundalk have secured new investors to be announced in the next few days

Gerry Malone (the well trusted ?) journalist is now reporting it aswell

https://x.com/liveatoriel/status/1855688092180426948?s=48&t=KEnRfjjmMKppJU5Tn4xZ73LBjil_HKyBKt2pvQV3tuo

Only thing, Gerry has got a lot of things wrong over the years, even to the point of trying to call people out online, then having to back down a day later.

He tweeted Ryan O'Kane in advanced talks to join Shels last week, (it could happen), but then Ryan's dad replied something like 'Really, he tells me nothing'.

So as always pinch of salt with his posts.

[dundalkfc10]

Yes but water or cola doesnt alter the behaviour of the consumers. Yes they can also be thrown and are but there is an obvious difference. It is unlikely that a half dozen bottles of coke are drunk prior to the game and then topped up at the game resulting in inapropriate behaviour. You see the comments above about the look of pints allowed at rugby matches, agree or disagree, you should see the pie eyed state of a large group skulling cans in the shed in Oriel. If it is against ground regulations and 'fans' just couldnt be bothered to follow and it costs - cherry pick regulations to ignoore or for a club not to enforce then where do you stop. If a club decides to allow beers to be coonsumed in the ground then so be it if its is controlled eg in plastic containers, where people can be refued if excessively druk and the club benefits financially. Same with organised or cold pyro. Ultimately it is about not caring what the club requests of fans in terms of rules, that they dont care - have these kind ever paid a fine they are responsible for, Dundalkfc10?

If the club are worried about fans drinking, they wouldn't be opening the Lillywhite hours before games and selling pints cheaper than anywhere in town (€4) and again at half time

I don't know who has ever paid a fine or not. I've been following Dundalk for 34 years (since I was 4 years old when my grandad first took me) and I've never cost the club a penny.
If scumbags are going to throw stuff on the pitch, they are going to do it whether they have 10 cans before a game and a few more at the game or if they have none.
The club have "banned" fans before and 1 or 2 games later the same lads are back in Oriel so the club obvs don't care what these "fans" get upto

I know the Drogheda lads started the row on the pitch this year but it was the same lads on the pitch fighting them, who were fighting on the pitch against Derry after we won the league cup a few years ago

The club knows who these people are, everyone that goes to the games knows who they are

To be having a go at someone for having a few cans harming nobody but my own liver is a bit rich considering what goes on at times in oriel

[Another Bohemia]

Yes but water or cola doesnt alter the behaviour of the consumers. Yes they can also be thrown and are but there is an obvious difference. It is unlikely that a half dozen bottles of coke are drunk prior to the game and then topped up at the game resulting in inapropriate behaviour. You see the comments above about the look of pints allowed at rugby matches, agree or disagree, you should see the pie eyed state of a large group skulling cans in the shed in Oriel. If it is against ground regulations and 'fans' just couldnt be bothered to follow and it costs - cherry pick regulations to ignoore or for a club not to enforce then where do you stop. If a club decides to allow beers to be coonsumed in the ground then so be it if its is controlled eg in plastic containers, where people can be refued if excessively druk and the club benefits financially. Same with organised or cold pyro. Ultimately it is about not caring what the club requests of fans in terms of rules, that they dont care - have these kind ever paid a fine they are responsible for, Dundalkfc10?

I'd wager that the pie eyed individuals are also having some coke, just not the kind sold in bottles. FWIW I'm not arguing for or against drinking in the stands, personally I think it would have a negative effect similar to what is described above at rugby matches, but your argument that a can can be thrown on the pitch and cost a club money is flawed because

1. People drink before, during and after matches in bars some of which are attached to the grounds and bring profit into the club so that's not going to stop
2. You're assuming that alcohol is the only substance that these people are taking on board that could lead to this issue when history and anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise
3. Even if you stopped all of that drinking, drug abuse etc banned all containers from the stand people still regularly have change, disposable vapes and lighters that can be thrown onto a pitch and do damage to players & officials. As we've seen from protests that go overboard as well there doesn't need to be a heap of people drinking and actively taking drugs just people getting aggro with each other and being passionate about something they support and unfortunately that is engrained in football culture.

The only way to deal with it is a zero tolerance banning policy and if it's a very serious event eg attacking a player or official then something has to be done at a legislation level to introduce football banning orders like they have in the UK.

Things like banning alcohol from the stand are performative measures that make people feel better but don't solve the actual problem which is a few rotten apples spoiling the whole bunch.

[Nesta99]

If you have to smuggle cans it to a ground then it shouldnt be attempted. I dont think it is harmless, Dundalkfc10 may be able to behave himself but other dont meaning others ruin things for everyone, a shame but it it what it is. There is a duty on oldr supporters not to two finger the rules and set examples for younger fans. Drug us is a related but different issue and much harder to prevent but sure same difference, there will be some who will say wheres the harm except to themselves etc. If alcohol consumption is harmless why are KO times changed to earlier slots?

2 wrongs dont make a right and all that, if the club is not applying the rules then yes I can understand why fans wouldnt take them seriously but if the club were, and fans were banned permanently would supporters step up and help protect the club from fines. Just because it is hard to prevent problems doesnt mean we shouldnt bother. The reason for my double standard on the club allowing alcohol sold by the club would be acceptable is simply is that the club recieving that revenue can offset the cost of fines and security, there is also an ability to say no if need be.

Im not suggesting this is what happens with Dundalkfc10 but seeing guardians with kids and guardians well on the booze is just wrong, but a much bigger debate there. I happen to really dislike the way mobs of kids run around Oriel on matchnights as if it were a creche. It is to do with the lack of development of the ground, obviously kids would have difficulty messing in an all-seater stadium, but it isnt safe at the very least. Its not as if self professed stalwart best DFC fans ever have not attempted to sue the club for injury and yet these would be the kind to let their kids scale the floodlight pylons which needed dedicted security at times.

We will differ on the impact, I simply dont think that sensible Dundalk fans should dismiss and flout the rules for a multtude of reasons, that the club should own the issue and sell pints for cunsumption in the ground from the YDC and the 2 bars the other side.

[dundalkfc10]

I just like to point out I've never smuggled cans into the game. Tesco bag for life and 4 cans in them
I was stopped I'd say twice this season going into Oriel and steward looked in bag and said go on

Only ever time cans have been taking off me was one European game, and the stewards exact words were it's Europe tonight diff rules to a league game

[Nesta99]

All that says is that the stewards in question are rubbish!

[2 Year Contract]

All that says is that the stewards in question are rubbish!

Have you ever used ‘foul language’ inside Oriel Park? If so you ought to be ashamed of yourself as that too is against ground regulations ;)

[yurt]

I'd a question around the 2025 fixture list that I thought might fit better in here instead of starting a new thread. I think we can expect the fixture list to be released in mid-December.

Do we expect the FAI to make any changes to the calendar for 2025? I know everyone has an opinion on what should be done and the FAI to be fair to them seem to have thought through a lot of these problems and come to the conclusion of the status quo.

I've heard Dan McDonnell say on LOI Central that the reason the season ends when it does is that there's issues getting the Aviva any later and the FAI want to have the Cup Final being the conclusion of the season. Is the reason for that the Rugby internationals? There was rugby Friday and the cup Sunday so I'm not sure what the conflict would be by having the cup final later in November? Can anyone that knows how those agreements work give an insight?

After the Dundalk v Pats cancellation fiasco some rules on that will need to be set in stone too. Would just ideally like for there to be a couple less double game weeks in the summer. Attendances usually tick back up again in September so think extending the season at the back end would be the way to go if it's possible.

[Nesta99]

Have you ever used ‘foul language’ inside Oriel Park? If so you ought to be ashamed of yourself as that too is against ground regulations ;)

I have never used foul language never!!!! Not all offences are equal. I have actually been at games in the UK where fans were ejected for use of foul language. Taking cans in to a ground, bad language, whatever ground regulations picked on, they're issues or they're not and if they're not then they shouldnt be against regulations. What's to stop some plank who let off fireworks, being banned, and arguing that it is personal cause a whole bunch of other regulations are flouted and nothing is done albeit the banned dont seem to stay banned yet there is bewilderment when fans fight on the pitch or let off flares and it costs. Its not a personal issue, I just think fans should respect regulations, not encourage the less capable of behaving from costing the club, or push the club to change policy. Be less half baked about things. A reasonable compromise for fans that wish to drink on the terraces is that drink is purchased from the club and even ask fans to use plastic containers, designate areas of a ground where drinking, smoking, even pyro can happen and quit the rant when lino gets clocked with a half drunk tin of dutch gold when stewards cant be bothered.

Aiside from Oriel specifically, there's little that annoys me at games as much as where drining is allowed and someone scores and some halfwits think its great to chuck their drink over as many as they can, its almost as anoying as having to sit at football games. At one cup final I watched a chap in the middle tier pour his beer over those below in fits of giggles. Could he have done the same with a coke, yes but if he was drinking coke he may not have thought it such a great laugh. I cant recall which game but one of the quickest sobering up moments i ever witnessed was lads horsing pints in to them under the stand (could have been Croke Park), nice and rowdy until one copped that it was non-alcoholic beer only on sale. I vaguely recall a poster on here telling a similar story themselves.

[Another Bohemia]

I'd a question around the 2025 fixture list that I thought might fit better in here instead of starting a new thread. I think we can expect the fixture list to be released in mid-December.

Do we expect the FAI to make any changes to the calendar for 2025? I know everyone has an opinion on what should be done and the FAI to be fair to them seem to have thought through a lot of these problems and come to the conclusion of the status quo.

I've heard Dan McDonnell say on LOI Central that the reason the season ends when it does is that there's issues getting the Aviva any later and the FAI want to have the Cup Final being the conclusion of the season. Is the reason for that the Rugby internationals? There was rugby Friday and the cup Sunday so I'm not sure what the conflict would be by having the cup final later in November? Can anyone that knows how those agreements work give an insight?

After the Dundalk v Pats cancellation fiasco some rules on that will need to be set in stone too. Would just ideally like for there to be a couple less double game weeks in the summer. Attendances usually tick back up again in September so think extending the season at the back end would be the way to go if it's possible.

There appears to be autumn series rugby and nations league internationals throughout November. December is quiet, only 1 rugby game scheduled but they also used to hold corporate events in the Aviva i.e Christmas parties so there are still things happening there in December but you could probably target the first week of December as a cup final but then how many international breaks are in the league season, the original goal of summer football was better playing surfaces and improving European results so will the teams playing Europe get enough games to be ready, how do the euro games then affect the schedule? A lot of questions to be answered for and extra few weeks to the season. If the league keeps the same start date does ending in December mean players will have to be paid more weeks wages? Some clubs would certainly be against that as well. I think the calendar has its problems but it's also a compromise by the league, FAI and clubs to suit all as best they can so I'd be surprised if it has any significant changes. Maybe they could look at organizing home games consecutively for euro teams to minimize travel and risk of injury but then you probably hinder other clubs who don't get euro money.

[total hoofball]

Weather is a factor as to why the league finishing dates were bumped from mid-November during the 2000's to end of October during the 2010's, it's only because of covid is why the league bounced back into November finishing dates which is gradually going back towards a finish of the last Friday in October

I can't see the league finishing stretching the season to end of November with increased odds of crap pitches or postponements coinciding with the business end of the season most likely thing I could see is the league starting earlier first Friday in February

[thebronze14]

Weather is a factor as to why the league finishing dates were bumped from mid-November during the 2000's to end of October during the 2010's, it's only because of covid is why the league bounced back into November finishing dates which is gradually going back towards a finish of the last Friday in October

I can't see the league finishing stretching the season to end of November with increased odds of crap pitches or postponements coinciding with the business end of the season most likely thing I could see is the league starting earlier first Friday in February

Weathers always better now than February!

[yurt]

Dan actually brought up the calendar again in this weeks LOI Central. It sounds like the reason for season ending in early Nov isn't so much the Aviva's availability, it's the international window in the middle of November. So if they wanted to extend the season they'd probably need to do it by 3/4 weeks instead of just the 1/2 they'd probably like to.

[total hoofball]

Weathers always better now than February!
It's easier to reschedule a postponed game early in the season compared a postponed game in the business end in November when you can have competition impacts on titles/European spots/relegation

[Nesta99]

Dan actually brought up the calendar again in this weeks LOI Central. It sounds like the reason for season ending in early Nov isn't so much the Aviva's availability, it's the international window in the middle of November. So if they wanted to extend the season they'd probably need to do it by 3/4 weeks instead of just the 1/2 they'd probably like to.

Are any club not on 52 week player contracts? It previously would add to cost, this season eg almost 100k for Dundalk. But if 52 week contracts are the norm would that extra month matter that much? Off season is long, season heavily front weighted, group stage football could be more and more common so an extra few weeks of games toward December could help keep things fresh.

[nigel-harps1954]

I would wager the vast majority of clubs aren't on 52 week deals. Huge expense during the off season when there's little to no income.