Drogheda & Dundalk merger?
From eleven-a-side.com
Could a merger between Dundalk and Drogheda United assure the long-term survival of senior soccer in County Louth?
In his column in The Argus, Gerry McDermott addresses the issue, pointing out that while Dundalk are just about keeping their heads above water, the situation in Drogheda is “dire”.
The Drogs, he says, only have themselves to blame and accuses them of recklessness in signing four players on transfer deadline day.
“Buoyed by their success in winning last year’s First Division title, and taking 13 points from their first eight games this season, Drogheda appear to have got carried away with themselves,” claims McDermott.
He is critical of the decision to implement a full-time set-up mid-season, which sent the wage bill soaring, even though revenue projections stayed the same.
Training takes place in Dublin with all the imports based in the capital thus widening the gap between the fans and players, resulting in a fall-off in attendances in recent weeks.
Concluding with a reference to the forthcoming Uefa Licensing System due to be implemented in 2004, he points out that “the demand on clubs to get their houses in order will be absolute.”
“The idea is to prevent clubs like Drogheda getting into financial problems midway through the season and it can’t come quickly enough,” he concludes.
