Arkaga cutting costs

From the IT

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For one thing, there appears to be considerable uncertainty regarding the intentions of the club's new owner, the Arkaga Fund. It officially took over the reins when Jim Little suddenly departed the scene. The press release at the time made the transfer of power sound like the most natural thing ever but Arkaga's "key focus", as articulated on its website, "is in identifying value in blue chip, liquid stocks", and that would strike most people, even devoted supporters of the game here, as about as far-fetched a basis for becoming involved with a League of Ireland club as could be dreamt up without recourse to hallucinogenics.

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Early reports from some of those close to the club cast further doubt on the attitude of the new owners. While the club has flagged a number of appointments to its administrative staff, new general manager, Aidan Tynan, formerly of Bord na gCon, is said to have caused some anxiety on the playing side with his attempts to cut costs.

Transport arrangements for away games have been queried; the practice of sending the squad to Dublin by train while a bus travels almost empty to bring them back is, apparently, to be curtailed.

While the appointments made by the club are a welcome development, concern is being expressed at cuts made in other areas; a decision to curtail an arrangement with a part-time groundsman at Bishopstown, for instance, is rumoured to have resulted in Damien Richardson - who was not contactable yesterday - having to cut the grass on the pitch himself recently.

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Interesting little piece.

The Dublin media eh? Not got your contract yet Rico? ;)

Nothing new except the bit about cutting the expense of the train. It probably makes sense as Cork-Dublin traffic a lot easier now & doesn't take 5 hours in the middle of the day as it used to.

So the bit about Rico cutting the grass is true then Pete?

Slightly at odds with the initial hoopla about building a mega-stadium and the like.

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

So the bit about Rico cutting the grass is true then Pete?

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I don't know if true but did hear it before. I believe it is a medical digestion problem ;)

I presume if in the IT is true though.

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Originally Posted by pete

It probably makes sense as Cork-Dublin traffic a lot easier now & doesn't take 5 hours in the middle of the day as it used to.

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Nonsense in fairness Pete.

It's probably more cost effective (though I'd argue how much), but there is a reason completely separate from cost why we travel to Dublin games by train and return by bus.

Players can get up, stretch their legs out, go for a walk over the three hours it takes to get to dublin by train, as opposed to sitting on a cramped bus for four hours plus ( not to mention running the risk of running late due to traffic surrounding dublin and missing the then vital warm-up to loosen out the tired legs).

There are corners you cut and then there are corners which if cut, can impact us on the pitch, this is the latter. Worrying.

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Originally Posted by tiktok

It's probably more cost effective (though I'd argue how much),

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by the cost of the train, about 25 people by 50 odd euro so about 1200.

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Originally Posted by Student Mullet

by the cost of the train, about 25 people by 50 odd euro so about 1200.

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Problem is you need the empty bus to go up anyway because there is no train back down

Cost saving seems to be minimal when you work it out. Will have to see if this a correct or incorrect rumour. Maybe Tynan feels that greyhounds traveling in trailer doesn't affect them ;)

TBH if anyone has seen the inside of City's bus there is as much if not more leg room and comfort there than the train. The only issue I see is one of time

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

So the bit about Rico cutting the grass is true then Pete?

Slightly at odds with the initial hoopla about building a mega-stadium and the like.

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What a confusing post.


I, for one think Arkagas plans are either ridiculous and totally out of touch or some clever plan to weild money off the City Council, government, Lotto and sell-up the ground. Just about everything points to the Pats, Drogs and City dream projects being left in the lurch. Bohs is a different case. The strange thing is its probably not that damaging to an eL club long term (see Bishopstown, Shels will return).

The upside is the recent improvements in how the club is run. I think the bus/train issue and groundsman issues in that article are understandable. Just as long as an arrangement is come to with the upkeep and availability of a training ground.

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Originally Posted by Risteard

What a confusing post.


I, for one think Arkagas plans are either ridiculous and totally out of touch or some clever plan to weild money off the City Council, government, Lotto and sell-up the ground. Just about everything points to the Pats, Drogs and City dream projects being left in the lurch. Bohs is a different case. The strange thing is its probably not that damaging to an eL club long term (see Bishopstown, Shels will return).

The upside is the recent improvements in how the club is run. I think the bus/train issue and groundsman issues in that article are understandable. Just as long as an arrangement is come to with the upkeep and availability of a training ground.

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arkaga will never be able to sell the ground as it isnt citys to sell, the munster fa own it and lease it out to city. but if city did own it i would have thought the same thing. i am suspicous of arkaga too. its seems so hush hush, theres a lot going on we dont know about.

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Originally Posted by depor

arkaga will never be able to sell the ground as it isnt citys to sell, the munster fa own it and lease it out to city. but if city did own it i would have thought the same thing. i am suspicous of arkaga too. its seems so hush hush, theres a lot going on we dont know about.

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Turners Cross doesn't come into the equation

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/spo...223002335.html

Interesting piece here on Cork City. The story about Rico's pretty funny. But on a serious note: What does this mean for Cork? A lot of it is rumours and hearsay but, if true, it doesn't look too good.

Any chance of a cut and paste as it wont let you view unless registered

old news. See our forum or the city section on here.

Ask yourself who leaked this "info"

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Originally Posted by Risteard

What a confusing post.


I, for one think Arkagas plans are either ridiculous and totally out of touch or some clever plan to weild money off the City Council, government, Lotto and sell-up the ground. Just about everything points to the Pats, Drogs and City dream projects being left in the lurch. Bohs is a different case. The strange thing is its probably not that damaging to an eL club long term (see Bishopstown, Shels will return).

The upside is the recent improvements in how the club is run. I think the bus/train issue and groundsman issues in that article are understandable. Just as long as an arrangement is come to with the upkeep and availability of a training ground.

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Not confusing at all.

New owner initially makes statements about huge capex, including a new ground, whilst in the background engaging in a cost cutting exercise which is completely and totally immaterial in the context of the cost of maintaining the abovementioned capital expenditure. Put more succintly, why save pennies when you are planning to spend millions?

Thats the confusing bit which you have admitted yourself by saying Arkaga's plans are "ridiculous and totally out of touch".

I believe the stadium development would be financially separate to the day to day running costs.

- Train expenditure is being examined
- Grass cutting I presume a mix up & a once off. Rico is however very particular about the the grass height so he likes to cut it himself ;)

The bus and train one is a typical cutback. If managers could they would always go by train on long journeys and bus it home, clubs though see that as double the cost. However, if thats just the start of an overall reduction in costs it is bound to impact on playing side next season, as admin people can't intervene at this time of year but could be itching for some cutbacks at seasons end.