Drogheda

What I love about all of this is that Mons fans are singing their clubs praises but stopping short of F*ck Drogheda.

Mons fans, do you know when you have to have the stadium finished by? Have you budgeted for that?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Magicme

I love Drogs, dont get me wrong and I know as a Mons fan I am biased but all that aside, wouldnt the premier be better with a stable club who have budgeted for premier

---

So you've budgetted for premier? What happens if you don't get it?

And it doens't really matter how stable a club is in terms of making the league better if they're getting tonked in front of a handful of people every game (and I'm not saying this will happen with Mons/Drogs - just pointing out that stability isn't a factor in terms of attraction)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jofspring

Exactly, I really hope Drogheda don't go for it relying on backers and by the end of the season end up worse off than they are. How long would those backers be there if Drogheda struggle for another season and end up relegated regardless or the backers don't have the money the same money they had at the start of the season by mid way through.

I think there is good proof there that going down to the First and rebuilding is working for most. Derry managed to go straight back up, Cork City are probably in a better place stability wise, the same goes for Shels. Monaghan have done things right and are the better for it (unlucky to just miss out last season and will challange again this season). Limerick are also in a better position than they where a few years ago (albeit we've been stuck down here for 17years). Shamrock Rovers are now in a great position and Dundalk are doing things right and reaping the rewards. All these teams have served their time in the first and are the better for it. You could probably throw Sligo in there too. Since being in the First and going back up they have got stronger by the year.

---

Longford and Athlone have been quietly rebuilding there too, and Wexford haven't had joined the legion of LoI sides with newspaper articles about financial problems to date.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by L.T.F.C.

What I love about all of this is that Mons fans are singing their clubs praises but stopping short of F*ck Drogheda.

Mons fans, do you know when you have to have the stadium finished by? Have you budgeted for that?

---

Not sure if we have a finish date but we do have most of the money in place to begin work. I would never tell a club that LTFC coz when you see how hard everyone in clubs work to keep the show on the road I would never begrudge them success. Unless its Dundalk of course! :p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dodge

So you've budgetted for premier? What happens if you don't get it?

And it doens't really matter how stable a club is in terms of making the league better if they're getting tonked in front of a handful of people every game (and I'm not saying this will happen with Mons/Drogs - just pointing out that stability isn't a factor in terms of attraction)

---

We dont have a budget to compete with Shamrock Rovers or Sligo etc but we have a budget that is based in fact and is sufficient to play in the premier. I am not just talking about a playing budget I am talking about a running our club budget. We would increase our playing budget slightly to accommodate any players we feel we need to make us more competititive but all safely within the overall budget. I dont believe we would be tonked each week. I do think that we would be lower end of the table alright but cant see us being any worse than Galway or Bray (famous last words!) and I think that there would be a bit more appetite for us if we were in the premier again. Our crowds went up last year and will continue to grow as we are now finally getting through to people.

I wasnt saying that our stability would be an attraction as such, just saying that in a time when there are so many facing difficulty, would it not be better to have that bit of stability. What if Drogs go up and half way through the season their funding dries up and they crash out? Would that not be worse than allowing us in and knowing we can make it through the season?

All of the above is speculation to a certain extent as I am no longer fully on the inside track at Mons and do not represent their viewpoint.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jofspring

I think there is good proof there that going down to the First and rebuilding is working for most. Derry managed to go straight back up, Cork City are probably in a better place stability wise, the same goes for Shels. Monaghan have done things right and are the better for it (unlucky to just miss out last season and will challange again this season). Limerick are also in a better position than they where a few years ago (albeit we've been stuck down here for 17years). Shamrock Rovers are now in a great position and Dundalk are doing things right and reaping the rewards. All these teams have served their time in the first and are the better for it. You could probably throw Sligo in there too. Since being in the First and going back up they have got stronger by the year.

---

This is true, but I think the main thing here is that the quite a few of clubs mentioned basically folded, (in some cases leaving hefty debts behind) and did their rebuilding from scratch under the guidance of people with a genuine interest in the club and a wish for sustainability (I'm generalising, as I don't know the ins and outs of each clubs board at all). This could probably have happened in the premier too, though the first does make it easier for a club to lie low for a while and sort itself out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jofspring

Exactly, I really hope Drogheda don't go for it relying on backers and by the end of the season end up worse off than they are. How long would those backers be there if Drogheda struggle for another season and end up relegated regardless or the backers don't have the money the same money they had at the start of the season by mid way through.

I think there is good proof there that going down to the First and rebuilding is working for most. Derry managed to go straight back up, Cork City are probably in a better place stability wise, the same goes for Shels. Monaghan have done things right and are the better for it (unlucky to just miss out last season and will challange again this season). Limerick are also in a better position than they where a few years ago (albeit we've been stuck down here for 17years). Shamrock Rovers are now in a great position and Dundalk are doing things right and reaping the rewards. All these teams have served their time in the first and are the better for it. You could probably throw Sligo in there too. Since being in the First and going back up they have got stronger by the year.

---

Can someone email this to Drogheda and request that they withdraw their Premier Division licence application (:

I hope Monaghan do get the spot. Mostly because I like the club and feel that if they don't get it now, they'll probably struggle to in future years. Very hard for a club who budgets within its very limited means to maintain that level of performance and keep their top players

"According to the league’s rules, Drogheda are first in line to fill the vacancy with Monaghan and Waterford United second and third respectively etc"

Am I missing something glaring?

A League which has been blighted by clubs getting into deep financial doo-doo and going bust, now has a new vacancy to fill in its Premier Division following the demise of another club which got too deep into financial doo-doo and went bust.

And it is seriously proposed to fill that vacancy by promoting a club, Drogheda, which is reportedly in such deep financial doo-doo that it could go bust any day?

What could possibly go wrong?

http://www.belfastbutterflyclub.co.u...Photo%2013.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

"According to the league’s rules, Drogheda are first in line to fill the vacancy

---

I don't know, we go mad when the rules are bent and broken, now we go mad when the rules are followed.

A new budget was submitted. If its not acceptable the FAI will give the spot to Monaghan

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Celdrog

I don't know, we go mad when the rules are bent and broken, now we go mad when the rules are followed.

A new budget was submitted. If its not acceptable the FAI will give the spot to Monaghan

---

The new budget can be approved but there is nothing to say it is a budget that will keep ye safe. Bohs, Fingal, Cork and Derry all recently had their budgets approved and look what has happened and what is happening still. It's up to Drogheda to make the right decision if you ask me. They need to decide whether the budget is sustainable or if they are just taking another gamble. I hope it is sustainable and not just a gamble at getting better backers or relying too much on what income they might bring in because they are in the premier.

well said CellDrog. Rather than folding, the club fought through examinership and came out the other side. the claret and blue club was then established and now the club is on track to make the change to a supporter run 'community club'. The club has been in the public eye as it was/is changing ownership in a very public way. If we get the premier license, we will be running on a shoestring but I would imagine our accounts will be in a healthier position than a few other premier clubs. If we fail in our license application I will be delighted for Monaghan.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Celdrog

I don't know, we go mad when the rules are bent and broken, now we go mad when the rules are followed.

A new budget was submitted. If its not acceptable the FAI will give the spot to Monaghan

---

Well then if you have budgeted responsibly no problems - welcome back to the Premier Division!

Having spent the day out on the beer. I just heard the news there at 11.
It's hard to wish congratulations just now knowing the potential of it being a pyrrhic victory right now.

You spent the day on the beer and yet you can still spell "pyrrhic" correctly?

Hmmm...

Drogheda United confirms that it will accept a Premier Division licence if granted one following the meeting of the independent club licencing committee on Sunday next.
Internal discussions have taken place over the last number of days and the club has been adjusting its budget for Premier Division participation.
The club has been speaking with a number of interested parties over the last week and it is clear that their support is contingent upon Premier Division status which gives brands more exposure. Drogheda United is confident that if it keeps its playing budget at modest levels, increases commercial income and bolsters its recent share issue, that the club can be stabilised for once and for all. This will also enable the club to put key staff in place, work on long-term income streams and generally feel positive about its future.

http://www.droghedaunited.ie/news.php

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

You spent the day on the beer and yet you can still spell "pyrrhic" correctly?

Hmmm...

---

Nicely spotted. The HTC helps me ya see.

I did manage to spell 'hard' wrong.

So if Drogheda go up i take it we have Cobh the first game of the season or no match at all if Cobh don't come up.

All will be cleared up on Monday I suppose.

Is there really any point to relegation at Premier league level anymore? It seems like any old Sunday pub team can finish bottom and still be given a licence back into the division, surely there are at least two or three first division teams that would be more competitive in the Prem than the likes of that shamble of a club

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sixesandsevens

Is there really any point to relegation at Premier league level anymore? It seems like any old Sunday pub team can finish bottom and still be given a licence back into the division, surely there are at least two or three first division teams that would be more competitive in the Prem than the likes of that shamble of a club

---

Well get promoted and show us all then.

Now if a Rovers fan told me we were a shamble, I would agree, Sligo, Pats, etc - I would agree. Dundalk - I would reluctantly concede they were right.
A Shelbourne fan - no.