Sunday Tribune article on City

Good artilce by the Tribune & not just cos its about City. I think irish papers are too quick to buy UK wire service articles as opposed to getting irish written articles.

Seems like City have done an excellent effort at the UEFA licencing if the only area they tripped up on was infrastructure.

I wonder if City/MFA were able to start the redevlopment of the Shed end this year would the rest of the ground be only a small step away from passing.

I think the licencing thing is good for the reasons Lennox listed but i think they should have set intermediate grades this year with a view to getting clubs up to speed in a years time.

Future seems to indicate that clubs that qualify for european competition will be on the fat track & therefore getting a lot more funding than the rest. Seems more important than ever to make europe every season now.

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Originally posted by pete
Future seems to indicate that clubs that qualify for european competition will be on the fat track & therefore getting a lot more funding than the rest. Seems more important than ever to make europe every season now.

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Surely once the ground is up to scratch, it's up to scratch. The critea is unlikely to change that quickly.... If us, Cork, Bohs and Shels get the grounds right this season, then surely it'll move on to the other teams next season....

Now that Derry have got their licence they may be looking to throw their weight around. Even arguing for a place in europe.......

http://icderry.icnetwork.co.uk/sport...name_page.html


'A' Licence Could See Derry Back In Europe Mar 2 2004




Arthur Duffy Reports


"DERRY CITY Football Club has committed itself wholeheartedly to the implementation of the U.E.F.A. Club Licensing Process and the Licensing Department would view the club as a role model for others to aspire to..." - the words of Mr. Bob Breen, U.E.F.A.'s Licensing Manager for the eircom League in his recommendation that the Brandywell club should be given the Premier Division or "A" Licence following an appeal last week.

And the achievement has presented the local club with a particularly strong hand in the reorganisation of eircom League football.

Having initially been refused the top licence due to a number of technicalities, Derry refused to give up hope and immediately lodged an appeal which was heard by an independent tribunal on Friday last in Dublin.

But before that group actually met to discuss the appeal, the U.E.F.A. licensing manager had submitted his recommendation having checked that the club had addressed the difficulties associated with the initial application.

Mr. Breen's letter concluded: "It is recommended that Derry City's appeal be upheld and that they be awarded a Premier Division Licence."

Not surprisingly, the Derry delegates in Dublin, chairman, Jim Roddy and financial controller, Eamon Crossan, were thrilled when made aware of the situation.

"We had to wait until the independent committee had met, but the league refused to inform us at the conclusion of that meeting," commented Roddy last night.

"In fact, we were officially informed by the F.A.I. Chief Executive, Mr. Fran Rooney, by telephone on our way home from Dublin on Friday night," he added.

Relieved and clearly delighted at the outcome, Roddy was of the belief that the work completed over the past three years had not been in vain.

"Many of the member clubs felt the F.A.I. had set an unattainable target but we've proved that not to be the case. Our club has worked tirelessly in achieving the licence and, I would openly admit, to the detriment of the quality of the team on the park," he added.

However, with Derry the only Irish team to boast an "A" licence, the local club will have a major input into any proposed changes which may take place over the next few days.

Indeed, a certain amount of discussion is expected between the F.A.I. and the clubs before Thursday's meeting to discuss the issue and what format of league will be in place for the forthcoming season.

According to the U.E.F.A. Licensing Department, it has been made clear that the vast majority of clubs within the eircom League have aspired to "B" Licences only and, as such, a Premier Division should not be in place.

From Derry City's point of view, they are the only side with the top licence and, as such, may object to be dragged into a 22 team First Division.

As the only U.E.F.A. licensed Premier Division club, the Brandywell side may well seek compensation should the eircom League decide to switch to a 22 team league for next season.

In addition, only club's holding "A" licences are permitted to play in European football although there is an avenue whereby clubs who have qualified on the field of play and do not have an "A" licence may seek "extraordinary admission" from the governing body.

Derry, therefore, can actually demand to be included in the eircom League's representation in Europe this season - another discussion which, no doubt, will cause no shortage of problematic debate at Merrion Square over the next few days.

With Roddy opting to play his cards close to his chest at the moment regarding what way Derry City will move forward, he will meet with his Board of Directors tomorrow night to discuss what line Derry City will take at Thursday's meeting in Dublin.

But didnt Derry just get their A licence by effectivly closing half their ground. Christ we could do that too, would take a lot less work just to close the Shed and do redemial work on the rest of the ground and the floodlights but where would that leave us in a few years time.

Im totally open to correction but AFAIK Derry's maxium attendence from now on will be 2,400.

Derry's floodlights must be up to scratch though and as far as I'm aware, no one else's are so closing part of the ground won't help.

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Originally posted by Macy
Surely once the ground is up to scratch, it's up to scratch. The critea is unlikely to change that quickly.... If us, Cork, Bohs and Shels get the grounds right this season, then surely it'll move on to the other teams next season....

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I would have thought the same ..... infact that is exactly what should happen. If not .... then it is unfair and something else should happen. We cant discriminate against clubs because of table position.

good article in fairness. I think the way the thing should be dealt with now is that clubs who have things in the pipeline (e.g. City redeveloping the Shed End, Athlone's new stadium) should be awarded licences based on them having completed these developments within a certain timeframe. For example the FAI could give City the A licence and tell them they have 18 months/ 2 years to get that end of the ground up to scratch or they'll be relegated to a B licence. That would a fair and reasonable way of doing things

Good article in the Tribune in fairness. Very informative and gives the impression that the main people in the club actually know what they're doing, which is nice to know.

Big change from the Tribune as they usually barely cover the eL at all and then only in a negative way.

By the way how do Derry expect to get into europe just cos they have an A licence?

Does that mean that if they had been relegated (they nearly were) they would be allowed into the Champ League qualifiers?

Fair dues to them for getting an A licence but there letting it go to their heads a bit.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...p?story=497490

Congrats to the Belfast telegraph on a balanced, well researched article which presented a refreshing summary of the work carried out by Derry, as opposed to clubs such as Cork City.

If only my club had the foresight to close half their ground in order to get an "A" licence. And, don't Derry deserve to be in Europe after the amazing football they played last season. If this was a just world, they would have won the championship.


I presume the article was copied from a fanzine or such?