Sporting Fingal Gone Belly Up

The thing is, it's been reported earlier in the thread that Fingal (and Sligo) are the only teams offering 52-week (i.e. full-time) contracts at the moment, and that they have nine players (I think it was) under contract for next season. On crowds of a few hundred - with continual suggestions that their crowds are overstated and that many get in for free, which seemed to be backed up by a markedly lower crowd in the Cup, when the FAI were watching for their share - that doesn't add up without Gannon's money.

I don't know if they're sustainable in their non-Gannon form. I'm very much tending towards no. But there certainly isn't the evidence for you to suggest that they are stable, and so people are wrong to criticise them.

Well according to Stephen McGuinness (not the most reliable source, I know) no clubs are offering 52-week contracts to free agents. I'm guessing Sligo have retained some or all of their re-signees on full-time contracts but I'd be shocked if they were offering them to free agents.

Fingal won't be offering full-time contracts. They just don't have the cash to do it and I don't see why any bank would choose to extend the credit to them when their earning potential is minimal and they have no property to back it with. If they are offering full-time contracts I'll retract everything I've said and get on the "Boo Fingal!" bandwagon but I don't think I'll be proven wrong.

That's not to say Fingal won't lose money, because their revenues are fairly minor and they do still have players on full-time contracts, but my opinion based on the club's conduct so far is that they won't commit hara-kiri.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Well according to Stephen McGuinness (not the most reliable source, I know) no clubs are offering 52-week contracts to free agents. I'm guessing Sligo have retained some or all of their re-signees on full-time contracts but I'd be shocked if they were offering them to free agents.

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Point (and scepticism) taken; I think the article I read was referring to last season, which would then relate to my point about the players currently under contract, and the problems that that could cause them next season.

(I presume Bohs had stopped offering 52-week contracts at the start of this season, but still had some hanging over them). I'd be very surprised if Fingal were offering 52-week contracts at the moment (in fact, they don't seem to have tried to sign anyone).

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Originally Posted by Dodge

It doesn't matter what you think. It is absolutely a reason why some dislike Fingal. Count how many times the word Franchise is used

Again, it doesn't matter what you think, its just another reason why some dislike them


To be clear, I don't dislike Fingal (as explained above) and I couldn't dislike a team simply because they had better players.

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You're right, it doesn't mater what I think, its just my opinion. In fact it doesn't matter what any other supporter thinks. My problem is the righteous attitude of supporters of certain other clubs who are just jealous of their success and backing but not being honest enough to say so.

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

My problem is the righteous attitude of supporters of certain other clubs who are just jealous of their success and backing but not being honest enough to say so.

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There's been a fair few posts like this (or of throwing out vague accusations of Fingal bashing). I think it would be a lot easier to address the issues if people highlighted actual posts they had issues with; I don't think anyone's actually done that so far.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

There's been a fair few posts like this (or of throwing out vague accusations of Fingal bashing). I think it would be a lot easier to address the issues if people highlighted actual posts they had issues with; I don't think anyone's actually done that so far.

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Are you for real? What do you think i was doing? Nearly half of the thread is Fingal bashing and the other is a proper discussion for and against the thread title or Sporting Fingal in general. Surely the topic doesnt merit 40 pages now does it wether its for or against.

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

You're right, it doesn't mater what I think, its just my opinion. In fact it doesn't matter what any other supporter thinks. My problem is the righteous attitude of supporters of certain other clubs who are just jealous of their success and backing but not being honest enough to say so.

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I think sullen you totally misunderstand the point we are making but most of all the reason why we are making these points I for one am in no way jealous of any other club or there success .My basic arguement is simple and no refelection on fingal but that the fai allowed a team to be parachutes into the highest league in the land without any past .. and it appears withourt any tangable future
but you are right it is just my opinion

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Originally Posted by passerrby

My basic arguement is simple and no refelection on fingal but that the fai allowed a team to be parachutes into the highest league in the land without any past

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I know its only your opinion, but why are people so hung up on the fact that they have no history? So what. History doesn't win leagues and cups.

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Originally Posted by passerrby

.. and it appears withourt any tangable future

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How do you know this? Fair enough if they owed a load of money they could be in danger of going out of business, but they don't. They may thrive and prosper for all we know.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

The thing is, it's been reported earlier in the thread that Fingal (and Sligo) are the only teams offering 52-week (i.e. full-time) contracts at the moment.

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Ya, reported but not true as far as Sligo Rovers are concerned. We had to extend our full squads contracts from the morning after we beat Pat's to the night of the 14th of November. I can only assume the contracts being offered to players for '11 season run out the morning after our last game of the season this year.

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

I know its only your opinion, but why are people so hung up on the fact that they have no history? So what. History doesn't win leagues and cups.

How do you know this? Fair enough if they owed a load of money they could be in danger of going out of business, but they don't. They may thrive and prosper for all we know.

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becuase the one thing our league needs is stability. and if it is just about winning leagus and cups then lets return to the ollie byrne school of running a club and lets all chase success without a eye to the future
as for my second point you are right they may i have nio way of knowing just a hunch

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Originally Posted by passerrby

I think sullen you totally misunderstand the point we are making but most of all the reason why we are making these points I for one am in no way jealous of any other club or there success .My basic arguement is simple and no refelection on fingal but that the fai allowed a team to be parachutes into the highest league in the land without any past .. and it appears withourt any tangable future
but you are right it is just my opinion

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The first division isnt the highest league in the land and how many teams with any history started the league back all them years ago. ?

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Originally Posted by passerrby

becuase the one thing our league needs is stability. and if it is just about winning leagus and cups then lets return to the ollie byrne school of running a club and lets all chase success without a eye to the future
as for my second point you are right they may i have nio way of knowing just a hunch

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How does history create stability in the league? Do you mean stability in that no new clubs should join the league? Salthill and Mervue have some history, and they were "parachuted" into the league as well. Does it make it ok because they have history? They have no history in the LOI, just that they existed in the Galway leagues before they joined LOI.

In fact, before the A championship, how did any team gain entry to the league? Are you saying we should close the league to new clubs just for stability sake?

Your logic makes no sense to me.

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Originally Posted by passerrby

as for my second point you are right they may i have nio way of knowing just a hunch

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Or a wish perhaps.

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

How does history create stability in the league? Do you mean stability in that no new clubs should join the league? Salthill and Mervue have some history, and they were "parachuted" into the league as well. Does it make it ok because they have history? They have no history in the LOI, just that they existed in the Galway leagues before they joined LOI.

In fact, before the A championship, how did any team gain entry to the league? Are you saying we should close the league to new clubs just for stability sake?

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Back in the day teams were voted in (and possibly out) by the other clubs into the top division.

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Originally Posted by redobit

Back in the day teams were voted in (and possibly out) by the other clubs into the top division.

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I wouldn't let the current crop of LOI clubs decide what colour socks to wear, let alone something important like who should be allowed into the league.

:teeth:As predicted this thread has turned into the "ive the biggest knob" thread.The same arguments over and feckin over.
Lazy days and a thread 20 pages+ over its sell by date.
roll on the season

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Originally Posted by The Lep

The first division isnt the highest league in the land and how many teams with any history started the league back all them years ago. ?

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the leage of ireland is .. and look where most have the ended up

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Originally Posted by passerrby

as usual mar you chose to mis read what someone has posted my problem is that a football club was parachuted into the loi without any underpinning structures by a person or persons with no interest in the LOI and only motive was to build a property portfolio in fingal.
now i know its hard for you to acknowlege overspending by a club without building from the vbottom up but thats what happened here but then expecting a bohs fan for sound fundamentals in running a club was asking to much.

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Apols PB I perhaps should have made clearer that I was addressing a number of points raised throuhout the thread and not just your (quoted) post. hope that clears it up ?

Your jibe about Bohs/finances is as relevant as asking what a Mons fan knows about, football at top level (promotion), success or developing a club, so maybe leave our clubs out of it and focus on Fingal ?

many of those involved in Sporting Fingal are involved for football reasons so your "only motive was to build a property portfolio" argument is ridiculous (unless you have evidence to the contrary). Similarly (as has been pointed out) Sporting Fingals entry to the First Division (even you must accept they earned promotion to the Premier Division) is more the rule than the exception - the "new" Cork and Derry clubs granted the same only last season - so why is it such a problem that Fingal were "parachuted" in as oppossed to other clubs ?

When Fingal were parachuted in, I didn't hear any of the other A Championship clubs complaining.

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Originally Posted by legendz

When Fingal were parachuted in, I didn't hear any of the other A Championship clubs complaining.

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why do you work for the complaints department ,

your right marobohs the jibe was unnessary apoligies ,my point remains and will be always be that bringing in new clubs instead of promoting the present ones is not a solution nobody can argue that merve or salthills entry to LOI is an improvment to LOI espically in galway. the same applies to dublin we need strong clubs not more clubs.

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Originally Posted by passerrby

your right marobohs the jibe was unnessary apoligies ,my point remains and will be always be that bringing in new clubs instead of promoting the present ones is not a solution nobody can argue that merve or salthills entry to LOI is an improvment to LOI espically in galway. the same applies to dublin we need strong clubs not more clubs.

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Actually, PB I agree with your point in principle although think there should be provision for rare exception(s). Probobly off thread but unfortunately until we introduce a formal promotion/relegation structure between the leagues there will continue to be a disconnect.
RE Dublin I recall - probobly wrongly - the Genesis report (that old chestnut) recommended two decent stadia in Dublin (one Northside one Southside) presumably hosting at most 4 teams (two each). To be honest my own view is that such an approach (geographically siting clubs) really only works in a green site League set up. To be fair the FAI did try and "facilitate" this approach by backing a Shels proposal to buy into Dalymount, unfortunately due to cack handed approach and oppurtunism it ended up leading to the downfall of both clubs.There was also talk of St Pats moving to SDCC stadium tallaght which (had it succeeded) would have had Bohs/Shels playing from a redeveloped Dalymount and Shams/Pats from SDCC Sadium. St Pats opted not to pursue this option and the "restructuring" of Dublin clubs appeared to be abandoned.