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It doesn't sound good.
That just raises a lot of questions.... such as:
It looks like the club have signed a squad they already know they can't afford?
Doesn't calling out your inability to attract a main sponsor itself undermine the value of your shirt sponsorship?
What the hell are these people playing at?
Its well known locally that the current board/associates have ruined the club and havent a clue what they are at! Its alleged that the chairman sacked the youths management team over a year a ago because his son wasnt getting a game and since then the youths have won 6 games in a year and a half! if they are like that with the youths just imagine how the rest of the club is being run!
Ya it sounds like they got their budget completely wrong. Assembling a strong squad and then realising one game into the season that the crowds in the first division won't sustain that squad.
You could easily swap Limerick in for Athlone there too. No shirt sponsor here for 3 years now, crowds likely to drop so whether we can afford an already cut budget is yet to be seen.
There's another big question to be asked if this is the case with the budget. How did the FAI approve the budget if Athlone knew they weren't going to be able to afford it?
Ah here, why did they assemble "the best squad...in many years" if they didn't have the funds to pay for them without seeking more support beyond a week into the season?
Their best squad in many years drew with a Waterford side that signed a handful of players from the Cobh side rooted to the bottom of the division last year in their opening game.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter
One away game at that - they'd have no accurate idea yet how much their home gates will be reduced by the drop sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jofspring
Which is why it sounds to me like a little bit of overstating the case to the public, in an effort to drum up some extra support / sponsorship.
We had something similar a few years back with an ill-advised appeal on local radio which did very little, and maybe more harm than good.
Anyway, wouldn't think there's anything there that would suggest the club is in immediate trouble.
The Waterford 11 contained one former Cobh player. The former player was a big part in Waterford's run to the play off final in 2012 and he only played for Cobh because of a stupid mistake he made following the 2012 season. Your completely underestimating Waterford this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
And besides that Athlone were very poor against us, and there only clear cut chance came from a misplaced backpass from a Waterford player which was scored. Although the conditions were very poor in the RSC.
1. That was referring to last season squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
2. We were missing 6 starting players last Friday
LOI club in financial difficulty.....this all smells of Roddy Collins!
i'd love to know what the FAI check when they look at the budget of a club for approval. do they have prove funds are there ?
the entire system is obviously flawed massively and i presume clubs like athlone are fiddling it completley.
Just on the "best squad in years" comment. It's clearly not. Half the player are ex Pats under 19s and none of them are on anything/much
The statement is a shambles
When reading the statement about the best squad in years, I took it to mean this years squad as it's worded 'are perhaps the best squad' instead of 'was perhaps the best squad'.
Another season, another ringing endorsement of the licencing system.
Ack, was going to write another post pointing out the oddness of the statement and questions it raises, but feck it, I just hope they pull through somehow.
Waterford were missing 3/4 as well which includes the team captain. Didn't seem to effect Blues too much.Quote:
Originally Posted by ATFC-1887
Yeh couldn't score against a put together back 4 until the last kick of them game :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by sulywaterfordfc
From what i hear is that its not as bad as its being made out to be. A problem at the moment is that after this week we have 2 away games, so there will be no income for 2 weeks. Its not as if the club is in massive debt. Its just a case of them needing to get a sponsor in to help with the running costs.
the club only got a licence at the last minute due to a former accountant at the club making a deal with the revenue commissioners. the board had a letter ready stating the club was going to fold before receiving the tax clearance cert!
The curse of Roddy strikes again.
Season ticket sales usually mean financial problems are rare early in the season. How many season tickets did Athlone sell?Quote:
Originally Posted by ATFC-1887
When is he going to start saying "I put them out of this league" instead of "I brought him into the league"?Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
The licencing system is only a mechanism to make clubs behave. They need to predict what they will bring in, what they will spend and it is gone through thoroughly. It all makes sense, but this, I don't know what Athlone are at but this type of stuff is terrible for the club, league and respect. Really looks tough.Quote:
Originally Posted by JosephMcSweeney
As for the Rod. He's managed to bus - Carlisle, Shamrock Rovers, Dublin City, Floriana, Monaghan, Athlone.....some man, some legacy.
Less than 10.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
Sorry to see another League of Ireland club in trouble.
Start with a clean slate by getting rid of the people who put them in financial trouble in the first place.
A sticking plaster is no good when major surgery is needed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by disgruntled
Is that some sort of dig at Roddy Collins?
Ah well. If people aren't interested, you really are bucked.Quote:
Originally Posted by ATFC-1887
I think its partially the clubs fault that people didn't but them. The communication, or lack of, from the club is pathetic. There is no PR at all. The club has done nothing in the community whatsoever. If it wasnt for one of the fans, the official facebook page and website would be dead. It seems as though the club just expect everything to fall into place.Quote:
Originally Posted by White Horse
There are so many simple things that could change so much, but it just doesnt happen. They say they want people to get involved and help, but the club seem so unapproachable. There is barely a committee there. Most of them are just names on paper for license reasons. Its basically run by 2 or 3 people.
Unless an outsider came in to take over, i can't see any bright future for our club. Nobody around Town with any interest in taking over that would be worthwhile.
Sad times.
Our of curiosity what was the reason put out regarding the delay with the license?
It was an issue with the a tax clearance cert.Quote:
Originally Posted by DRDoc
What did ye do with that €500k or whatever it was that was left to ye a while back? Did ye pay off debt?Quote:
Originally Posted by ATFC-1887
The Club didn't receive a cent, let alone €500k. The debt of Athlone Town Stadium Ltd. was cleared.
Fair enough, I wasn't sure what the full story was so I wasn't implying anything. I'd forgotten there were or are two completely separate committees over there.
Yep can see how that meeting went! FAI: what do you need to get the tax clearance cert through as we've just begged Cabinteely to join the 1st division wilderness league, and we couldnt be arsed finding somone else to replace you lot if you trot off to junior football...take all the time ye need...we shall back yiz up with that revenue lot, saves us a load of hassle!Quote:
Originally Posted by athloneman
Not per the audited accounts for the year ended 31/5/14.Quote:
Originally Posted by atfconline
€3m+ outstanding in long term creditors.
Wonder what sort of attendance they got tonight
340 was what was announced but seemed a nearer the 500 mark to meQuote:
Originally Posted by outspoken
easily 500Quote:
Originally Posted by Strongbow10