Stadium shambles leaves Rovers facing League KO

Stadium shambles leaves Rovers facing League KO



Friday December 17th 2004


TROUBLED Shamrock Rovers are hoping to secure the permission of Bohemians to groundshare next season in order to avoid dismissal from the Eircom League's 2005 campaign.

Wednesday's decision by South Dublin County Council (SDCC) to refuse an extension to the planning appeal on the club's stadium development in Tallaght was immediately followed by frantic phone calls from Rovers' club officials to their counterparts in Dalymount Park.

The FAI are keen to avoid a repeat of a similar scenario to earlier this year, when Rovers were awarded a UEFA club license despite being without a definitive named home venue for league matches at the time.

They were controversially awarded a qualified 'B' license, although the UEFA club licensing committee was severely compromised by the FAI leadership at the time.

And, with the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee also preparing to investigate the manner in which government funding has been used in the hitherto fruitless attempts by Rovers to move into their Tallaght stadium, the FAI are aware that the UEFA licensing process has to be above reproach this time around.

The deadline for UEFA club license applications to be delivered to Merrion Square is this afternoon and, with Tolka Park and Richmond Park unavailable to Rovers, it seems that Dalymount Park may be the only option open to the beleaguered club.

However, finding another temporary home may be the least of their worries.

Following the hardly unexpected decision of the SDCC to deny Rovers a planning extension, it appears that their financial plans for next season may also be in disarray, as the collapse of a proposed deal with investor Conor Clarkson will see them lose out on a valuable windfall.

Despite this fact, chairman Tony Maguire remained bullish yesterday, expressing shock at the SDCC decision and re-affirming his commitment to seek a judicial review of the decision.

"If that is the only alternative left open to us, then we will have to go down that route," said Maguire yesterday. "We had everything in place for a resumption of the building work in the New Year but that was contingent on getting an extension from the council as regards planning permission.

"Although the planning permission (originally granted five years ago) ran out in October, we then got Conor Clarkson involved and we thought there'd be no problems getting an extension.

"It's an absolute shock to us all. Conor is still involved with the club and he has put a serious amount of money into our operations since he joined with us."

The SDCC decision is not open to appeal to An Bord Pleanala, although with Rovers unable to pay their staff wages less than two months ago, one wonders how they may summon up the resources to fund a trip to the High Court.

Part of the reasons for the SDCC's refusal to extend the planning permission stems from the involvement of Clarkson.

In its decision, the SDCC said: "The precise nature of the interest, and of the relationship between the club's new investor Conor Clarkson and the applicant, Shamrock Rovers Football Club, is not explained."

Rovers had argued that the failure to complete the project had been due to circumstances beyond their control, a case summarily dismissed by the SDCC, who also questioned a year-long absence of any work on the site.

Sources within Rovers confirmed that the new investor would not release any funds to the club unless planning permission for several commercial developments to complement the stadium plan were forthcoming.

Clarkson has spent much of the last two months endeavouring to secure the control of the lease on the site from Mulden International, one of several companies who have been involved in the seemingly intractable project.

However, an embattled Maguire, who is facing pressure from the club's fans to resign over his handling of the issue, said: "I think any judge will look favourably on our situation."

Given this decision, it is now unclear what may happen to the site in the near future.

Rovers' taunts directed at the SDCC decision are unlikely to leave any avenues open for a renegotiation of the planning permission terms with Council members, who are still believed to strongly favour a stadium at the site.

It is also unclear to whom the lease on the site now passes. Another consortium, led by former manager Liam Buckley and dismissed by the Rovers board earlier this year, may still offer the club a lifeline.

As Eircom League supporters, and Hoops fans in particular, digested the sad events of yesterday, it was left to Maguire to issue one last desperate rallying cry as the club now in his care once more teeters on the verge of possible extinction.

"It's nearly 18 years since we were effectively evicted from Milltown and we've had very little support, particularly political, since," he said.

"People are jumping up and down to save Bewleys. This club is 102 years old and I'm making a public appeal to galvanise Shamrock Rovers' supporters and have this decision rescinded."

© Irish Independent
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/ & http://www.unison.ie/

Are you gloating at the misfortune of others Ringo.

Remember that you own club could be history on the whim of one man. That day may not be too far away.

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Originally Posted by drummerboy

Are you gloating at the misfortune of others Ringo.

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Hard to blame any Dublin City fan for gloating over this one I'm afraid.

I personally think it would be a crying shame if they had to go out of football as a result of all this, but if they did to my club what they did to DCFC, then I'd afford myself the odd wry smile too. :ball:

If Rovers only got the first division license because of a lack of stadium and Dublin City got into the premier. Would Roddy jump ship again? Has he a written contract at the moment?

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Originally Posted by drummerboy

Are you gloating at the misfortune of others Ringo.

Remember that you own club could be history on the whim of one man. That day may not be too far away.

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i just posted the article. can't see them not getting in next year. I've avoided gloating, if you look at all my posts there isn't a :D :p :) ;) or :rolleyes:

Unlike Ringo, I do think that the Rovers situation is extremely funny. I think the club is a haven for thugs and anti-social behaviour. Im personally sick of the havoc threy wreak when they travel to places like Longford for away games. Rovers fans still seem to think they are a big club. :rolleyes: What a joke they are.

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Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

Unlike Ringo, I do think that the Rovers situation is extremely funny. I think the club is a haven for thugs and anti-social behaviour. Im personally sick of the havoc threy wreak when they travel to places like Longford for away games. Rovers fans still seem to think they are a big club. :rolleyes: What a joke they are.

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Id rather see Rovers in the premier than Longford.
You obviously brand all their supporters with the same stick ?

I think this is just another indicator in a long line that shows the lack of respect the powers that be in this country have for domestic soccer.

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Originally Posted by joey B

I think this is just another indicator in a long line that shows the lack of respect the powers that be in this country have for domestic soccer.

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No, it shows how incompetent the Rovers board are. SDCC we're only applying the law. Rovers can seek a judicial review if they think they have a valid case.

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Originally Posted by dortie

Id rather see Rovers in the premier than Longford.

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Same here.
I don't like Rovers but I'd still hate to lose them from the league whereas I probably wouldn't be bothered in the slightest if a team Longford were to vanish.

That's not meant as an insult to Longford btw.

The more I hear and think about this the more the whole thing stinks and I have got a lot of sympathy for the SDCC view. What is Conor Clarkson's involvement? What does it mean he is trying to get access to the lease. This is SDCC land. Rovers got it and planning permission for a stadium. Clarkson is a property developer who is looking to make money on the deal - absolutely nothing wrong with that - but Rovers should not expect the SDCC to just provide them with a blank blueprint for development. Am I correct inthe conclusion that Clarkson will stump up the money if planning is extended and he gets the lease for one of his companies. A 250 year lease is a very valuable thing - who gets rental income from subletting the space/buildings to other commercial interests.

And then according to Maguire "It's nearly 18 years since we were effectively evicted from Milltown and we've had very little support, particularly political, since". What about the land from SDCC and the original planning permission and the provisional license last season?

I do have sympathy for Rovers fans (my own club has had more than its fair share of mismanagement) - but the club cannot expect the SDCC to just roll over and grant an extension when they don't know who benefits from it and what the legal structure is. The ball is back in Rovers court and instead of answering what seem to be legitmate quesitons they are having a hissy fit.

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Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

Unlike Ringo, I do think that the Rovers situation is extremely funny. I think the club is a haven for thugs and anti-social behaviour. Im personally sick of the havoc threy wreak when they travel to places like Longford for away games. Rovers fans still seem to think they are a big club. :rolleyes: What a joke they are.

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Thanks for that contribution. :rolleyes:

Anyone who wants to read more come and join us -

www.srfcultras.net

KOH

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

Thanks for that contribution. :rolleyes:

Anyone who wants to read more come and join us -

www.srfcultras.net

KOH

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I'm reading it all at moment WAR and it's depressing stuff.
I see that a lot of the Rovers hardcore are going to boycott the home games next season if Maguire and co are still in control, is this really the best road to go down though as it's only going to further hurt the club financially? Or is there no other viable form of protest?

Colm - we're hoping that the current shower will have nothing to do with SRFC by then. If we have to go out of senior football for a year then so be it.

None of the recent events are news to most Rovers fans, we've been waiting for this to happen and in a weird way it's actually a good thing that it has finally come to a head. We've also been planning for this so watch this space.

There's a lot of ill-informed comment on this site, which is totally understandable due to the depressingly complicated nature of what's going on. That's why I posted the address of our site. It's far too messy and detailed to go into it here.

Finally, thanks for all the good wishes, both here and on our board. To those who are gloating, you obviously don't know much about Irish football. :rolleyes:

KOH

Rovers would be a huge loss to Irish football.

They were always the glamour team - always the most hated too in Limerick but it would be very sad to see them go.

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Originally Posted by WeAreRovers

None of the recent events are news to most Rovers fans, we've been waiting for this to happen and in a weird way it's actually a good thing that it has finally come to a head. We've also been planning for this so watch this space.

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Fair play to ye.
You can say a lot of bad things about Rovers fans but in fairness to them they do have a good hardcore support (unlike a lot of other clubs apart from ourselves and Derry) who take action when needs be.
I hope your protests work and that ye do get rid of Maguire and the other fools who are ruining your club.

Maguire's quoted in the Irish Times as saying the ground is 60% complete - surely this is nonsense? Apparently the pitch is "second to none" as well... Article mentions that the council gave Rovers a very good deal on the land on the grounds that it was for a sports facility, so it's very hard to argue against their decision really.

Apparently they're in real trouble now for the licencing - have to confirm where they're playing by this evening. Dublin City are in Tolka, Pat's are under pressure from the locals not to take them in again and Bohs have said they're not meeint again until Monday! Just highlighted some of the more interesting parts...

Article from ireland.com -


Rovers suffer another blow in stadium saga
Emmet Malone

Shamrock Rovers officials are awaiting legal advice this morning on how they might salvage their proposed stadium in the heart of Tallaght after planners at South Dublin County Council (SDCC) refused an application for an extension to the project's planning permission.

The decision is a huge blow to the project which has been beset by funding and other problems since its inception some seven years ago.

Initial legal advice provided to the club suggests that no appeal against the decision is possible within the planning process, which leaves Rovers, it seems, with little option but to go to the courts in the hope of having it overturned.

The club's chairman, Tony Maguire, said yesterday he and his fellow directors expect to be given a fuller assessment of the legal impact of the decision by Monday, after which, he hopes, a meeting can be arranged with officials from the council's planning department.

However, he remained defiant in the face of yet another setback, insisting the club would complete the project and establish the stadium at Sean Walsh Park as its permanent home.

"Think about it," he said. "We have a stadium 60 per cent completed and a pitch that is second to none. It's inconceivable that it won't be a soccer stadium and inconceivable that Shamrock Rovers won't play there. The only question remains how we get there."

Maguire conceded, however, that the latest setback to the stadium saga had left him "pretty shook up". He maintained that recently the club had been given reason to believe the extension to the planning permission would be forthcoming, and said he only heard about the refusal on the radio yesterday morning.

"All I can say is that I feel a good deal better about the whole thing now than I did then," he said. "I've spoken to Colin Clarkson (the investor whose promise of financial backing had recently revived hopes that work on the stadium could recommence early in the new year) several times since this morning and he has restated his commitment to the project and his determination to fight this decision.

"This isn't the end of this, that's for sure," he added. "We can't give up fighting now. We'll keep on fighting until Shamrock Rovers are into the stadium for the club's good and the good of Irish football generally."

Clarkson, as it happens, was in Dubai yesterday, reportedly inspecting a stadium that incorporated a number of commercial and other revenue-generating facilities. His plans for the latter stages of the Tallaght development were cited by the planners at SDCC as one of their reasons for refusing the required extension, but perhaps most damaging to the application was that the club had submitted the required paperwork in its own name while technically it does not own the leases to the land in question.

These are in the hands of two companies established after the council had initially provided the land on highly favourable terms for the establishment of a significant sports facility. Maguire said talks aimed at gaining complete control over these so that Clarkson could proceed with his investment in the site were at an advanced stage, but the club appears to have become caught in a chicken and egg situation.

When they made their submission to the council, Rovers' directors believed they had only to persuade the planners that Clarkson, whose total investment is to run to some €8.5 million, had the wherewithal to complete the project. But SDCC, which noted the club's failure to make any progress at all since a 12-month extension was granted last year, pointed out that the Dubliner, despite having reportedly provided more than €100,000 to keep Rovers afloat and a similar amount to pay professional and other fees connected with the stadium development, has no legal link with either the club or the companies which control the site.

Earlier planning difficulties, combined with relentless funding problems, had already led to a scaling back of the proposed sports facilities as well as a proposal to dramatically expand the commercial element of the scheme, although Maguire points out that the latter would require a new planning application.

If yesterday's decision is not overturned, however, then, in planning terms at least, Rovers will be back to square one.

Rovers, meanwhile, have until close of business today to inform the FAI's licensing committee where they will play their home games next season. As of yesterday, after talks with three of their rivals, nothing had been confirmed. With Dublin City set to stay on at Tolka Park, Shelbourne's ground appears to be unavailable, while Bohemians officials said yesterday they would only get around to considering the matter on Monday.

Richmond Park, therefore, appears to be the most likely venue, although St Patrick's Athletic officials, under considerable pressure from residents in Inchicore, have refused to renew the club's tenancy agreement.

WAR - never mind that last post from the Town fan, I'm a Town fan and really hope you can get this sorted. I don't know the people involved but to be able to keep the club going while all this is going on is a major achievement. Slag them off alright, but what do these people get out of it, would they not be happy to walk away if there was a viable alternative?

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Originally Posted by Shed resident

i hope rovers stay in existance too so that the city fans can kick the **** out of there ultras yet again!!!!

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LOL good wishes with a sting :D

Personally I hope for all of us they survive this.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Maguire's quoted in the Irish Times as saying the ground is 60% complete - surely this is nonsense? Apparently the pitch is "second to none" as well... Article mentions that the council gave Rovers a very good deal on the land on the grounds that it was for a sports facility, so it's very hard to argue against their decision really.

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Well most of a stand is up, there doesnt look like much else needs to be done to it + the pitch looks immaculate, it'll be the best in the premier, Ive no doubt about that.

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Originally Posted by Shed resident

i hope rovers stay in existance too so that the city fans can kick the **** out of there ultras yet again!!!!

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:rolleyes:



The number 16 goes to the Morton doesnt it? :o

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Originally Posted by Troy.McClure

Well most of a stand is up, there doesn't look like much else needs to be done to it + the pitch looks immaculate, it'll be the best in the premier, I've no doubt about that.

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They're ultimately planning on building four stands, though. Phase 1 may just about be 60% complete, but the stadium certainly isn't. The stand that's there still needs a roof and seats. The turnstiles look fairly incomplete as well. Are there changing rooms or anything like that? There aren't any floodlights yet (from the photos on a previous thread here). This is from observations while driving past it occasionally (apart from the floodlights obviously), but it sounds like Maguire's talking nonsense again.

Even if they do get in, getting the next three phases up could be almost as painful as getting in there in the first place.

i think the bottom line here is not wether people would like to be rid of rovers or not but is should they be punished for their boards incompetence other wise how long is the circus going to keep running maybe a spell in the first division might be a wake up call to get their house in order

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Originally Posted by Shed resident

i hope rovers stay in existance too so that the city fans can kick the **** out of there ultras yet again!!!!

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Can someone consider banning this dick....what kind of a comment is that?? :mad:

What an awful mess.I do hope Shamrock Rovers get this sorted out.Its been a terrible saga from the start and shows the lack of money and poor running of Irish football that its dragged on so long.Its a lesson to other clubs too planning to move to new grounds on how not to do things.

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Originally Posted by Ronnie

WAR - never mind that last post from the Town fan, I'm a Town fan and really hope you can get this sorted.

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I think WAR is well aware that one or two dicks don't represent the entire town support.

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Originally Posted by Ronnie

I don't know the people involved but to be able to keep the club going while all this is going on is a major achievement. Slag them off alright, but what do these people get out of it, would they not be happy to walk away if there was a viable alternative?

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It's their continued mismanagement that has the club in the state it's in now. The boards since Tallaght was announced have been either incompetent or too interested in getting a nice property portfolio for their company.

Have to say that it's a great pity to see Rovers in this way, oddly enough I always had time for them, probably something to do with the **** they had to put up with off the field over the years, and they still have a good hardcore of support, I wonder how many of the supporters of other clubs who have had a go at them today would have a club to support if their own club had gone through the same thing over the past 17 years, I have to admire Rovers' fans resilience but I am sure even that must be wearing thin.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Even if they do get in, getting the next three phases up could be almost as painful as getting in there in the first place.

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I'm not so sure, they'll at least stop wasting money on renting other grounds by then and should be earning revenue from the completed stand, the hard part is getting the first part up and that's looking close to impossible right now.

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Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

I think the club is a haven for thugs and anti-social behaviour. Im personally sick of the havoc threy wreak when they travel to places like Longford for away games.

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Woe, woe, woe, hold on a minute, steady on!!

I have been at all, bar 1 of our away games in Longford since January 2002. For the majority of our visits there, there has been no trouble of any sort, between both sets of fans. There was a minor (by Rovers standards) incident at half time of the first league game there last season, when your stewards wouldn't allow some of our fans change ends. There then followed a short scuffle involving a section of both teams fans, and the stewards, of which a fan from both sides was taken away. That was completely avoidable. Then at the second league game there, there was a short standoff, involving one of your stewards, who for some reason, was harassing one of our fans, and other fans wanted to see what was going on. That's all it was, not "havoc". We don't even slag off your fans, or club when we play you.

I would also like to point out, that Longford fans, and people, are very friendly, and welcoming, and we usually don't have any problems down there. Yours is one of my favourite away grounds to visit, and they are a model club to look up to. So don't exaggerate minor problems with a section of our support in the past.

Also, we are not a "haven for thugs". While our fans are not angels, only a small minority cause aggro. Our fans come from all over Dublin. The vast majority come to simply watch the team play, but they all passionately support the club, all over the country, even through some very dark days for us, as they are now. Most clubs fans don't know what it feels like to have to hold vigils outside grounds, go to Cork for "home" matches, or being pushed around Dublin just to find somewhere to play matches, or to have to use 14 training grounds in half a season, or being unable to pay wages, nor would we want them to experience what's happened to us. Just be grateful that your club has somewhere to play, that you can pay your wages on time and in order, and have the basic things that a club needs to survive, instead of continuing to kick us when we're down. :(

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Originally Posted by mypost

Woe, woe, woe, hold on a minute, steady on!!

I have been at all, bar 1 of our away games in Longford since January 2002. For the majority of our visits there, there has been no trouble of any sort, between both sets of fans. There was a minor (by Rovers standards) incident at half time of the first league game there last season, when your stewards wouldn't allow some of our fans change ends. There then followed a short scuffle involving a section of both teams fans, and the stewards, of which a fan from both sides was taken away. That was completely avoidable. Then at the second league game there, there was a short standoff, involving one of your stewards, who for some reason, was harassing one of our fans, and other fans wanted to see what was going on. That's all it was, not "havoc". We don't even slag off your fans, or club when we play you.

I would also like to point out, that Longford fans, and people, are very friendly, and welcoming, and we usually don't have any problems down there. Yours is one of my favourite away grounds to visit, and they are a model club to look up to. So don't exaggerate minor problems with a section of our support in the past.

Also, we are not a "haven for thugs". While our fans are not angels, only a small minority cause aggro. Our fans come from all over Dublin. The vast majority come to simply watch the team play, but they all passionately support the club, all over the country, even through some very dark days for us, as they are now. Most clubs fans don't know what it feels like to have to hold vigils outside grounds, go to Cork for "home" matches, or being pushed around Dublin just to find somewhere to play matches, or to have to use 14 training grounds in half a season, or being unable to pay wages, nor would we want them to experience what's happened to us. Just be grateful that your club has somewhere to play, that you can pay your wages on time and in order, and have the basic things that a club needs to survive, instead of continuing to kick us when we're down. :(

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A move to Drogheda is better than going out of existence, even fielding an all amateur team would be better than going out of existence. Good luck in United Park.... as for Shedender..... ignore him. It is people of his ilk who have racially abused el players in the past.

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Originally Posted by dortie

Id rather see Rovers in the premier than Longford.
You obviously brand all their supporters with the same stick ?

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I'M Suprised at you dortie, prefer Rovers to Longford. I dont like the tenor of that Longford fans email, but in fairness there are few teams i would prefer to see in the premier league. A team which has developed from f**k all to being a progressive club with good results ( a cup double) , regular european football and an impressive stadium.

We are always complaining about the FAI and every one else being unprofessional in this league. Longford are a well managed club in terms of finances, facilities and playing staff. Rovers on the other hand have been run by clowns. nearly 20 years without a ground despite having a solid core support. If Dublin City can stay in existence and get promoted as a Dublin Club with very few fans, how is it Rovers cannot manage to get a home together, cannot get a decent team together despite having a corfe of committed fans.

I dont want rovers gone, Id love to see the fans topple the board and if they have to go part time as a result to get the stadium finished and build from there, big deal. But in a NATIONAL league, the most dramatic success story since inception is Longford Town.

Clones Road Casual

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Originally Posted by Clones Road Cas

If Dublin City can stay in existence and get promoted as a Dublin Club with very few fans, how is it Rovers cannot manage to get a home together, cannot get a decent team together despite having a corfe of committed fans.

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Fair point about Rovers being run by clowns for the last twenty years. However, DC don't have a ground either and have only been in existence for three (?) years. I'd be very surprised to see them still polluting the league in five, let alone twenty, years time. As regards getting a decent team together, we won the league in '94 and spent most of the last decade as a solid midtable club (impressive finishes considering we had very little income and were renting off our rivals). We've managed to get into Europe three times over the past few years, so we didn't do too badly on the field. Off the field, however, leaves much to be desired. Rovers rented the RDS from 1990 - 1996 and then immediately launched the Tallaght plan. That we aren't in Tallaght at this stage is largely down to gross incompetence.

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Originally Posted by Passive

Fair point about Rovers being run by clowns for the last twenty years. However, DC don't have a ground either and have only been in existence for three (?) years. I'd be very surprised to see them still polluting the league in five, let alone twenty, years time. As regards getting a decent team together, we won the league in '94 and spent most of the last decade as a solid midtable club (impressive finishes considering we had very little income and were renting off our rivals). We've managed to get into Europe three times over the past few years, so we didn't do too badly on the field. Off the field, however, leaves much to be desired. Rovers rented the RDS from 1990 - 1996 and then immediately launched the Tallaght plan. That we aren't in Tallaght at this stage is largely down to gross incompetence.

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Point accepted about Europe, but i spent many years watching Bohs v Shells games growing up in Milltown and Rovers were unbeatable. A couple of Inter Toto runs is hardly earth shattering, however i was probably a bit harsh.

This year how many points were you away from visiting us in Century Homes Park next year. In any other season you would be at best in a play off.

My point was thought that if you get rid of the board you deserve to survive, if not well (not to sound to mean) tough. They seem hell bent on putting you to the wall. People talk about investors in the clubs, the real investors are people who have over their lives spent thousands on tickets, draws, merchandise, pints in the bar etc.

CRC

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Originally Posted by Passive

DC have only been in existence for three (?) years. I'd be very surprised to see them still polluting the league in five, let alone twenty, years time.

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They have been in existence for over 30 years, under a variety of different names. They call themselves under an acting name now, no doubt it will change again when Carrolls go. But whatever they call themselves, they still remain Home Farm, often relegated, and promoted in a "yo-yo" fashion. They are an amateur club with no ambition in senior football, almost no fan base, which has never changed despite their various name changes down through the years. They would be better suited to junior football, given their status, but nowhere near the Premier Division of Irish football.

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Originally Posted by Clones Road Cas

Point accepted about Europe. A couple of Inter Toto runs is hardly earth shattering, however i was probably a bit harsh.

My point was thought that if you get rid of the board you deserve to survive, if not well (not to sound to mean) tough. They seem hell bent on putting you to the wall. People talk about investors in the clubs, the real investors are people who have over their lives spent thousands on tickets, draws, merchandise, pints in the bar etc.

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What else can we do, to get rid of a board who treat us the way they have. They already know what we think of them, and they continue to treat us the same as before. We're only the fans who pay over the odds to watch us go 16 games without a win, lose a manager, listen to endless talk about strikes by players because of overdue wages, not to mention having to listen to endless false dawns about what direction the club is going, and the never-ending move to a new stadium, that ain't finished yet, with hopelessly wild predictions on when we can play in it. :mad:

Yes, you were harsh regarding our participation in Europe. Not everyone can beat Hajduk Split. However, we've been to Poland and won, the Czech Republic, and Sweden in European games in the last couple of years. The nearest Monaghan get to Europe, is their annual trek to Cobh every season. :)

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Originally Posted by Shed resident

i hope rovers stay in existance too so that the city fans can kick the **** out of there ultras yet again!!!!

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theres one muppet born every day :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by mypost

The nearest Monaghan get to Europe, is their annual trek to Cobh every season. :)

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Oooh Touche. Have to give you that one. But we own our own ground and have no debts and thankfully far lower expectations of success. :)

Still smiling at the Cobh line though.

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Originally Posted by mypost

Most clubs fans don't know what it feels like to have to hold vigils outside grounds, go to Cork for "home" matches, or being pushed around Dublin just to find somewhere to play matches, or to have to use 14 training grounds in half a season, or being unable to pay wages, nor would we want them to experience what's happened to us.

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brilliantly put. When it comes down to it, everyone loves to hate Rovers. And much as we may say we hate them, you've got to admire their fans who've stuck by them like they have. I really hope ye get rid of maguire etc and get things sorted- if nothing else, the real rovers fans deserve it.

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shed resident
i hope rovers stay in existance too so that the city fans can kick the **** out of there ultras yet again!!!!

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Can someone consider banning this dick....what kind of a comment is that?? :mad:

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I'll start by rubbishing the post. that kind of crap is totally unwelcome here, or anywhere else in civilised society

jamaican pm youre an ignorant fool.
gspain youre right,football wouldnt be the same if the teams you hate ceased to exist
shed resident youre an idiot

as for homefarm fans:far be it from dublin farm fans to begrudge Rovers.
youre a franchise. that to real football people makes you a ******* whore of a club. it might work in american throwball or basketball but sports franchising will never work in football.look at milton keynes dons,chf are no better.
IF you wanted to be taken seriously you should have started football in the leinster football league and worked your way up to the highest level,not just simply being transported into the eircom league.you dont seem to realize you have no right to be in the EL.as for ambition,or lack of it, youve been around for 30ish years and done absolutely nothing regarding a stadium,youre happy to remain mediocre and rent from other clubs,with absolutely no ambitions or intention of doing anything about it
remembr you finished 13 points behind Rovers,so dont try whinging about had you not been the victims of "foul play" that you would still be in the premier.

as for our stadium,its a mess which the board have worsened since they took over. the sdcc taking lease back is actually good for Rovers-stops property developers raping our club. but as war says its very complicated (would make an epic novel if you were to write about it)