2008 Licences

Licences must be obtained by next Thursday.

According to the Westmeath Independent, Athlone might be in trouble:

Athlone currently owe the Revenue Commission in the region of €65,000 and have debts in excess of €15,000 in unpaid player wages from last season. The news of Athlone’s drastic debts has also put their membership of the League of Ireland in some doubt, as the club bid to receive a First Division playing licence by next Thursday, January 31.

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/story.asp?stID=1406

As much as I don't like them I really don't want to see them go out of business.:(

It would be a shame if they did. Surely there is an American baron (ala Limerick), or a wannabe despot (ala Galway) that can save them?

fcukin hell :(

They don't seem like a well run club. I remember last season their programme was basicly the same the second time we visited there as the first, stats were not updated or anything and it had the same pictures. The club doesn't have a website from what I can tell. They had a huge wage bill last season also, which was no feasible given their attendances.

It would be a huge pity if they went bust because of the stadium they have just built.

I think the FAI are helping them save themselves though and expect them to pull through.

It begs the questions - Is the UEFA Licencing system worth it?

Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford and Athlone all have struggled financially in the past year.

The Licencing system has done what it is designed to do and exposed these shortcomings.

All well and good, it's the survival of the fittest, but it looks like we'll be left only with a smaller league of well run clubs.

The A League is designed to bring new - and viable - clubs into the eircom League. Only 4 new clubs came in and it remains to be see whether they survive. Is it too hard to get into the League?

Reading between the lines and from chatting to some of eL officials at the forum last week, I get the feeling that they were disappointed that there wasn't more applicants who either applied or who made the grade.

The Licencing system certainly isn't 'a rising tide which will lift all boats' - some clubs are getting swamped.

The Licencing system has many merits and is certainly very much a move in the right direction - but will we be left with a smaller elitist league?

We should be ok from what I have heard but only just (Fingers crossed)

It is time for our club to get back to grass roots and develop this big money every year is killing the club. We need a complete restructuring for things to work

Myself and Ash are trying to generate interest in a trust to look after the club promotion etc

I am working on a website at the moment and it should be ready for the end of February. I have recruited a couple of local journalists that are helping me with content for both this and the programme and if we can get this trust going with a strong committee it will help things no end.

It is now time for committee to stand up and be counted so us as supporters can help

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Originally Posted by exiled_gufc_fan

Licences must be obtained by next Thursday.

According to the Westmeath Independent, Athlone might be in trouble:

Athlone currently owe the Revenue Commission in the region of €65,000 and have debts in excess of €15,000 in unpaid player wages from last season. The news of Athlone’s drastic debts has also put their membership of the League of Ireland in some doubt, as the club bid to receive a First Division playing licence by next Thursday, January 31.

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/story.asp?stID=1406

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The financials have to be in by that date. The first instance committee doesn't sit until about the 16th February.

I wonder if we can get a license first time around for once.

fingers crossed ronnie b fingers crossed!:)

very sad reading about athlone. tell u one thing we may be better off than athlone but at least their press are up to the pulse compared to our lot... we only find out ronan frawley is joining us in an interview in the westmeath indep[endent!!


very poor pr from our club. ... website could do with being updated more often..:mad:


rant over...

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Originally Posted by RonnieB

I wonder if we can get a license first time around for once.

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A first division licence! Surely in Gods holy name we can manage it first time this season:D

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Originally Posted by Fintan Cassidy

It begs the questions - Is the UEFA Licencing system worth it?

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Yes, and please return the league title you won when you shouldn't have received a license

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Originally Posted by Martinho II

very sad reading about athlone. tell u one thing we may be better off than athlone but at least their press are up to the pulse compared to our lot... we only find out ronan frawley is joining us in an interview in the westmeath indep[endent!!

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Kevin O'Neill the journalist that wrote that piece has Athlone Town running through his veins. If he gets a sniff that something is going on he will dig and dig until he gets the information.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Yes, and please return the league title you won when you shouldn't have received a license

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But Shels did win the league with a current & valid licence, under the then criteria.


Your personal antipathy towards Shels can't that.

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Originally Posted by Fintan Cassidy

But Shels did win the league with a current & valid licence, under the then criteria.


Your personal antipathy towards Shels can't that.

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My antipathy can't what?

And there's no way in hell you had a tax clearance certificate legally...

Good luck to you playing the angles, but legal eagle chicanry will only get you so far, and you are where you are by the choices your club made. I hope that title keeps you warm in the first division

All this financial trouble Dublin City, Shels last 2 seasons, then Limerick, Kilkenny and now Athlone!!!! Hopefully the wage cap can prevent this and prevent clubs from spending beyond their means. How did Athlone run up a tax bill of 65k?? How much are they paying their players??

some of their players were on over a grand a week !!!! ridiculous.

On top of the €65,000 owed in tax, the players are also owed a total supposably in around €15,000?

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Originally Posted by Dodge

My antipathy can't what?

And there's no way in hell you had a tax clearance certificate legally...

Good luck to you playing the angles, but legal eagle chicanry will only get you so far, and you are where you are by the choices your club made. I hope that title keeps you warm in the first division

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Left out the word 'change' - btw 'chicanery' is the correct spelling

Anyway back on topic - another problem area could be Premer Div & First Div reserve teams in the A League. Squads will have to be 22+ obviously, incurring a bigger wage bill for clubs, but playing in the A League isn't going to generate any extra income with gate money negligible?

First Div can't afford to enter teams, while Premier Div clubs will be watching their 65% wage cap?

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Originally Posted by Fintan Cassidy

Left out the word 'change' - btw 'chicanery' is the correct spelling

Anyway back on topic - another problem area could be Premer Div & First Div reserve teams in the A League. Squads will have to be 22+ obviously, incurring a bigger wage bill for clubs, but playing in the A League isn't going to generate any extra income with gate money negligible?

First Div can't afford to enter teams, while Premier Div clubs will be watching their 65% wage cap?

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I'm not sure the 'A' Championship is going to increase the wage bill all that much. Unless you have a squad like Drogheda or Shels 2004-2006 I think it'll be mainly inexperienced young players getting a shot or injured players returning and senior fringe players who didn't figure the previous game. Clubs aren't going to go out and sign players to field in the division.

Can anyone tell me where I can read a copy of the actual requirements in order to secure/maintain the EL Licence? I know a lot of it is financial stability but I'm curious about the 'football' side of things:confused:

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Originally Posted by oldyouth

Can anyone tell me where I can read a copy of the actual requirements in order to secure/maintain the EL Licence? I know a lot of it is financial stability but I'm curious about the 'football' side of things:confused:

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Think this is what you are looking for http://www.fai.ie/pdf/FAI_Club_Licen...anual_2008.pdf all 220 pages of it

Cheers Battery Rover. A long read ahead

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Originally Posted by Poor Student

I'm not sure the 'A' Championship is going to increase the wage bill all that much. Unless you have a squad like Drogheda or Shels 2004-2006 I think it'll be mainly inexperienced young players getting a shot or injured players returning and senior fringe players who didn't figure the previous game. Clubs aren't going to go out and sign players to field in the division.

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Premier Clubs will have to have squads of 30 plus their u20 players to field 3 teams this season and we have budgeted the A Team to cost us in excess of €100K .

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we have budgeted the A Team to cost us in excess of €100K

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Seriously? That seems a bit excessive! I'd say the majority of our A side will be first team squad players who'd be getting paid anyway and then other guys not getting paid.

You are going to have a full Management team structure for the A team and depending on First/U20'S Fixtures you are going to need 8/12 Players to fill the gaps. You will also have travel/medical/affiliation and ancillary costs.

Budget for the A League alone is 150k thats probably twice limericks budget
with a 3 year plan to get that to 450k...

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Originally Posted by geezer

Budget for the A League alone is 150k thats probably twice limericks budget

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Once again with the Limerick obsession.

Factually rubbish mind.

You know about as much about Limerick's budgets as a cat knows about his father.

must be zilch at this stage and why are your fans asking us for info on the gufc forum. zilch money,zilch manager, zilch information flow, and yet yee go out of your way to spurn offers of help from other supporters groups. Its true your sc worked hard last year and achieved a lot and well done. The only interst I have is Lims could provide a decent derby opportunity if the house was in order. Lims and Athlone were always 2 places a fair scattering of utd support travelled to in the past. I will stay away from your forum if thats ok as well

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Originally Posted by geezer

must be zilch at this stage

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You know about as much about Limerick's budgets as a cat knows about his father.

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and why are your fans asking us for info on the gufc forum.

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Why don't you ask them??

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zilch money

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You know about as much about Limerick's budgets as a cat knows about his father.

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zilch manager

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You know about as much about Limerick's managerial situation as a cat knows about his father.

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zilch information flow

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I know exactly what's going on.

Thank you for your concern.

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Its true your sc worked hard last year and achieved a lot and well done.

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Thanks, how very patronising of you.

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The only interst I have is Lims could provide a decent derby opportunity if the house was in order.

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If our house was in order Galway would probably be fifth or sixth in our list of games to look forward to.

But thank you so very much for your interest.

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and yet yee go out of your way to spurn offers of help from other supporters groups. I will stay away from your forum if thats ok as well

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Well if you go on to our forum one last time you will see 4tothefloor explaining the stuff we are doing and why your constant bleating about your precious trust is frankly a bit gay.

If we want you we'll call you.

I pwomise

Without labouring a point :

You know about as much about Limerick supporters activities as a cat knows about his father.

I'm hearing that ours could be looking bad with the tax thing hanging over us. Watch this space I suppose

I know that accounts info from all clubs has to be submitted by tomorrow Thursaday 31st - but how long will it take to assess that and when will the clubs be notified about the licences and then the results made public?

Maybe next week?

The way things are going id say the week before the season starts. There are questions over Limerick,Athlone and now Longford along with one other club I have heard of myself.

Until clubs take responsibility for their actions and live within their Budgets this is going to keep on happening. The 65% Rule has to be introduced completely with no fudging or derogations.

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Originally Posted by Lim till i die

You know about as much about Limerick's budgets as a cat knows about his father.



Why don't you ask them??



You know about as much about Limerick's budgets as a cat knows about his father.



You know about as much about Limerick's managerial situation as a cat knows about his father.



I know exactly what's going on.

Thank you for your concern.



Thanks, how very patronising of you.



If our house was in order Galway would probably be fifth or sixth in our list of games to look forward to.

But thank you so very much for your interest.



Well if you go on to our forum one last time you will see 4tothefloor explaining the stuff we are doing and why your constant bleating about your precious trust is frankly a bit gay.

If we want you we'll call you.

I pwomise

Without labouring a point :

You know about as much about Limerick supporters activities as a cat knows about his father.

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This post is sponsored by the Limerick Unmarried Feline Father Rights Association.....

Licencing committeee meets on the 16th or 18th February can't remember which. We have a tax bill to pay but should be able to manage it, hopefully anyway.

I thought any debts had to be settled by tomorrow. Hope ye pull through though.

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Originally Posted by geezer

must be zilch at this stage and why are your fans asking us for info on the gufc forum.

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How did you find out about L37Ultra's multiple personalities?? And how's the all mighty GUST's search for Maddie and the WMD's going??

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Originally Posted by gufct

I thought any debts had to be settled by tomorrow. Hope ye pull through though.

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Once a club is in talks with the revenue it covers your accounts but agreement must be met by the time of the first instance committee on the 16th February

cheers same goes for Athlone and Limerick despite their 2 no 1 fans insulting anyone who shows any kind of Interest in their clubs fortunes.

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Originally Posted by Longfordian

Licencing committeee meets on the 16th or 18th February can't remember which. We have a tax bill to pay but should be able to manage it, hopefully anyway.

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Hopefully indeed.

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Originally Posted by Maz

I'm hearing that ours could be looking bad with the tax thing hanging over us. Watch this space I suppose

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A large proportion of that has to be paid from Cup final prizemoney it was only 140 grand which is nothing compared to what Shels and Cork were faced with!!