That's an interesting one. Will there be a break-up at Cabo? Presume they're continuing in the league
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That's what I was thinking and O'Donnell could have sorted it out. Maybe he got away with it prior. Pats have been out of sorts for the last 2 seasons and it wasnt really to do with lack of quality. Seemed more lack of interest, coaching (though that would be a surprise under Buckley), and in some cases at least S&C. Considering he still has ability to be a decent LoI striker of which there are few as it is, then offering him a contract conditional on him meeting targets on fitness, might have been a way to go. Maybe he was given a chance and turned it down of course. He will get another club but its a shame if he is still being held back by mental health issues.
Discussion's held on Monday night,nothing agreed and to continue later on in the week,Horgan understandably wants extra funds to compete but equally understandably the board are probably telling him there isnt any,we scrapped by last season and there's nothing to suggest we'll be able to raise extra money from anywhere so I'd prefer the board not write cheques we can't cash rather than gamble and be caught out............
Yeah wasn't expecting that. Seemingly he had been expected by many to head to Cork, not that I'd been paying an awful lot of attention to any rumours about him really. Dean Byrne who was great for us last year has signed back now too. He had offers from Premier clubs too apparently. They could be a great partnership potentially.
Longford look to be getting back at it. Playoff experience this season, good workout in the cup, early work getting done with signings. Drogheda will be favoured as the team to beat but there is a buzz about Longford that has been missing in previous years. Could be a good value punt for automatic promotion!
In the past (mid 2000s) the was argument often made that there wasnt a huge difference between PT and FT wages (only) when clubs were paying a players tax and other contributions on their combined PT + FT income. Say Benson is earning 80k for the day job and 20k from Pats. He could be on a deal where the full highest bracket income tax is payed on fooball earnings and some of his day job. A teacher on 40k + 15k in actual cost to a club for the player to take home all of the football wage wouldnt be miles off 25k. If things are the same now then it isnt massively more expensive relatively bar wages inflating like mid 00s (25k probably wouldbt be considered enough for FT football these day!?). Train in the evenings and a squad can be a mix of FT and PT players but still be putting in FT training hours. A big cost of training during the day aside from wages would be looking after the players eg training facilities and catering which you could get away with in evening training. If a club has a benefactor on top then it keeps the show on the road. I reckon Kelleher felt Pats had a squad and manager that would finish top 3/4 and qualify for Europe last season so pushed the boat out a bit. A quick answer though is it's not sustainable at all but not terminal either in short to medium term.
Getting in to Europe seriously inflates the wage bill - consider Dundalk's 2014 budget to 2016 and beyond especially with players who have been there for the whole haul - scary if there is a bad year down the line as even with regular European money its arguable on how sustainable things are without a run to the group stages. Next season is possibly the biggest for the top LoI sides with EL2 and the possibilities for the 2020 champions!
Confirmed online that Daniel OReilly has left Finn Harps to go to Shels.
Heard that hugh douglas has left bray. would love it if he joined us! class player. As one of the other Section O lads said to me earlier hes the new Ginger Jesus love that!