Leagues Financial facts & Rumours thread

**passerrby** · 12/12/2008, 12:48 PM

I do wish ltid that when you are in discussion with other posters about all of your eventual meltdowns you left us out of your conversation, just in case anybody gets the impression we are in the same boat as ourselves.. god forbid

**wonder88** · 12/12/2008, 1:30 PM

If Atlone were paying players 800 a week, then what do there fans expect but financial ruin. The amount of money taken out of league of Ireland football by greedy and useless players and managers is the main reason the league has lost all credibility with the public. I still don't understand how Fran Gavin, given his background, could be appointed to such an impotant job by anyone who wants to see domestic soccer progress. Just look at Drogheada, Shells and Bohs and Cork and the wages they have paid out to players who would find it difficult to make it in the English Conferance. How could some of these players end witjh agents no less ? crazy world indeed in the league of Ireland

**passinginterest** · 12/12/2008, 2:21 PM

Ok so thong** are looking bad for a lot of clubs, most of them have only themselves to blame, the league is on the verge of meltdown, should the FAI come in with a rescue package at this stage?

Obviously the FAI is not exactly flush at the moment, trying to complete Landsdowne and struggling to sell corporate pacakages, but they're still much better off than the clubs in the League of Ireland.

If the FAI came up with a package worth 11 million divided between the 22 clubs, half a million each, it would clear the debts of most of the ones in trouble, or at least stave off their debtors, the clubs who are not up to their necks would be advised that this money can only be invested in facilities and maybe club promotion, with receipts having to be provided for every penny of it spent.

This should allow clubs in debt to make a fresh start with sustainability and very strictly enforced licensing criteria to the fore. Any overspending or jeopardising of the clubs future would have to be quickly and decisively punished, using parameters clearly defined within the rescue package.

Anyone think an idea like this might be a runner? Could the FAI find that kind of money? Feel free to ridicule, I'm bored senseless today so this is just me typing as I think!

**Longfordian** · 12/12/2008, 2:25 PM

Well they're already talking about bailing out Cobh by buying their ground for €500,000. If that goes ahead and other clubs want to go down the same route the FAI should facilitate them. Personally I don't think they should bail anybody out. Let them stand or fall on their own resources.

**pineapple stu** · 12/12/2008, 2:26 PM

FAI can't afford E11m with the new Lansdowne being built.

And money wouldn't solve the problem of the fools who ran the clubs into these problems in the first place.

**passinginterest** · 12/12/2008, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Well they're already talking about bailing out Cobh by buying their ground for �500,000. If that goes ahead and other clubs want to go down the same route the FAI should facilitate them. Personally I don't think they should bail anybody out. Let them stand or fall on their own resources.

That's why I was going for a package that would involve all clubs, it's very unfair if they start bailing out some and leave others to die. Obviously if a club is beyond help there's no point.

**Dodge** · 12/12/2008, 2:28 PM

They won't find 11 million, and even if they do, there's absolutely no guarentees that clubs won't just run up the debt again.

**passinginterest** · 12/12/2008, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

FAI can't afford E11m with the new Lansdowne being built.

That would be the obvious stumbling block.

And money wouldn't solve the problem of the fools who ran the clubs into these problems in the first place.

The provisions as to how the money could be spent and much stricter licensing and monitoring of spending going forward would hopefully curb this.

**Battery Rover** · 12/12/2008, 2:32 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Well they're already talking about bailing out Cobh by buying their ground for €500,000. If that goes ahead and other clubs want to go down the same route the FAI should facilitate them. Personally I don't think they should bail anybody out. Let them stand or fall on their own resources.

If the Cobh deal goes through I can see a flood of clubs looking for the same.

From what I hear it will struggle to get the required number of votes to succeed

**dapman1** · 12/12/2008, 2:32 PM

So, would the money be divided up among the clubs who will be in the league at the begining of the 2009 season, or amongst those who finished 2008 (when the debt was accumulated). We all could have had better teams if we didnt bother paying them

**pineapple stu** · 12/12/2008, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

If the Cobh deal goes through I can see a flood of clubs looking for the same

Only if they own their own ground though. That rules quite a lot of teams out surely?

Originally Posted by passinginterest

The provisions as to how the money could be spent and much stricter licensing and monitoring of spending going forward would hopefully curb this.

Now you're just being naive! That's like saying stricter licencing after the Shels case should have prevented Drogheda, Bohs, Cork, etc.

**Longfordian** · 12/12/2008, 2:36 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

If the Cobh deal goes through I can see a flood of clubs looking for the same

Understandable. Why should Cobh get preference to anybody else?. One of the reasons why I reckon it won't pass the FAI Board meeting. They should try and maybe work out some deal with regards to getting clubs finance. Maybe go guarantor or partial guarantor on loans or something with the clubs also putting up their assets, whatever they may be.

**OneRedArmy** · 12/12/2008, 2:38 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

FAI can't afford E11m with the new Lansdowne being built.

And money wouldn't solve the problem of the fools who ran the clubs into these problems in the first place.

Agree on the first point, but on the second, you are in danger of wishing the whole League away.

Yes clubs overspent and were managed poorly (in common with much of the wider economy) and if you stick to the letter of the law you'd end up with a handful of "legacy" clubs next season (and that handful is getting smaller by the day) and some new clubs stepping in.

There comes a tipping point in any walk of live where when the majority of participants do not comply with a set of rules the rules become pointless. We are at this point in the EL.

**passerrby** · 12/12/2008, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

Well they're already talking about bailing out Cobh by buying their ground for �500,000. If that goes ahead and other clubs want to go down the same route the FAI should facilitate them. Personally I don't think they should bail anybody out. Let them stand or fall on their own resources.

only heard this today whose plan is this the fai or cobh, cant see the other clubs been to happy about this

**passinginterest** · 12/12/2008, 2:42 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Now you're just being naive! That's like saying stricter licencing after the Shels case should have prevented Drogheda, Bohs, Cork, etc.

Ya I suppose I am, I'd just love to see a healthy, sustainable league that learned it's lessons, was well administered and grew as a result of good management and promotion rather than reckless spending an vain hope.

Seeing Fingal offering 2 year full time contracts to players in the first division dispels that hope pretty quickly

I know they have guarantees in place for five years but what then? And considering the main backer is a property man what happens if he really hits the crap? They must have made a massive loss last year and are planning on making a bigger one next season.

**brianw82** · 12/12/2008, 2:45 PM

Seeing Fingal offering 2 year full time contracts to players in the first division dispels that hope pretty quickly

I know they have guarantees in place for five years but what then? And considering the main backer is a property man what happens if he really hits the crap? They must have made a massive loss last year and are planning on making a bigger one next season.

Fingal is a Shels/Drogheda/Cork/Bohs situation just waiting to happen. No doubt some of the players know this too, but they're being offerred the money NOW and that's probably all they're thinking about.

**pineapple stu** · 12/12/2008, 2:45 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Agree on the first point, but on the second, you are in danger of wishing the whole League away.

I suppose I am, but I simply don't agree with giving fools money so they can continue being fools. The league has to address the root causes of its problems, and throwing money away, as we've seen, doesn't do that.

**Dodge** · 12/12/2008, 2:45 PM

Originally Posted by passerrby

only heard this today whose plan is this the fai or cobh, cant see the other clubs been to happy about this

Don't see why other clubs should be too upset? FAI have already bailed out Bohs and Drogheda in this way previously.

Cobh remain in football, St Colmans remains in football. Cobh will have to pay rent and if they want the ground, buy it back

**passerrby** · 12/12/2008, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Ya I suppose I am, I'd just love to see a healthy, sustainable league that learned it's lessons, was well administered and grew as a result of good management and promotion rather than reckless spending an vain hope.

Seeing Fingal offering 2 year full time contracts to players in the first division dispels that hope pretty quickly

I know they have guarantees in place for five years but what then? And considering the main backer is a property man what happens if he really hits the crap? They must have made a massive loss last year and are planning on making a bigger one next season.

afraid your right how can this league ever have any credability when we all know some clubs are going to massively overspend again next year

**Longfordian** · 12/12/2008, 2:48 PM

Originally Posted by passerrby

only heard this today whose plan is this the fai or cobh, cant see the other clubs been to happy about this

From reports it seems Delaney is in favour of it but as to who approached who, I couldn't tell you. There is apparently some opposition within the FAI and at other clubs to the idea.