The Derry City thread - Derry sign first four players

**EalingGreen** · 22/10/2009, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

In fairness, Ealing Green, its hardly a surprise if you've read the thread?!

Naivety, laziness or wumming, what do you plead?

"Not Guilty!" on all three counts.

I am well aware that DCFC are in big trouble financially, will have to go part-time next season, cannot fund the B'well redevelopment etc.

I suppose I might be a bit slow on the uptake, but since they obviously won't get relegated on results, nor are they going to volunteer for relegation, what have they done which will cause the FAI to withhold a Premier Licence or relegate them on some other grounds?

And as Brian W82 points out, if general financial mismanagement would cause this, is the FAI going to deal with eg Cork and Bohs the same way?

Late Edit: As I type, I note CTID's rather apocalyptic post "we may not even survive". If things really are that bad, does that mean Kenny was trying to "soften the blow"? Is it that DCFC may go completely bust by or at the season's end, so that they would have to reform as a "new" club and start again in the "A" League etc?
I must confess I didn't think things could be that dire, so maybe I am being naive?

**Aaron** · 22/10/2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

"Not Guilty!" on all three counts.

I am well aware that DCFC are in big trouble financially, will have to go part-time next season, cannot fund the B'well redevelopment etc.

I suppose I might be a bit slow on the uptake, but obviously they won't get relegated on results, nor are they going to volunteering for relegation, so what have they done which will cause the FAI to withhold a Premier Licence or relegate them on some other grounds?

And as Brian W82 points out, if general financial mismanagement would cause this, is the FAI going to deal with eg Cork and Bohs the same way?

Late Edit: As I type, I note CTID's rather apocalyptic post "we may not even survive". If things really are that bad, does that mean Kenny is trying to "soften the blow"? Was he hinting that DCFC may go completely bust by or at the season's end, so that they would have to reform as a "new" club and start again in the "A" League etc?
I must confess I didn't think things could be that dire, so maybe I am being naive?

Ealing if only you knew half of it. Do you post on ILS?

**awec** · 22/10/2009, 11:43 PM

This is bad luck for Derry. Bad to see any football club go under.

If you do get rid of players though, feel free to send Morrow to Glenavon.

**Schumi** · 22/10/2009, 11:50 PM

Something big to come out tomorrow apparently. http://www.derrycityfc.net/cityweb/L...ober-2009.html

**MariborKev** · 23/10/2009, 12:05 AM

Players have gone public with their side of the story re wages.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 23/10/2009, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Nine weeks without being paid in full, technically.

Cheers. Wasn't too sure if that was the case so didn't what to say it.

**Dodge** · 23/10/2009, 12:38 AM

Being really lazy here, but is there a chance of a strike (or something else that will make Derry not play Pats on Friday)?

**Mr_Parker** · 23/10/2009, 7:38 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_...st/8321788.stm

**Ronnie** · 23/10/2009, 8:35 AM

This is nuts lads. I can't believe that 3 of the best supported clubs, and 3 of the current top 4, and 3 of the traditionally strongest clubs over the last 20 years are all at risk of not being in the premier in 2010. Its mental.

**Ezeikial** · 23/10/2009, 8:37 AM

Originally Posted by Ronnie

This is nuts lads. I can't believe that 3 of the best supported clubs, and 3 of the current top 4, and 3 of the traditionally strongest clubs over the last 20 years are all at risk of not being in the premier in 2010. Its mental.

Do you think these things are linked in any way?

**Steve Bruce** · 23/10/2009, 8:42 AM

It's like anything, if these clubs who are big clubs in their own right, had of stayed within their means, they would still more than likely be up their and they would still be financially sound

**OneRedArmy** · 23/10/2009, 8:46 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

It's like anything, if these clubs who are big clubs in their own right, had of stayed within their means, they would still more than likely be up their and they would still be financially sound

Thats it, in a nutshell.

**dcfcsteve** · 23/10/2009, 9:10 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

It's like anything, if these clubs who are big clubs in their own right, had of stayed within their means, they would still more than likely be up their and they would still be financially sound

But football is like an arms raise. Once one club breaks rank and starts increasing its spend significantly, the other clubs who want/expect to be at the business end of things eventually have to do likewise or face becoming irrelevant. And footbalkl is about competing, not being irrelevant - particularly for the bigger clubs, who have a greater weight of expectation.

Without wanting to incur the wrath of their fans, a straight line can be drawn from the financial madness in the league towards Shelbourne and Ollie Byrne. That's where the current arms raise started about 10 years ago.

**LeixlipRed** · 23/10/2009, 9:42 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Without wanting to incur the wrath of their fans, a straight line can be drawn from the financial madness in the league towards Shelbourne and Ollie Byrne. That's where the current arms raise started about 10 years ago.

Very true, though I'm comforted by the fact that we may be one of the few clubs to actually survive this coming apocalypse.

**Steve Bruce** · 23/10/2009, 9:46 AM

I think the best thing to do, is get the IFA to agree to a big contract to host NI internationals.

Now I wonder what club thought of that piece of genius

**Ezeikial** · 23/10/2009, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

But football is like an arms raise. Once one club breaks rank and starts increasing its spend significantly, the other clubs who want/expect to be at the business end of things eventually have to do likewise or face becoming irrelevant. And footbalkl is about competing, not being irrelevant - particularly for the bigger clubs, who have a greater weight of expectation.

Without wanting to incur the wrath of their fans, a straight line can be drawn from the financial madness in the league towards Shelbourne and Ollie Byrne. That's where the current arms raise started about 10 years ago.

Of course you are completely correct - but that does not excuse any club for flagrantly spending beyond their means.

It is also the compelling reason why the FAI are morally obliged (for the long term benefit of the league) to issue proper sanctions against any clubs who end up in breach of the 65% rule

**Mr A** · 23/10/2009, 10:20 AM

Here's the article. It paints a very bleak picture indeed:

http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk...-of.5761025.jp

**EalingGreen** · 23/10/2009, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

But football is like an arms raise. Once one club breaks rank and starts increasing its spend significantly, the other clubs who want/expect to be at the business end of things eventually have to do likewise or face becoming irrelevant. And footbalkl is about competing, not being irrelevant - particularly for the bigger clubs, who have a greater weight of expectation.

Not quite. Football in the LOI is like an arms race, as it is eg in the English Premier League*.
But it need not be that way. Football in Germany is extremely well run, for instance. Of course, German club football is no longer the force it once was in European competition, but domestically they seem to be doing OK, ditto the National team.
And if UEFA/EU should act to impose an element of financial reality on European club football, then debt-free German clubs, with their big crowds in
modern new stadia should be very well placed to resume their former place at the top.
Closer to home, even the poor old Irish League, by not eg "chasing the European Dream", is managing to scrape along somehow. Of course, with one obvious exception, the clubs don't have a pot to p1ss in between them.
But at least they're not completely in hock to "Pots-R-Us" and they do get to keep their own p1ss...
In any case, even in the worst "arms races", certain clubs have declined to get sucked in eg Arsenal in EPL, Shams in the LOI and, er, Bangor in the IL!

Anyhow, although I have no particular affinity or connection with them, I really do hope DCFC pull through somehow.

**Mr A** · 23/10/2009, 11:26 AM

From the article linked above:

One player said: "A rosy picture continues to be painted in the local Press in relation to the difficulties we have encountered this season, yet that's not the reality."
Another player remarked: "We've done everything in our power to assist the Board since these difficulties were made known to us. We agreed to keep everything 'in house' and not run to the Press but now we've gone beyond that stage and we feel it's important that we let the public know the situation, particularly that fact the club is in danger of disappearing off the map."
The players say they were "completely stunned" when told at Wednesday night's meeting that those who wished to leave the club could do so.
"As playing for Derry City is our only livelihood, this came as a real bombshell", said a players' spokesman. "We couldn't believe it. We asked was there no help available from anywhere and we were told that all avenues had been investigated and there was no help forthcoming.
"The Board also claimed that, if Friday's meeting with the FAI isn't successful, then there was no way of paying any more wages or, indeed, debts, for the foreseeable future - possibly stretching into February or March of next year."
Another player added: ""We are concerned that the general public in Derry are not fully aware of what has gone on or how desperate the situation is relating to the club and its very existence."

There could well be an element of the board pleading the poor mouth with the players in order to keep the pressure from that quarter as low as possible, but the picture painted there is stark.

Also, at this stage the FAI should probably just give everybody whatever prizemoney that they're guaranteed.