Sporting Fingal Gone Belly Up

**Macy** · 03/02/2011, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by cheifo

They cannot introduce lie detector tests into the licensing process nor babysit grown up People on how to run their Club 24/7.

As always, it's ultimately the clubs fault. However, it does show yet again failures of licencing, like it or not. They allowed SF, since it's inception, to submit clearly unsustainable business plans. They could've rejected those budgets, as they did with other clubs. Bohs has been an obvious problem waiting to happen for several years. If licencing wasn't supposed to prevent this from happening what is the feckin point of it? We might as well not bother with the bloody process if it won't do what it feckin says on the tin.

**BonnieShels** · 03/02/2011, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mario

So if the new club was called say Sporting Shelbourne for one year and then back to Shels after that, played this season in Tolka, in the Shels colours, in the premier division with Matthews as mgr and Bucko as director of football concentrating on the plans for Lusk with some of the Fingal players added to the current Shels squad?

I think alot of Shels fans could swallow that rather than another few years in the first ...

No way. I like the First.

**BonnieShels** · 03/02/2011, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by Guinney

Fingals business plan was doomed to fail, when they have money they should putting it into development of the club instead of throwing it away on players wages. I take no pleasure in Fingals plight, but its no ones else’s fault except those who run the club. As a LOI fan they potentially represent another black mark on the league and this is something the league as a whole doesn’t need.

I spent over a year bleeting about this to the Lep and the like about how this has the potential to explode but we got the typical FF speak.
We have spent years putting up with clubs' destroying what was left of the league's reputation. And I include my own in that along with Bohs, Drogs, Derry and Cork.
Most peoples issue with Fingal was that we all knew it was smoke and mirrors and criticised them to the hilt about it.
But we kept being told that all was well and there's nothing to see here. We were told to lay off and stop throwing stones and talking down the league and the club.
We seemingly have been proved right. I will reserve a final judgement until its confirmed as terminal before I cast a rose on their grave. I wont miss them. The league won't miss them and if Mons or the Blas end up in the PD as a result if their demise then it was worth it.

**redarmyfaction** · 04/02/2011, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

As always, it's ultimately the clubs fault. However, it does show yet again failures of licencing, like it or not. They allowed SF, since it's inception, to submit clearly unsustainable business plans. They could've rejected those budgets, as they did with other clubs. Bohs has been an obvious problem waiting to happen for several years. If licencing wasn't supposed to prevent this from happening what is the feckin point of it? We might as well not bother with the bloody process if it won't do what it feckin says on the tin.

Licensing might make things worse, when the Clubs get official sanction for what was a optimistic license application they then start to believe it in themselves.

**The Lep** · 04/02/2011, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by Dave_SRFC

Lets hope Fingal are done and dusted,

Is that because rovers couldnt beat us ?

**BonnieShels** · 04/02/2011, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by The Lep

Is that because rovers couldnt beat us ?

Is say that's exactly why.

So as a man in the know, Can ya tell us if you knew that it was coming to an end.

**The Lep** · 04/02/2011, 12:18 AM

I can say its not at an end as of yet. I live in hope until its confirmed otherwise.

**Buile Shuibhne** · 04/02/2011, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

I hope not. It's a shame to see another LoI club in trouble. I can't see how LoI can be expanded. It has to be reduced to 20 clubs in total.

No shame.

They're not another Loi club.

A recent short-lived franchise invention.

**The Lep** · 04/02/2011, 12:27 AM

I can say with hand on heart that the above post is the strangest one ive seen on the board

How is the sponsor set up at tolka Buile ? Read that its not all rosey.

**BonnieShels** · 04/02/2011, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by The Lep

I can say its not at an end as of yet. I live in hope until its confirmed otherwise.

I live in hope that it is confirmed.

Now, who do we play on the first day of the season now?

**The Lep** · 04/02/2011, 12:33 AM

Fingal next thursday

**Ezeikial** · 04/02/2011, 1:13 AM

Say it ain't so Joe (or even The Lep)

**Spudulika** · 04/02/2011, 5:32 AM

Originally Posted by Guinney

Seriously what are you talking about, Fingal can not be compared to Dundalk, totally different kettle of fish. As you seemingly already know Dundalk is a well established club with a long history and tradition, yeah Dundalks not perfect and I never claimed it to be. We all know about Maxi, we all know the dark days in the 1st division graveyard and before. But Fingal is a new club which in my opinion went about there business the wrong way, they thought the fan base would come if they put out a team of quality, instead they should've gradually building a fan base up and developing the club at the grass routes. Also if you are referring to me saying I did take pleasure in their plight then you misunderstood me, I may off saying things like they won't be missed and so on, but thats because I believe the way they run their club was unsustainable and that they added little to the league currently.

Also please stop putting the word fans in brackets, because its clear most people on here are fans and not "fans" and please refrain from using the word ignorant like your the only one who knows anything. Also most importantly if you want to highlight Dundalks problems please by all means start a thread with that title, this is Fingals thread. End of rant ..

Guinney, it's as simple as this, I didn't compare Fingal with anyone else, I simply stated that all clubs are no more than a footstep away from trouble in Ireland, that "fans" who delight in watching other clubs crash and burn are the reason why supporters feel queasy about following the LOI and before you start ranting again, read your own posts and some others on the recent pages of this thread - ignorance of facts and reality doesn't come into it. Stop making excuses for your posts or qualifiers, rather, that it was about how "they run their club", you specifically mentioned one transfer that has been discussed ad nauseum and while I'd love to see that player (Bolger) in Oriel, I'd have to accept that signing for European football with a good manager (no disrespect to Foster, he's going to be better in the future and at a higher level) swung it, especially as the money was the same. Don't feel inferior about knowledge, we all know more or less the same, the difference is all about thinking of the future or our own club and the league rather than short term blinkered views which have gotten the LOI into the state it's in.

**Ash** · 04/02/2011, 7:04 AM

Meeting tonight, or so I'm told, to see whats going to happen

**BonnieShels** · 04/02/2011, 7:28 AM

Originally Posted by The Lep

Fingal next thursday

Well if you're counting the pre-season as part of the season it's no wonder ye are in trouble.

Leixlip were our first game in that case.

**Ezeikial** · 04/02/2011, 8:42 AM

Here is the Indo's take on it

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...w-2525186.html

Fingal future in doubt after failure to seal investment

By Ruaidhri O'Connor

Friday February 04 2011

SPORTING FINGAL'S future was plunged into doubt yesterday less than a fortnight before they are due to play their first match of the new season.
The club is not in a position to pay their players' wages after failing to find a replacement for primary investor Gerry Gannon and have informed the FAI and the PFAI of the situation.
The 2009 FAI Cup winners underwent a review of their finances after the developer, one of the first 10 people to have their loans transferred to NAMA, signalled he was no longer prepared to fund the club after sinking €1.25m into the operation.
Sporting Fingal appeared to have secured the investment needed to proceed for the new season, albeit on a reduced budget, but a number of commitments they believed were in place have not materialised.
They now face a race against time to procure a budget for the new season and will need guarantees in place ahead of the closing of the club licensing process in two weeks' time.
The club had been confident of investment to such an extent that manager Liam Buckley was able to announce a number of new signings, while former St Patrick's Athletic commercial manager Philip Nolan crossed the city to take up a new role with Fingal only last Monday.
Sporting even turned down a bid from Celtic for star midfielder Shaun Williams, who could now leave for free if his contract is breached by continued non-payment of wages.
The club are due to open their season in the Setanta Cup against Lisburn Distillery at Dalymount Park on February 14 and are scheduled to kick off their league campaign at home to UCD on March 4.

**pineapple stu** · 04/02/2011, 8:55 AM

Originally Posted by Indo

The club are due to open their season in the Setanta Cup against Lisburn Distillery at Dalymount Park on February 14 and are scheduled to kick off their league campaign at home to UCD on March 4.

So at the moment UCD may have a home game against Distillery on 14 Feb, or may have a home game against Portadown on 21 Feb (with accompanying away trips) and may have an away trip to Dalymount or Drogheda or Monaghan on 4 March.

Seems clear.

That bit about turning down a bid for Williams (I heard E100k mentioned?) is outrageous.

**Ezeikial** · 04/02/2011, 8:59 AM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

you specifically mentioned one transfer that has been discussed ad nauseum and while I'd love to see that player (Bolger) in Oriel, I'd have to accept that signing for European football with a good manager (no disrespect to Foster, he's going to be better in the future and at a higher level) swung it, especially as the money was the same.

I suppose only Greg Bolger can answer that question for certain, but it appears probable that he was offered more money by Sporting Fingal (in addition to the fee to UCD).

The point is that it is frustrating to supporters of other clubs when others outbid them when their ability to pay is doubtful. Same story with Stephen O'Donnell and Faz when they had agreed deals in principal with Dundalk in 2009 only to be gazumped by Cork.

This feeling of being unfairly disadvantaged by reckless spending from clubs - including Shels, Cork, Drogheda, Derry and Bohs - fuels an understandable irritation (perhaps even resentment) from supporters of other clubs who are operating in a more responsible and restrained manner.

**Ezeikial** · 04/02/2011, 9:09 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

That bit about turning down a bid for Williams (I heard E100k mentioned?) is outrageous.

It seems incredible given that this Fingal statement comes only days after the transfer window closed.

The Indo paints it as an indication of Fingals confidence in the funding as of early this week. Could it have been a case of head in the sand time at Fingal?

Maybe TNB has a consultancy role at SF?