Sporting Fingal Gone Belly Up

**Cuyahoga** · 12/02/2011, 7:58 AM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

The "big" clubs in Ireland seem to hate the most because they can bring a dozen fans to an away game and the stadium announcer doesn't name the fans at home games. Small clubs are not hated because they are not threatening and can be used to pick up players on the cheap. Woe betide any club that pops their head above the parapet and try to improve themselves - whether by gambling (as is the norm) or trying to do something different. The word of caution in all this is enjoy your time on the tigers back.

I dont understand your first sentence .

**pineapple stu** · 12/02/2011, 8:59 AM

I take it you can enlighten us on the rest so?

**Longfordian** · 12/02/2011, 9:33 AM

I think it's some kind of ancient Chinese proverb.

**Mad Moose** · 12/02/2011, 9:38 AM

I think the crucial difference between SF and the Bohs meltdown, and as I remember Derry City's similar meltdown before they reformed, is the fact that SF called it a day and didn't drag it along in the vain hope of surviving even if it meant defaulting on players wages. There is much less for McGuinness to speak out about when a club folds but in doing so had paid its players up to the point it shut down.

**eelmonster** · 12/02/2011, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

The word of caution in all this is enjoy your time on the tigers back.

You should have warned Fingal County Council and Gannon. The league would have been in a stronger position if Fingannon CC had reached out to established north Dublin clubs instead of indulging their Sporting Folly. In any case, you're preaching to the choir, most fans aren't as stupid as some of your more condescending posts imply and understand only too well the precarious financial position of their clubs.

**Spudulika** · 12/02/2011, 11:41 AM

eelmonster, if you find any posts condescending it's because you choose to, none would be or set out to be. There are plenty of people who enjoy seeing other clubs crash and burn, which typifies football in Ireland and why the LOI is in the state it's in. What is most disgusting is the attitude of, well, the FAI let it all happen. Wrong, clubs and those following or supporting them are to blame, and this culture will continue. Your own snide aside about Fingannon CC is just an extension of what many people thought from the beginning, so what could have been done? Lots, however we're all too busy looking for reasons to knock that to do something about it. And it's good that you mention the precarious positions of clubs, it's going to be the one constant we can be proud of in Ireland, though apart from the mention of the 65% cap, and dependence on single sources of revenue, everyone avoids it. Though you do have a very valid point in the local councils reaching out to clubs in their region/jurisdiction. This would be a major start, or finish, but no matter what it would have an impact.

**passerrby** · 12/02/2011, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

eelmonster, if you find any posts condescending it's because you choose to, none would be or set out to be. There are plenty of people who enjoy seeing other clubs crash and burn, which typifies football in Ireland and why the LOI is in the state it's in. What is most disgusting is the attitude of, well, the FAI let it all happen. Wrong, clubs and those following or supporting them are to blame, and this culture will continue. Your own snide aside about Fingannon CC is just an extension of what many people thought from the beginning, so what could have been done? Lots, however we're all too busy looking for reasons to knock that to do something about it. And it's good that you mention the precarious positions of clubs, it's going to be the one constant we can be proud of in Ireland, though apart from the mention of the 65% cap, and dependence on single sources of revenue, everyone avoids it. Though you do have a very valid point in the local councils reaching out to clubs in their region/jurisdiction. This would be a major start, or finish, but no matter what it would have an impact.

Im one of does who enoy watching overspending clubs crash and burn but am at a loss to understand why i am responsable for the state of the leage

**eelmonster** · 12/02/2011, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

those following or supporting them are to blame

This is utter nonsense, but please continue: how exactly are League of Ireland supporters responsible for the demise of Fingal?

**SkStu** · 12/02/2011, 1:40 PM

Originally Posted by Harpsbear

I think the crucial difference between SF and the Bohs meltdown, and as I remember Derry City's similar meltdown before they reformed, is the fact that SF called it a day and didn't drag it along in the vain hope of surviving even if it meant defaulting on players wages. There is much less for McGuinness to speak out about when a club folds but in doing so had paid its players up to the point it shut down.

the biggest issue for McGuinness and the Bohs players was the signed contract for the coming season and the settlement of same. That McGuinness has been silent on a worse situation created by Sporting Fingal speaks volumes of the schyster in my honest biased and paranoid opinion.

**micls** · 12/02/2011, 1:48 PM

Fingal are gone. There's absolutely nothing McGuinness can do about it. Complaining about it serves no purpose.

Bohs are not gone. They expect to compete next season, in the premier league. Complaining about them heightens media attention on them and puts pressure on them in relation to doing a deal that is good for his members.

There's a fairly big difference

**SkStu** · 12/02/2011, 1:57 PM

But not even a comment from McGuinness about how disgraceful Fingal's behaviour was?

Wow.

**micls** · 12/02/2011, 2:01 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

But not even a comment from McGuinness about how disgraceful Fingal's behaviour was?

Wow.

Again, what would the purpose of it be? I'm sure if he's asked or interviewed that he'd say it was a disgrace but there's not exactly a point to a press release on it. It wouldn't benefit his members in any way.

Now if Fingal had done this and then tried to apply for a licence, for any division, I think the reaction would have been different.

**SkStu** · 12/02/2011, 2:07 PM

i suppose it depends on what your perspective is. I think that it is a case of two individual clubs who were not able to meet their contractual obligations for the coming season. And i see double standards in the way the players representative chose to remark or deal with the two situations. There may be no point complaining about it but, from his perspective as a representative of all players registered to play in the 2 leagues, there would be a lot to be said for highlighting yet another case of ill treatment of the players by a club. Its what any Union i have ever dealt with is very quick to do irrespective of the merits or otherwise of each instance of "ill treatment".

Either way, im not too bothered really. And certainly not surprised by it.

**HulaHoop** · 12/02/2011, 2:37 PM

I'm sure it's no consolation Stu but McGuinness and the PFAI were absolute c***s to us too when we were in trouble in 2005 only to treat other clubs more favourably in the years after that.

**de bowez** · 12/02/2011, 2:56 PM

McGuinness wont be welcome in Dalymount for a long time after his Playstation comment.

**The Lep** · 12/02/2011, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by eelmonster

You should have warned Fingal County Council and Gannon. The league would have been in a stronger position if Fingannon CC had reached out to established north FDublin clubs instead of indulging their Sporting Folly. In any case, you're preaching to the choir, most fans aren't as stupid as some of your more condescending posts imply and understand only too well the precarious financial position of their clubs.

Fingal isnt just North Dublin and i cant see how the league would have been stronger.

Originally Posted by SkStu

the biggest issue for McGuinness and the Bohs players was the signed contract for the coming season and the settlement of same. That McGuinness has been silent on a worse situation created by Sporting Fingal speaks volumes of the schyster in my honest biased and paranoid opinion.

He hasnt been silent, hes talked about it in the papers.

**SkStu** · 12/02/2011, 5:33 PM

fair enough if he has but i havent read anything from him at all.

**Dunny** · 12/02/2011, 5:34 PM

And on the radio.

**The Lep** · 12/02/2011, 5:36 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

i suppose it depends on what your perspective is. I think that it is a case of two individual clubs who were not able to meet their contractual obligations for the coming season. And i see double standards in the way the players representative chose to remark or deal with the two situations. There may be no point complaining about it but, from his perspective as a representative of all players registered to play in the 2 leagues, there would be a lot to be said for highlighting yet another case of ill treatment of the players by a club. Its what any Union i have ever dealt with is very quick to do irrespective of the merits or otherwise of each instance of "ill treatment".

Either way, im not too bothered really. And certainly not surprised by it.

It doesnt sound like it.