Harps in dire financial trouble!!

**HarpsinDublin** · 01/10/2008, 9:54 PM

Originally Posted by finnpark

Under 7 the whole way up including a new Primary and Secondary school leagues and proper coaching that would include social coaching such as discussing the influence of booze, psychology and Gym training programme information. Starting at 18 or 19 is a waste of time unless they look outside the NW like UCD do - a national scouting system. Even GAA clubs start at U-10 and they are amateur.

I think that a wider catchment area than Ballybofey is needed

Most of the young lads around there are ****heads by the age of 18

Thats true alright. Too much drinking and not enough professional training.

3 things a club like Harps should have in place:

1. Youth System - County wide in all major population areas from under 7s upwards including schools and a summer academy for different age groups.

2. A decent stadium

3. Intense local PR and marketing

4. A professioanal team

The board decided to go from point 0 to point 4 skipping the most important parts that any club should have.

1. While I take your points in relation to the youth system, it will never happen in Donegal. Too many clubs will not allow their underage players into a Finn Harps set up. There are many reasons why, not the least why should they be providing players for a Finn Harps underage side that will be competing against their own underage side. The Harps youth team that currently competes in the Donegal Youth League has to be made up from players not currently attached to the current sides in that League and also from areas not known (in Donegal) for their soccer prowess. Unfortunately only UCD in the current League of Ireland can offer their players scholarships/the opportunity to continue their studies whilst playing top level soccer.

2. Hopefully this is on the way in the not too distant future. However, a winning team is the only thing that Donegal people (not the diehards of the Harps support) will turn out in numbers to watch.

3. Intense PR and marketing. The Harps PRO for last season was given an award by the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland. We have upwards of seven or eight newspapers in Donegal that give Harps top billing in their soccer section. A winning team is the only thing that Donegal people (not the diehards of the Harps support) will turn out in numbers to watch.

4. A professional team. Not sustainable in the current format as has been evidenced this season. You cannot turn players overnight into professional players. This should be done on a gradual basis phasing it in over four to five seasons, starting with the younger players in the squad. Unfortunately time is not something most clubs are prepared to invest in their pursuit of success.

**brianw82** · 01/10/2008, 9:58 PM

Originally Posted by Rovers1

can any of the UCD heads tell me (apologies if totally off topic) how/in what way the college itself funds the club?

It is explained about 5 times in the "This is not right!" thread.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 01/10/2008, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by Rovers1

can any of the UCD heads tell me (apologies if totally off topic) how/in what way the college itself funds the club?

Not much. Biggest thing they do is provide ground/training facilities but I suppose they do "own" the club. All explained here:

http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=1029036&postcount=61

Originally Posted by finnpark

Under 7 the whole way up including a new Primary and Secondary school leagues and proper coaching that would include social coaching such as discussing the influence of booze, psychology and Gym training programme information. Starting at 18 or 19 is a waste of time unless they look outside the NW like UCD do - a national scouting system. Even GAA clubs start at U-10 and they are amateur.

We don't have an U7 team. We don't have a national scouting system. So I fail to see how any of that would be like UCD.

**Student Mullet** · 01/10/2008, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by Rovers1

can any of the UCD heads tell me (apologies if totally off topic) how/in what way the college itself funds the club?

At the start of each season the students pay a registration fee and (I think) 25 euros of that goes to the sports' dept. The profit from renting out pitches and halls is added and the money is divided out between the sports clubs in rough proportion to the clubs' membership.
Soccer is the biggest club in UCD and (last time I heard) gets the biggest share. It'd be roughly enough money to cover the running of the 2 intervarsity teams.

**OneRedArmy** · 02/10/2008, 8:00 AM

Going back to Harps, can't imagine the players are too happy that the club, rather than reduce wages gradually earlier (as presumably they knew trouble was around the corner), waited until the club was in a safe position and then cut the wages by half.

**placid casual** · 02/10/2008, 8:39 AM

Originally Posted by Sheridan

No, thank you. My primary social function is as an archivist of human idiocy and the likes of you make my job a lot easier.

it must be a bit.ch not having a club to follow and having to look elsewhere for your "primary social function ".

**Mr A** · 02/10/2008, 8:47 AM

The logical thing to happen here is for the Government to step in and bail all the clubs in bother out.

After all, we may have been a bit optimistic, but not half as bloody reckless as the banks!

**Rovers Maniac** · 02/10/2008, 9:40 AM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Going back to Harps, can't imagine the players are too happy that the club, rather than reduce wages gradually earlier (as presumably they knew trouble was around the corner), waited until the club was in a safe position and then cut the wages by half.

Thats quite true to be fair there gates seemed to be poor enough most weeks. I am sure whoever was is in charge could see things were not adding up and coud have acted earlier than this.

**dcfcsteve** · 02/10/2008, 9:45 AM

Originally Posted by finnpark

The only thing you guys can win is your local derby and the league cup. You are still as far away as ever from winning the league. Over performing as it is I would say

Put the handbag down, ya big touchy girl ya !

I'm loving the intense irony of a Harps fan abusing fans of pretty much any club over their levels of success. Need I point out that the last time you won anything of note was 34 years ago. In the meantime, we've won two leagues, 4 FAI cups and 9 League Cups. And we gave you an 11 year head-start....

Harps fans will berate me for saying this, but the only town in Donegal capable of sustaining a senior level football club in the increasingly expensive world of Irish football is Letterkenny. Nowhere else has anywhere near the population. Saying that Letterkenny is only up the road from Ballybofey is irrelevant - it still isn't Letterkenny.

Plus, Letterkenny versus City would be a derby with a bit of bite - not the mock rivalry that we currently have.

**Mr A** · 02/10/2008, 9:51 AM

And how do we pay for a stadium there Steve? Ballybofey is more or less central to our support which comes from all over Donegal and West Tyrone. We have an essentially free stadium on the way that will be one of the best in the country- would moving to Letterkenny really make enough difference to justify the massive extra expense?

Derry City's location is far from perfect as well- why don't you guys just move somewhere better?

**dcfcsteve** · 02/10/2008, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

And how do we pay for a stadium there Steve? Ballybofey is more or less central to our support which comes from all over Donegal and West Tyrone. We have an essentially free stadium on the way that will be one of the best in the country- would moving to Letterkenny really make enough difference to justify the massive extra expense?

Derry City's location is far from perfect as well- why don't you guys just move somewhere better?

Plumbing the depths of absurdity n your arguement there Mr A.

Derry is the fourth biggest city on the island, with a population well capable of supporting a full-time senior football club. The 3 bigger cities on the island all already have senior clubs- with tweo of thoise cities having too many already. Therefore, care to tell me where City should move and why...?

As for your stadium, there is already a club in Letterkenny with their own land. You do the maths.

No matter what way you look at it, Ballybofey is just too small to support a top-level senior team. Saying its central for your support base is meaningless, and as much use as having Glasgow Rangers in the Isle of Man...

It's not by coincidence that there is a clear and consistent correlation in football throughout the world between larger population centres and the presence and success of football clubs there.

**Dodge** · 02/10/2008, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Therefore, care to tell me where City should move and why...?

You just don't get sarcasm steve, do you?

As for your stadium, there is already a club in Letterkenny with their own land. You do the maths.

Simple as that. Sure that club would love to be taken over. Probably get the local businesses on baord straightaway too. if the other stadium is nearly built, surely you just move it brick by brick?

Think of the possibilities Donegalwegians!?

**dcfc1928** · 02/10/2008, 10:10 AM

I heard that argument before that Harps should have moved to Letterkenny and it's a reasonable argument in terms of population and being the only senior soccer club in the county and it represents the county.... but work has now started on their new stadium and that argument is a mute point now because of that.

**Mr A** · 02/10/2008, 10:14 AM

So you're perfectly happy with DCFC's current location, and don't feel the club should look to move to another part of they city then?

Or could it be that the only realistic prospect of getting the facilities you need is more or less where you're at already?

**lofty9** · 02/10/2008, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by dcfc1928

I heard that argument before that Harps should have moved to Letterkenny and it's a reasonable argument in terms of population and being the only senior soccer club in the county and it represents the county.... but work has now started on their new stadium and that argument is a mute point now because of that.

That was Dermot Keely's wish during his tenure there. AFAiK he did a lot of ground work on it with communities and business' in Donegal.

**Rovers Maniac** · 02/10/2008, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Plumbing the depths of absurdity n your arguement there Mr A.

Derry is the fourth biggest city on the island, with a population well capable of supporting a full-time senior football club. The 3 bigger cities on the island all already have senior clubs- with tweo of thoise cities having too many already. Therefore, care to tell me where City should move and why...?

As for your stadium, there is already a club in Letterkenny with their own land. You do the maths.

No matter what way you look at it, Ballybofey is just too small to support a top-level senior team. Saying its central for your support base is meaningless, and as much use as having Glasgow Rangers in the Isle of Man...

It's not by coincidence that there is a clear and consistent correlation in football throughout the world between larger population centres and the presence and success of football clubs there.

Oh god i am actually cringed for you when i read this

**HarpsinDublin** · 02/10/2008, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by lofty9

That was Dermot Keely's wish during his tenure there. AFAiK he did a lot of ground work on it with communities and business' in Donegal.

That is not correct. Keely was involved with a consortium that tried to take over the club in 1996. One of the reasons the club wouldnt allow it was that the consortium wouldnt give certain guarantees one of which was that it wouldnt move the club to Letterkenny. I know Keely hadnt done any work with the community and some businesses in the Letterkenny area are already supporters of Harps.

If there are so many League of Ireland supporters waiting in Letterkenny for a club to support why do Letterkenny Rovers play in front of less than 100 people week in week out? and yes before you ask I am originally from Letterkenny.

**carrickharp** · 02/10/2008, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

but the only town in Donegal capable of sustaining a senior level football club in the increasingly expensive world of Irish football is Letterkenny.

I for one would not support the club if it moved to Letterkenny, not all Harps fans are from Ballybofey you know I live about 40 miles away in the south west of the county and there are plenty of fans in the area the same goes for most of the county. Harps have the problem most clubs have regarding support, if we were up near the top of the league sure we would be covering our costs the fan base is there it's just a pity they would not show up more often.

**carrickharp** · 02/10/2008, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by HarpsinDublin

Letterkenny Rovers play in front of less than 100 people week in week out

That figure includes, club officials, players, subs, referee and linesmen!

**Sheridan** · 02/10/2008, 12:42 PM

I didn't get Harps going full-time at all. The teams at the top of the league need to be full-time to compete in Europe (and we're never going to have an all part-time league again; someone will always try to steal a march if others waver) because they're going to encounter teams from a different, ball-retaining football culture and couldn't match them otherwise.

But there aren't enough full-time-quality players in the bottom half of the league to justify the expenditure for the likes of Harps. Paying mediocre players a full-time wage won't make them any better, and the benefits of fitness and cohesion are too marginal to be of any consequence in a league where everyone plays basically the same style of football.