QuoteThanks for the report Kev, very interesting reading. Hopefully this type of forum continues and benefits the league.
Saying no-one else has posted on this, I'll do my best.If I leave anything else, I am sure someone will correct me.
First of all, there was a shocking attendance. Given the amount of abuse the FAI get on here, they opened the doors for people to come in and yet half the clubs didn't even bother to send anyone.
Derry, Sligo, Athlone, Wexford, Bohs, Shelbourne, Longford, UCD, Bray were only clubs who bothered to show up. No offence but for the amount of crying that goes on in various internet forums, people had the opportunity to step away from their keyboards and actually ask the questions.
The FAI were represented by Fran Gavin, Padraig Smith, Michael Hayes and Noel Mooney.
Fran Gavin(FG) opened with a presentation on the League, prize money, qualification for Europe, Setanta etc. The winners of the A League this year gets more prize money than Bohs did the last time they won the League.
Michael Hayes followed with explanations on the Setanta format, European coefficients etc.
Padraig Smith(PS) then gave a presentation on the financial end of the League, which was a very detailed session. To be fair to them, they knew it was coming and they had the data. 3 clubs have breached the SC, Galway being the most obvious case.
Padraig outlined basically "where it all went wrong".
In 2005 revenue in the League grew by 2%, wages by 23%
In 2006 revenue in the League grew by 5%, wages by 15%
In 2007 revenue in the League grew by 15%,wages by 31%
In 2008 revenue in the League grew by 51%,wages by 26%
PS discussed the case of Cork, and how you can't really deal with people who decide to "just play God" and walk away. There was a discussion over clubs having to lodge bonds etc, but investors will not agree due to fact this offers no return etc.
PS was scathing on the standard of audited accounts and audit reports from some of the clubs and said that clubs have been warned over this already. There was some talk of a League appointed auditor for all clubs.
The clubs lost €6.8m last year and will lose €3.3m this year. We were shown examples of the budgeting, monthly accounts etc that the clubs must complete. They also produced stats in terms of number of contracted players at each club. Derry lead the way with the biggest squad, The average figure was 21 pros I think.
There were lots of questions over the technicality of wage deferrals as remaining as ordinary creditors etc and how the salary cap is in operation. The legitmacy of financial statements were questioned amongst other matter.
The Revenue are very happy with the clubs at the minute and will probably ease off their investigations at the end of this season, such is the level of compliance. However the focus will now be on proper P60 compliance etc. Someone with a greater understanding of the ROI tax system probably took more from that section than me.
The major news here was that there are 400 players currently contracted to clubs, but only 90 of these are in contract past this season. The FAI firmly believe that this situation will allow the clubs to make a correction in the wage structure and that they will be able to significantly reduce wages through this. I have my doubts, as it assumes strong boards who are not focused on the short term success. However, the potential exists there, but it could turn out to go wrong in the classic "prisoner dilemma" situation.
The next section is very difficult to explain. Two fellas(Colm & ?) from myteam.ie gave a presentation. These lads were involved with the Drogs shop and are basically setting up and affliate scheme for the clubs. They are producing a pack of merchandise for €75 delivered, of which the clubs make €30 for no outlay. This will all be done through myteam.ie. Wexford, Cork and Galway are not participating. I thought this idea was madness and did say to the fella as much. The general feeling seemed to be the same from others there. I just don't see where the market is for this. However the two lads are putting in all their own money(6 figure sum) on the items and another massive advertising spend. They are only selling it online and are targeting the exile market. The site will go live on the 21/10.
There was a break after that, after which Noel spoke about the marketing off the League.
There was pieces here about the CPO, a tie up with the NDC etc. *Edit: Taken out information about costing
People split up into various groups there to discuss efforts to market the League and then reported these back after half an hour, to draw up ideas for going forward.
I mightn't agree with the FAI on everything, but I have to respect that they stood up to take the flack. A bit like the P1 proposal falling apart, there is plenty of moaning amongst the support, but if people don't turn up and ask the questions when they have the chance then they lose credibility.
I'll add more as I remember them
Last edited by MariborKev; 12/10/2008 at 11:31 AM.
Thanks for the report Kev, very interesting reading. Hopefully this type of forum continues and benefits the league.
Was there any mention of the general negativity in the media about the league?
Shocking fact about RTE, alright. Just so I have this right, they were willing to offer the FAI 4million euro more to NOT show any live games/MNS?
Originally Posted by brianw82
So RTE think that they can use license payers money to further marginalise and undermine an Irish industry (yeah well!) that employs hundreds of people? If this is true, The Sports Council, relevant Dail Committee should be made aware of this and RTE executives brought to account.
Good report Kev, and encouraging to read it.
Poor turnout for the clubs - and no excuse in particular for the lack of some Dublin clubs. Where the hell where Pats and Rovers fans ??
I think Galway and Sligo fans could be excused possibly, but still, shocking turnout.
I would have liked to have been there, but couldn't make it to the Showgrounds today even.
The 4 million is proof that RTE resent having to cover the LOI. MNS is a great show, forgetting Roddy.
He is revenge for being made to show the LOI.
I still think that the FAI could push RTE for more. It was genius to make them show more LOI by using the International rights as leverage, but I say milk the cnuts next time.
I'll wait to someone confirms the RTE thing, but that certainly how I understood it.
There was talk on the First Division and trying to show more of it in the coming weeks, as it is very tight at the top. However the FAI have no editorial control over the programme.
Sligo, Shels, Athlone were all there and they had games this evening.
From what I understand, some people weren't overly impressed with the last forum.
Personally, I would have liked to have been there myself, or have seen one of our lads there.
Fairplay to the lads who went.
Thanks for posting that, Maribor. I remember some rumours on here before about RTÉ offering the FAI more money not to cover the LOI but I didn't know how seriously to take it. That's disgraceful.
That's a disgrace about RTE. Disgusting almost
Agree LR, unfortunately now that it is in the public domain it is sure to appear in the print media and will be used as another weapon of ridicule against the league.
If this is true then RTE are an absolute joke. Seriously, what a disgrace.
Life without Rovers, it makes no sense...it's a heartache...nothing but a fools game. S.R.F.C.
Just sent a scathing email to RTE. I'm utterly disgusted by that. If they had their way the daily schedule would consist of Home and Away, You're a Star and Champions League re-runs.
Thanks for the write-up Maribor.
RTE are an Official Sponsor of the GAA Football Championship - how much does that cost?
For all the moaning here about the FAI, fair play to them for not taking the extra 4M.
Yeh, the FAI have to be applauded for that if we're all honest. It hurts me to say that though
As for attendance i was never aware of the open day till yesterday and neither was anybody i spoke too who would be involved in a big way so i dunno really
Lads,
Hold off till someone else confirms it. Maybe I picked it up all wrong.
Maybe it costs them €4m over the 6 years etc, and I just went off on a tangent and misunderstood it
Another mad thing I remember is that we can't show promotions of the League on the big screens at Croker, as the deal is we can't promote football there.
As OneRedArmy said to to me "We can't promote football at a football game"
My understanding was very similar to what you've posted above.
Apparenty MNS gets upwards of 70k viewers, incidentally.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
Really?
The Model Club
Tell all the Bohs you know
that we've gone and won two-in-a-row
and it's not gonna be three
and it's not gonna be four
it's more likely to be 5-1.
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