Drogs' Court Case

[Scrufil]

Instead of Drogheda United ground sharing with another top flight club could they not instead ground share with a first division side like Monaghan Utd? The charge for the ground would not cost as much. Shamrock Rovers have been roving for years until now and I see no reason why Drogheda might not try this until their ground situation is fully sorted.

Can someone please explain why Cork City were still allowed to use their ground last season when it was under development? If Drogheda just bring a dump truck and digger onto one side of their ground they can also claim their existing ground is under development. This should be enough to allow them use their own pitch. Otherwise if Drogheda do get demoted then Cork City should be pitched into the first division too.

[John83]

Instead of Drogheda United ground sharing with another top flight club could they not instead ground share with a first division side like Monaghan Utd? The charge for the ground would not cost as much. Shamrock Rovers have been roving for years until now and I see no reason why Drogheda might not try this until their ground situation is fully sorted.

Would you drive to Monaghan every other week? They'd probably get a bigger gate at Oriel Park, so it's all the same really.

Can someone please explain why Cork City were still allowed to use their ground last season when it was under development? If Drogheda just bring a dump truck and digger onto one side of their ground they can also claim their existing ground is under development. This should be enough to allow them use their own pitch. Otherwise if Drogheda do get demoted then Cork City should be pitched into the first division too.

Would you lend them a dump truck?

It's one thing to let the ground thing go on a tempory basis. It's another to let it go for years on the back of a promise which fell through, and then ignore the financial reality that there won't be a real ground there any time soon. Also, is the site at United Park too small for what they need? That was my understanding anyway.

[Scrufil]

It's another to let it go for years on the back of a promise which fell through, and then ignore the financial reality that there won't be a real ground there any time soon.

Is this statement about Shamrock Rovers?

I don't see what is wrong with Monaghan. I'd say Drogheda fans would prefer this over Dundalk's semi plastic pitch.

[christo]

Is this statement about Shamrock Rovers?

I don't see what is wrong with Monaghan. I'd say Drogheda fans would prefer this over Dundalk's semi plastic pitch.

Dundalk did play in Monaghan for a while too

[John83]

Is this statement about Shamrock Rovers?

I don't understand your confusion: Rovers played in Dalymount and Tolka, in stadia which were up to standard. We're talking about Drogheda playing in a ground which is not, and will not be.

I don't see what is wrong with Monaghan. I'd say Drogheda fans would prefer this over Dundalk's semi plastic pitch.

Is Monaghan's ground up to scratch for the Premier licence? If so, there's no reason they couldn't ask to rent there, and (if Monaghan accepted) apply for a licence that way. Of course, there's still, as someone pointed out, the issue of getting out of their current predicament. I doubt their having to pay rent will help their case that they've a viable business plan.

[Schumi]

Is Monaghan's group up to scratch for the Premier licence?

They got a premier licence last year AFAIK. I didn't think their stand had 1500 seats though.

[passerrby]

Monaghan united have a premier licene and afaik have applied for a premier for 2009 and have taken in waifs and strays in the past and while anything is possible in this crazy league drogs playing premiership football in kingspan century park is a bit far fetched

[WindmillWarrior]

Monaghan is feckin miles away from Drogheda!

[ndrog]

monaghan is to far tbh .Oriel would be the best option by far .15/20 mins away at the most.

[holidaysong]

I don't see what is wrong with Monaghan. I'd say Drogheda fans would prefer this over Dundalk's semi plastic pitch.

What's a semi plastic pitch? I can't see many Drogheda fans opting for an extra 50 minutes (and back) to go to Monaghan rather than see their side play on an artificial surface..

[Mad Moose]

What's a semi plastic pitch? I can't see many Drogheda fans opting for an extra 50 minutes (and back) to go to Monaghan rather than see their side play on an artificial surface..

Can a club desperately trying to survive and hanging on as well as Drogheda Utd are actually be particularly choosy at this stage. The very fact there is a ground withing 50 miles which would meet their requirements and is open to 'waifs and strays , may be a blessing and an option they would be delighted to accept if it meant Premier Division football next season. Just how much would they be able to pay Monaghan Utd in rent is another question.

[SMorgan]

If I were asked to demonstrate to somebody the advantage and benefits of the Oriel Park surface the first thing I'd do is take them to Monaghan and ask them, “do seriously believe that playing on this surface is better than playing on the surface in Oriel?”. The last two occasions I've been to Monaghan the surface was downright dangerous.

[holidaysong]

Can a club desperately trying to survive and hanging on as well as Drogheda Utd are actually be particularly choosy at this stage. The very fact there is a ground withing 50 miles which would meet their requirements and is open to 'waifs and strays , may be a blessing and an option they would be delighted to accept if it meant Premier Division football next season. Just how much would they be able to pay Monaghan Utd in rent is another question.

I'd be 99% sure that Oriel Park would be available to Drogheda United if they needed it. There wouldn't be a need to go to Monaghan. That's my point.

[passerrby]

If I were asked to demonstrate to somebody the advantage and benefits of the Oriel Park surface the first thing I'd do is take them to Monaghan and ask them, “do seriously believe that playing on this surface is better than playing on the surface in Oriel?”. The last two occasions I've been to Monaghan the surface was downright dangerous.

what a crock of s@it all players perfer real grass to plastic and the only team to continously complain about our pitch is dundalk maybe the results might have something to do with your excuses.

[SMorgan]

what a crock of s@it all players perfer real grass to plastic and the only team to continously complain about our pitch is dundalk maybe the results might have something to do with your excuses.

Well as soon as a club proposes to play on plastic you make that point. I am not sure of the relevance of your comment in the context of this discussion other than to show how ignorant some people can be.

However, in relation to the pitch in Monaghan, it was very dangerous and its stomach churning to hear people give off about the magnificent surface in Oriel Park while turning a blind eye to the surfaces at grounds such as CHP. It was rock hard and a ball rolling along the ground could not go more than 2 metres without bobbling up. It was horrendous.

[passerrby]

I have yet to hear a player or official complain about our surface no club has asked for a safety inspection in fact it is in excellent condition the only ones to complain are the one with the superiorty complex who have to go home with the tails between there legs not having got the points they thought they were assured of.
Finnally we were not required to dig up our pitch to obtain a licenc

[Northern Light]

Can someone please explain why Cork City were still allowed to use their ground last season when it was under development? If Drogheda just bring a dump truck and digger onto one side of their ground they can also claim their existing ground is under development. This should be enough to allow them use their own pitch. Otherwise if Drogheda do get demoted then Cork City should be pitched into the first division too.

I'm not sure what your point is or the relvance to Drogs situation. All they were doing was covering a seated area (they havent finished yet!) at the St Annes end - nobody had access to it - the remainder ofthe ground (which is also seated) was still available and safe and provided sufficient space (approx 6,500 seats) for demand . It was nothing to do with licencing as the ground was already up to standard - Drogs as far as I know is not.

[adamd164]

Can someone please explain why Cork City were still allowed to use their ground last season when it was under development? If Drogheda just bring a dump truck and digger onto one side of their ground they can also claim their existing ground is under development. This should be enough to allow them use their own pitch. Otherwise if Drogheda do get demoted then Cork City should be pitched into the first division too.

That's absolute nonsense. Turner's Cross would get a license with or without the roof on the St Annes End of the ground; United Park is will never be licensing standard. There's no comparison between the two situations.

[garyderry]

That's absolute nonsense. Turner's Cross would get a license with or without the roof on the St Annes End of the ground; United Park is will never be licensing standard. There's no comparison between the two situations.

Sounded more like bitterness against cork than based on any reality what so ever, Drogs only got there licience the last few years based on there new ground going to be built.

No relevance to Cork, who have the best stadium in the league, by some degree now Tolka is not be kept up to standard.

[SMorgan]

A small technical point,

CORK CITY DON'T HAVE A STADIUM!!!