FAI Reject Cobh Ground Purchase

**Mr A** · 26/01/2009, 9:42 PM

All very strange, it seems the FAI feel they can't assist a club in this way any longer, although the door seems open after licensing is done...

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0126/cobh.html

**Longfordian** · 26/01/2009, 9:46 PM

They don't want other clubs in the same situation to be looking for the same deal I suppose. They could be looking at ways of helping Cobh or any other club without having to buy the ground, possibly go guarantor on loans or something. You'd have to expect all clubs to be treated equally. The statement doesn't seem too bullish about their chances of getting a Licence though.

**rambler14** · 26/01/2009, 10:40 PM

We be fooked!

I understand why they rejected it though. If they helped us like the plan was, then what was to stop every club demanding this way out!

**gael353** · 26/01/2009, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

We be fooked!

I understand why they rejected it though. If they helped us like the plan was, then what was to stop every club demanding this way out!

agreed but who paid Rovers legal bill vs Tomas Davis?? who ownes Bishopstown? United park? Dalymount park? how did drogs come up with a sudden couple of grand after talks with the FAI to settle with their players? i also think that if Cobh were on their own that the FAI would do the deal but there are so bloody many clubs in trouble (sorry making profit) that it would one be one after the other etc etc

its A league for cobh now and by right with this debt over their heads but wait that would mean making a decision to demote them.....

**bellavistaman** · 27/01/2009, 12:54 AM

A League would be fantastic at this moment were in big trouble. Good point about the other clubs getting money in past gael.

**don ramo** · 27/01/2009, 7:17 AM

our licence is in order we have the tax clearance cert, our ground is premiership standard, we have no wages as of yet so that can be arranged to suit our needs be it amateur semi pro, whatever, but ill say this

we are not goin to enter the f***ing A league, how would any club pay back a debth with 100 fans at a game, at least first division rams would be guaranteed 3-400+,

i understand what the FAI are sayin, but we are not the first club to do this AFAIK bary done exactly what we wanted to do, and now there doing well,

**Mr A** · 27/01/2009, 7:58 AM

Most of the deals mentioned above happened before licensing though.. I think it may have been the FAI's legal advisors that pointed out that if they helped Cobh to such an extent that possible legal action could follow from other clubs which may not get a license.

To me there is a slight suggestion in this that there could be real problems for some clubs with licensing.

**Dodge** · 27/01/2009, 8:28 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

To me there is a slight suggestion in this that there could be real problems for some clubs with licensing.

Its not that slight IMO. Pretty clear statement. Hopefully Coph can get their license and the FAi can then look at how to help them

**A face** · 27/01/2009, 8:55 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Its not that slight IMO. Pretty clear statement.

We always knew this day would come. Some clubs will struggle with this big time and only sustainable clubs will survive. The thing is though, when Cobh live within their means they are a great club, its the in fighting and stuff thats been going on over the last while thats killing them. No club could do as well as they have with that amount of division. Neither side will back down.

**GenerationXI** · 27/01/2009, 9:21 AM

The final paragraph would suggest it's not all over for Cobh. IMO the FAI shouldn't fund clubs directly. I do think they should maybe seek buyers/financiers for clubs in trouble, be they Irish or foreign, but directly financing our shambolic clubs is not the way to go. Sorry Cobh, if this happened to Limerick I'd be saying the same thing - it's just desserts. You have to live within your means.

**6yardpunisha** · 27/01/2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by GenerationXI

The final paragraph would suggest it's not all over for Cobh. IMO the FAI shouldn't fund clubs directly. I do think they should maybe seek buyers/financiers for clubs in trouble, be they Irish or foreign, but directly financing our shambolic clubs is not the way to go. Sorry Cobh, if this happened to Limerick I'd be saying the same thing - it's just desserts. You have to live within your means.

couldnt agree with you more

**dcfcsteve** · 28/01/2009, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by GenerationXI

The final paragraph would suggest it's not all over for Cobh. IMO the FAI shouldn't fund clubs directly. I do think they should maybe seek buyers/financiers for clubs in trouble, be they Irish or foreign, but directly financing our shambolic clubs is not the way to go. Sorry Cobh, if this happened to Limerick I'd be saying the same thing - it's just desserts. You have to live within your means.

Why should the FAI help clubs find financiers ?

Who should be the first recipient of any financier they can find ?

What would be in it in-return for the financiers ?

And how will bringing in outside money - that would inevitably leave again at some point, as it always does - add any stability to the league ?

Surely our clubs should bring in more money through their matchday and non-matchday activities - not through proverbial tooth fairies leaving a brown envelope under the pillow for them. Anything else would be unsustainable, and put the league in a worse posiiton, not better.

**Dodge** · 28/01/2009, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Surely our clubs should bring in more money through their matchday and non-matchday activities - not through proverbial tooth fairies leaving a brown envelope under the pillow for them. Anything else would be unsustainable, and put the league in a worse posiiton, not better.

The league is in dire need of serious investment. Providing money isn't spent on wages there is absolutely nothing wrong with outside investment. The money from within simply doens't exist

**A face** · 28/01/2009, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

The league is in dire need of serious investment. Providing money isn't spent on wages there is absolutely nothing wrong with outside investment. The money from within simply doens't exist

Agreed with that. You have a point Steve, clubs need to be sustainable but i wouldn't be turning away investment at all. And i wouldn't knock the FAI for seeking it either, they are in a good (better) position to do so, so why not if its possible.

**dcfcsteve** · 28/01/2009, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

The league is in dire need of serious investment. Providing money isn't spent on wages there is absolutely nothing wrong with outside investment. The money from within simply doens't exist

'Investment' suggests a return. And as Arkaga - an investment vehicle - found out, it's extremely difficult to make a return on any investment in Irish football.

To avoid semantics : external private sector philantrophy would be useful - so long as it's not spent on wages. But I can't think of any example where substantial private money came into an LOI club without at least some of it going on wages one way or another.

Regardless - our league and clubs need to grow and build organically and patiently, not through sporadic bursts of private sector 'growth hormone'.

**Dodge** · 28/01/2009, 1:03 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Regardless - our league and clubs need to grow and build organically and patiently, not through sporadic bursts of private sector 'growth hormone'.

They've had 100 years of that, and its done them no good. A cash injection is absolutely needed (to avoid semantics...) to pay for an upgrade to desperately basic facilities and overall club infrastructure

**A face** · 28/01/2009, 1:15 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

And as Arkaga - an investment vehicle - found out, it's extremely difficult to make a return on any investment in Irish football..

They invested nothing, not one cent. Arkaga are a basketcase Steve, i wouldn't be hinging your argument on them to be honest.

**brianw82** · 28/01/2009, 1:35 PM

To avoid semantics : external private sector philantrophy would be useful - so long as it's not spent on wages. But I can't think of any example where substantial private money came into an LOI club without at least some of it going on wages one way or another.

Mick Wallace would be the closest thing to that, but I guess he's not really 'external'

**don ramo** · 28/01/2009, 2:18 PM

whats needed is good business accume, the clubs need to be run just like a business, they should have weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly targets to meet, this is how some of the most succesfull clubs are run,

at the moment clubs will splure to win a league that pays E250k to the winner, and clubs have been spending way to much to win such a small amount, its quiet simple, if you forthnightly gates dont add up to 2 week wages, your losing money, simple as, if you have a fund set asise from fundrasieing well and good, but if not you go on your gate receipts,

a plan must be implemented to run teh club, 3-5 years , the first year will be the hardest as your getting your house in order, and the plan is to have some spare cash at the end of the year, then in year 2 you know how much you made in year 1 and can spend accordingly,

i think most clubs need a CEO who runs it more like a business than a football club, and not pushing for something that finanacially cant be acheived, fair enought youll probably win a league, but at what cost to your club

garyderry · 28/01/2009, 2:26 PM

Originally Posted by brianw82

Mick Wallace would be the closest thing to that, but I guess he's not really 'external'

A lot more than the closest thing, considering he is bankrolling the entire project and they dont pay wages. He is the untimate perfect investor, and really passionate about the project too.