Cork City Financial Discussion

**tiktok** · 02/03/2009, 8:11 AM

The Indo are reporting that CCFC's licence is safe regardless.
That seems ridiculous, even to me.

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By Neil Ahern

Monday March 02 2009

THE FAI confirmed last night that Cork City are in possession of a full Premier Division licence for 2009, despite the fact that some players did not receive the back wages promised to them last Friday.

There was confusion among fans as to the club's Premier Division fate after it emerged over the weekend that Cork's players did not receive their monthly salary for February, which in some cases was to include an instalment of back payments owed from 2008.

But the Irish Independent learned last night that the Leesiders' 2009 licence is in no danger as the agreements reached on the back-paid wages before last Friday's deadline were enough to put them in the clear under UEFA licensing laws.

Three players did request that they be paid up front and the FAI has confirmed that they have been paid in full.

Punishment

Therefore, the only immediate punishment City may receive for reneging on agreements with the remaining players is a transfer embargo -- a mere slap on the wrist considering that the full transfer deadline closed last week.

Any embargo before July's transfer window would merely result in the club being unable to sign any out-of-work players.

Speaking about the situation last night, an FAI spokesperson said: "Cork City have told us that they have issued the payments to the players.

"However, if the players have issues, they have every right to write to League director Fran Gavin and necessary actions will be taken."

FAI internal compliance officer Padraig Smith and PFAI secretary Stephen McGuinness will travel to Cork this week for crunch talks with Cork City owner Tom Coughlan to clarify the reasons for the recent problems at the club.

Indeed, club captain Dan Murray was contacted by FAI representatives on Saturday to discuss the worsening situation, which resulted in one anonymous player expressing his anger to a Sunday newspaper.

"We had a meeting with the club a couple of weeks ago when they asked certain things of us regarding training, and we asked things of them with regard to wages," the player is quoted as saying.

"They wanted us to act in a professional manner and we expected the same of them.

"Last month the cheques didn't arrive until after 5pm on the last Friday of the month, when it was too late to lodge them to our bank accounts.

Wages

"This month's wages were due to arrive in the bank on Wednesday, but we waited until Friday and nothing arrived.

"It seems we are no better off now than we were under the old owners last season," he continued.

It is understood much of the confusion has arisen from a switch in payment methods at Cork, from a cheque system to an electronic system, as well as a change from weekly to monthly payments.

"We are very disappointed players weren't paid on time," said McGuinness yesterday.

"But at the moment we're working with the FAI and Cork City to make sure it is cleared up and it does not happen again."

**Dodge** · 02/03/2009, 8:55 AM

Its bad when I'm more fearful for Cork than angry about this. Seriously, this just isn't on.

**pineapple stu** · 02/03/2009, 9:01 AM

Originally Posted by tiktok

If you won't, Fingal will!

*cough*

In fairness, while I agree Cork should be penalised for what's gone on, I don't think you can relegate a club one week before the season begins when they've already drawn up contracts based on a Premier Division budget. That seems to be just asking for more trouble, as tiktok has pointed out. It's too late to take action now; the FAI's own deadline is way to late to allow them to change anything, and action should have been done weeks ago when players were being signed in the knowledge that they probably couldn't be paid; a transfer embargo then seems (in hindsight) to have been the best way to go.

Interesting to see how Cork fare this season. If they go into examinership twice in the space of twelve months, there's little chance of them coming out, I would have thought.

Is the FORAS money gone into the club?

**RonnieB** · 02/03/2009, 9:03 AM

What a fcuking joke. If it were another "smaller" club I wonder if the FAI would be so helpful.

**pineapple stu** · 02/03/2009, 9:05 AM

Like Cobh?

**tiktok** · 02/03/2009, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

*cough*

Or UCD of course.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Interesting to see how Cork fare this season. If they go into examinership twice in the space of twelve months, there's little chance of them coming out, I would have thought.

We won't go back into examinership, should it happen. It'd be straight into liquidation this time and a scrambling firesale of whatever baubles we have.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Is the FORAS money gone into the club?

No, not a penny of it.

**pineapple stu** · 02/03/2009, 9:12 AM

Originally Posted by tiktok

No, not a penny of it.

So the obvious next question is - where is that money? Should it not go to the club now to tide them through this mess? Or is it insufficient? Or are they waiting, Rovers-style, to get enough money together to buy Coughlan out?

**Celdrog** · 02/03/2009, 9:18 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Like Cobh?

Or Dundalk, who didn't pay their players last March due to a "clerical error".

I don't see how Cork can be punished for this if its a one off. If it continues then its a diferent matter

**pineapple stu** · 02/03/2009, 9:20 AM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

I don't see how Cork can be punished for this if its a one off.

The difference is that Cork were given a provisional licence on the basis that their finances were up to date by last Friday.

**Dodge** · 02/03/2009, 9:22 AM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

I don't see how Cork can be punished for this if its a one off. If it continues then its a diferent matter

Its 2 months in a row. And the players are paid monthly

**Macy** · 02/03/2009, 9:25 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

The difference is that Cork were given a provisional licence on the basis that their finances were up to date by last Friday.

Sure the FAI are great and Licencing isn't a farce. Same old people on about the negatives...

**tiktok** · 02/03/2009, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

So the obvious next question is - where is that money? Should it not go to the club now to tide them through this mess? Or is it insufficient? Or are they waiting, Rovers-style, to get enough money together to buy Coughlan out?

The money is in a Bank Account.
If the club request any money from FORAS, it'll be up to members to decide where it goes.

I'd be completely against handing any of that money over to the club right now, at leeast that's how I'd vote.

**pineapple stu** · 02/03/2009, 10:05 AM

So the club are in the mess they're in, and they haven't asked for any of the money?

Interesting strategy!

**swano** · 02/03/2009, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by tiktok

The money is in a Bank Account.
If the club request any money from FORAS, it'll be up to members to decide where it goes.

I'd be completely against handing any of that money over to the club right now, at leeast that's how I'd vote.

I think you are absolutely correct. Giving the club money to tide it over will leave you powerless to do anything if, in a few months, the same problem arises. We used to give our club money without much thought until people realised there was nothing to be gained in the long term by just handing over money without having a say in how it was used.

**SMorgan** · 02/03/2009, 4:42 PM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

Or Dundalk, who didn't pay their players last March due to a "clerical error".

Keep off those mushrooms, they're making you hallucinate!!!

**Celdrog** · 02/03/2009, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by SMorgan

Keep off those mushrooms, they're making you hallucinate!!!

Just because Maxi didn't go to the PFAI headquarters with a can of petrol doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Gerry Matthews knew it happened

**Nesta99** · 02/03/2009, 5:47 PM

Drogs fan commenting on Players not being paid

There was no clerical error, the players were informed that they would be payed after a lying week as is standard practice with many businesses! Vaughan and Lynch were quoted in the press as having a problem with this, they vehemently denied making contact with either the PFAI or media. Legal advice was sought on behalf of the two players and the gutter press journalist involved apologised! The players were informed in advance of this change in payment system. Now back on topic. I am worried for CCFC and cant understand the appearant recklesness that is persisting after last seasons messing

**Celdrog** · 02/03/2009, 7:24 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Drogs fan commenting on Players not being paid

Give me 1 reason why I can't comment on players not being paid?

**SMorgan** · 02/03/2009, 7:39 PM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

Just because Maxi didn't go to the PFAI headquarters with a can of petrol doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Gerry Matthews knew it happened

Not sure what the story you're linking is meant to prove. You say that Dundalk didn't pay wages and they said that it was due to a 'clerical error'. I say your arse is completely out the window on this and you haven't a clue what you're talking about. Now, prove me wrong, please

Originally Posted by Celdrog

Give me 1 reason why I can't comment on players not being paid?

Oh, of course you can comment, just like we can laugh at you for doing so!!

**brianw82** · 02/03/2009, 7:47 PM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

Give me 1 reason why I can't comment on players not being paid?

Because Drogheda's financial problems mean you'll never, ever be allowed comment on any players not being paid ever again.

Didn't you read section 4.3 of the foot.ie charter?

"If thost club hast financial problems, it dost forbid thee from speaking about financial problems of other clubs. Forever."

It's right after section 4.2 - "Do you know that for a fact?"