Limerick FC set to be wound up

[gufc2000]

Sorry to continue the derail, but...

How about organising a pre-season tournament, like Ajax's Amsterdam tournament, with decent-sized European clubs, like Lyon, PSV, Atletico Madrid, Everton, Aston Villa etc., and a LOI select playing. Play the matches either at Lansdowne, or split between Lansdowne and Thomond. Split the profits between the league clubs.

If there was an average attendance of 25000, at €20 a ticket, that's half a million a game, so with 8 teams, 2 groups, semis and a final, that's 9 games, or 4.5 million, less expenses, to split among the clubs, or just over 200 000 a club.

That's just conjecture at figures, but I don't think there'd be a club in the league who'd turn their noses up at 20 000 even, so it could be well worth a shot.

Market it to the event junkies as a massive event with top European sides and I don't see any reason why there couldn't be those sorts of attendance figures at that sort of price.

Mind you, clubs would probably just juggle their budgets so they were still going bust with the extra money!

I couldn't see the barstoolers getting out for PSV and Everton. Sorry, but thats just my opinion

[pineapple stu]

It was done a few years back. LoI champions v three invited clubs; semi finals and final/third placed play off all in Lansdowne. Pat's played Liverpool and the loser of Leeds and Lazio. Derry beat Celtic and played Newcastle, who beat Ajax in the other semi? Dunno how it worked exactly, but it was a good idea. Although obviously summer soccer will make it harder to organise now, as it was a pre-season tournament for all the sides.

[L.T.F.C.]

It was done a few years back. LoI champions v three invited clubs; semi finals and final/third placed play off all in Lansdowne. Pat's played Liverpool and the loser of Leeds and Lazio. Derry beat Celtic and played Newcastle, who beat Ajax in the other semi? Dunno how it worked exactly, but it was a good idea. Although obviously summer soccer will make it harder to organise now, as it was a pre-season tournament for all the sides.

what year was that?

[pineapple stu]

Around 97/98. Derry and Pat's were league champions the previous seasons.

RTÉ showed all the games live too, I think.

[Longfordian]

I was just thinking about that yesterday, it was called the Umbro Cup or something wasn't it?. The games were on TV alright but I think it may have been Sky rather than RTE or maybe they both showed them I don't know.

[thischarmingman]

Around 97/98. Derry and Pat's were league champions the previous seasons.

RTÉ showed all the games live too, I think.

I was just thinking about that yesterday, it was called the Umbro Cup or something wasn't it?. The games were on TV alright but I think it may have been Sky rather than RTE or maybe they both showed them I don't know.

Some info about it. Can't find anything about the Newcastle game online although I know there's footage of both games out there.

Derry City 3-2 Celtic, 15th July 1997

PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Celtic, 16th July 1997

Different competition but a couple of days later:

St. Pats 1-1 Celtic, 18th July 1997

[Town Legend]

As a Newcastle supporter I remember the tournament alright!!! Its the only thing we've won in years and we're still celebrating it!!!!

I'm nearly sure it was called the Carlsberg Cup but not 100% sure on that!!! Kenny Dalglish was in charge of Newcastle at the time.

Newcastle beat Derry 2-0 in the Final.

Coverage was on Sky because I remember looking for it on RTE but they didn't show it live only the highlights.

[thischarmingman]

I'm nearly sure it was called the Carlsberg Cup but not 100% sure on that!!!

Yeah, it was the Carlsberg Cup. The following year featured Liverpool, Lazio, Leeds, and St.Patrick's Athletic. Leeds won I think.

LIVERPOOL were given a searching work-out by Premier Division Champions, St Patrick's Athletic, in the opening game of last night's Carlsberg Cup Tournament before 20,000 fans at Landsdowne Road.

LEEDS UNITED are through to met old rivals Liverpool in today's final of the Carlsberg Cup at Lansdowne Road after seeing off Italian Serie A side Lazio in a penalty shoot-out, last night.

http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer...8/01/phead.htm

[Marco]

and how do the FAI get Real/Barce/Liverpool, or Inter/Juve/Bayern to come to Ireland to play these matches? Those clubs have to get some of that money too... there won't be much left after for one club, nevermind if its divided up between the clubs in the region. If there is alot of money after everyone has ben paid, out of the Leinster region match for example the Dublin Clubs will want more money (except UCD) because they are Premier Division clubs and have to pay more money to their players, managers, and backroom staff. The FAI will oblige becuse they are stones', and the First Division clubs will get even less, widening the gap between the two divisions.

Simple, use the contacts that Brady,Trapp & Tardelli have, i'm sure it might open their eyes to what is happening in the league. don't we have a dutch guy in charge of the under age section, and Pakie Bonner works for the FAI. The simple fact is that clubs are very close to being wound up and something should be done sooner rather than later. On the flip side who would get what, or would it be split evenly? should Bohs get the same amount as Kildare ... why not use the money from the opening game in the Aviva for the league teams or will the FAi say that they are giving out enough money to clubs allready????

[L.T.F.C.]

Simple, use the contacts that Brady,Trapp & Tardelli have, i'm sure it might open their eyes to what is happening in the league. don't we have a dutch guy in charge of the under age section, and Pakie Bonner works for the FAI. The simple fact is that clubs are very close to being wound up and something should be done sooner rather than later. On the flip side who would get what, or would it be split evenly? should Bohs get the same amount as Kildare ... why not use the money from the opening game in the Aviva for the league teams or will the FAi say that they are giving out enough money to clubs allready????

what? Do you seriously think first of all that Brady,Trapp & Tardelli give a fvck whats happening in the LOI? Second of all do you think that a phone call from Brady,Trapp & Tardelli will entice European opposition to come to Ireland. Do you not think that that the big boys in within these clubs will even pass much heed when neither Brady,Trapp nor Tardelli even look at the LOI for players.

[RonnieB]

Tardelli stomped around Flancare.....

[L.T.F.C.]

Tardelli stomped around Flancare.....

unfortuneatly not for the league.

[dcfcsteve]

Wont happen as fast as we think, but this club is in need of investors, stable ones with long term plans, not just someone whose gonna keep us afloat for a few months.

It's not "investors" that Limerick is in need of. That suggests a group of people with either an expectation of a financial return for any money they put in (zero chance) or happy to bank-roll the club themselves (completely unsustainable).

What Limerick needs is to operate within its financial limits, and to only increase spending when income increases. The same for every other club.

[dcfcsteve]

It hardly needs to be said that LOI clubs are skint, with little hope of steady income streams. Athlone Town "filled" Lisseywoolen witha Sunderland game, helped them out for a little while, but my idea is this::::

Instead of allowing a single club to host a glamour tie that make a few bob that'll last a season (i say few due to stadium capacity limitations) could FAI have a LOI representative side play the likes of Real/Barce/Liverpool and divide proceeds to league?

Real V Munster LOI selection raising money for Limerick, Cork City, improving regional facilities, and play it in Thomond, not turners cross, and get 3 times the gate??

Barca visit dublin and play a Leinster selection, you'd fill aviva with it!! make it an annual thing with different high profile clubs Inter/Juve/Bayern...


Just an idea....

FAI need to something before we lose more clubs... Dublin City/Kilkenny/Cobh

FFS everyone - what's with the mad cap plans as a pipe-dream for making Irish football work ?

Here's a crazy idea - how about clubs just don't spend any more money than they have ? It's a bit leftfield, I know - but it just might work.

And it certainly makes more sense than hoping glamour friendlies can bail us out once a year. The key word is 'sustainable'. Relying on anyone outside of our league to keep us afloat is simply not sustainable. We need to be masters of our own destiny.

And what's this idea about the FAI being responsible for bailing clubs out who keep making stupid fcuking decisions ? Club and fans have to grow up and accept that those responsible for keeping a club afloat are first and foremost the Board and the supporters.

[dcfcsteve]

Good points...

Real are over this summer, and are hardly being paid for the match they will play. So FAI takes a lead in marketing Ireland as a pre-season training destination, maybe with Bord Failte/Ministry of Sport?

Think outside the box people!!! sorry, people in FAI!!! as they need to do SOMETHING

I'm not deliberately having a go at you OG, but your suggestions aren't at all feasible.

Firstly- how are we going to attract more than one or two clubs to Ireland at any one time without better facilities ? Sports facilities in the country are poor.

Secondly - our weather is unreliable.

Thirdly - overseas pre-season taining camps are used not just to start off preparation for a season, but also as a bit of a treat for the team. That's why clubs go to nice, warm destinations like Spain, Portugal, Florida etc.

We'd be kidding ourselves if we think more than the occasional big club would want to come to Ireland with our poor facilities, shaky weather and distinct lack of glamour/attraction as a destination. We get lower Championship or First Division level clubs (e.g. Milwall) on tours as Ireland is about as high as they can aim.

And again - what's with the 'FAI must do SOMETHING bullsh!t ?!? They tried tournaments like Carlsberg before, and the Irish public had very little interest.

[Magicme]

FFS everyone - what's with the mad cap plans as a pipe-dream for making Irish football work ?

Here's a crazy idea - how about clubs just don't spend any more money than they have ? It's a bit leftfield, I know - but it just might work.

And it certainly makes more sense than hoping glamour friendlies can bail us out once a year. The key word is 'sustainable'. Relying on anyone outside of our league to keep us afloat is simply not sustainable. We need to be masters of our own destiny.

And what's this idea about the FAI being responsible for bailing clubs out who keep making stupid fcuking decisions ? Club and fans have to grow up and accept that those responsible for keeping a club afloat are first and foremost the Board and the supporters.

Aww, but when you do follow that model, and spend your money on developing the game for the future, you are not "ambitious" apparently.

Personally I think every club's main "ambition" should be to stay in football.

[saintmaniac]

I remember going to that Carlsberg tournament as a kid, and the ignorance of the barstoolers, not just about the game, but towards LOI fans, was shocking. Liverpool beat us 4-3 in the end, but we gave them a good game of it. I think we were 3 or 4-1 down at one stage, but fought back, and Eddie Gormley scored the third some time late in the second half, at which a lot of barstoolers got up and left in disgust because "we should be battering them". I was about ten or eleven and couldn't believe the inherent stupidity of people over twice my age... Conversion? I don't think so.

[Hitman]

Yeah, it was the Carlsberg Cup. The following year featured Liverpool, Lazio, Leeds, and St.Patrick's Athletic. Leeds won I think.

Liverpool beat Leeds 2-0 in the final for what it's worth.

[LK37oldskool]

[CODE]
What Limerick needs is to operate within its financial limits, and to only increase spending when income increases. The same for every other club.[/quote]
Its a mystery to all in Limerick how we're all of a sudden in financial difficulties.Limerick pay the players very little and it costs around 500euro per game to rent Jackman Park while averaging about 650/700 per home game along with draws and other events run by the supporters,its hard to fathom how our out goings could be dragging down the club to the possibility of being wound up.

[balanced view]

http://www.limerickleader.ie/sport/L...-to.5365978.jp

Piece in local paper today. club haven't released a statement because there is nothing to report.