The Derry City thread - Derry sign first four players

**Mr A** · 06/11/2009, 3:44 PM

Stephen Kenny on relegation: 'We don't want to contemplate that' and spoke about all the wasted effort from volunteers etc. Says the club solicitor is on it.

**EalingGreen** · 06/11/2009, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by Finlay Harp

Did the IFA not bend the rules for Coleraine a couple of years ago and allow them to start afresh whilst staying in the Irish league due to financial irregularities?

Not quite.

Afaiaa, the original club went into administration, with a new (fans-controlled) entity taking the former club's place, since at the time there was no actual provision in the IL Rules to deny a club "inheriting" membership in such circumstances!

Therefore, it was not a case of anyone "bending the rules", since technically no rule was bent/broken. Remember, this was before Licensing proper was introduced; since then the IFA has taken over the IL (as the FAI the LOI) and introduced a new Licensing Procedure which inter alia would prevent any re-occurrence.

And fwiw, the IFA does look determined to enforce the new Licensing provisions rigidly, if the example of Portadown FC - denied for submitting an otherwise valid Application 29 minutes late - is anything to go by.

Anyhow, this extract from Wiki seems reliable enough:

"The club's well-publicised financial problems had already overshadowed much of the 2003-04 season (despite a substantial donation from Cold Feet actor and Coleraine fan James Nesbitt) and at its end the club was forced to operate on a reduced budget, with several top players leaving. Despite this a top six finish was still achieved. The summer of 2005 saw more budget cuts and several big names leaving the Showgrounds, but this time the main concern for fans was the very future of the club. In August, the Inland Revenue filed for a winding-up order against Coleraine due to debts of �1.3 million. The Friends of Coleraine, worked tirelessly to persuade the High Court to postpone the hearing to allow them to put together a business plan to show that the club could be viably run. Eventually the court ruled in the club’s favour and they were allowed to enter administration and a steering committee was set up to run the club.

The club went on to defeat Instsitute to win the North West Senior Cup for the 17th time. Premier League survival was ensured on the pitch and in June 2006, the Friends of Coleraine formally took control of the club and appointed a new board. In 2008 the club reached the Irish Cup final, but lost 2-1 to Linfield"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleraine_F.C.

**OneRedArmy** · 06/11/2009, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Stephen Kenny on relegation: 'We don't want to contemplate that' and spoke about all the wasted effort from volunteers etc. Says the club solicitor is on it.

You missed the, "very well paid manager who will likely be out of a job" between the words "Kenny" and "on".

Whilst he may not want to contemplate relegation, it doesn't mean its ain't gonna happen.

As an aside, usual shoddy way of doing its business through the press by the FAI though.

**EalingGreen** · 06/11/2009, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Worse than that. The FAI could hit us with the ultimate sanction - being sent back to the Irish League....

Considering DCFC's present "relationship" with Swifts, Linfield and Cliftonville, I wouldn't be so certain that the IL would even have you back...

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Who - you ?! Never.....!

Remind me what you said again about adding to already exaggerated rumour.....?

Speculation, even when added to other peoples rumours, is really only a problem when presented as "fact". Whereas I have been entirely open about what I have been suggesting or guessing.

But as it happens, the rumours which have been spread here and elsewhere, by both fans and non-fans of DCFC, are turning out to be a hell of a sight more reliable than the "Official Statements" being put out by the Directors of the club.

Therefore unless you have a particular preference for "playing the man, not the ball", you might be better served directing your sarcasm in their direction, not mine.

**EalingGreen** · 06/11/2009, 4:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

From Radio Foyle...

The FAI meeting takes place at 1.30 tomorrow. Derry are seeking to delay their meeting with the FAI tomorrow.

How long does it take to search down the back of the sofa?

Originally Posted by Mr A

From Radio Foyle...
DCFC club solicitor Des Doherty* pointing out that no charges have been made and the club are unaware of why the FAI want to meet them.

Er, could it be that they have been "called to the Headmaster's Study" in order to be presented with charges?

Normally you talk about something "going beyond a joke", but this has "gone beyond serious" and is ending up a total joke (with due apology to DCFC fans, who can't be finding any of it funny)

* - That would be the same solicitor who was previously unaware eg that the club had signed an agreement with Dungannon Swifts to hand over a percentage of any transfer fee received for Niall McGinn?

**pineapple stu** · 06/11/2009, 4:26 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

How long does it take to search down the back of the sofa?

There's only four days to stall till the play-off first leg, so I'd say four days two hours and 19 minutes.

**SMorgan** · 06/11/2009, 5:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

....

DCFC club solicitor Des Doherty pointing out that no charges have been made and the club are unaware of why the FAI want to meet them.

Good defence, play stupid and pretend you don't know what everybody is on about.

I am all for not relegating them. Relegate Bray and get Derry City to play Drogheda in the play-off.

**dortie** · 06/11/2009, 5:03 PM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

how in the world could anyone sensible possibly have thought that we were going to make up a 30-odd point gap?

.

Believe me Kenny's objective was to win the league. It may not have been made public but the money and resources where given to him to do just that.

The board obviously have made bad decisions but it didnt help getting beat at home by Sligo/Dundalk etc. Not to mention getting dumed out of the cup.

**iceman** · 06/11/2009, 5:11 PM

Originally Posted by dortie

Believe me Kenny's objective was to win the league. It may not have been made public but the money and resources where given to him to do just that.

Is that why there were two sets of books?

**EalingGreen** · 06/11/2009, 5:13 PM

Originally Posted by dortie

Believe me Kenny's objective was to win the league. It may not have been made public but the money and resources where given to him to do just that.

Can't comment on whether given those resources, it was feasible that Kenny could win the League.

But even if they had, could the extra revenue which would have been generated (increased gates/prize money/corporate, CL entry etc) possibly have matched all the extra money they must have been gambling (assuming they really are hundreds of thousands "in the hole")?

**dortie** · 06/11/2009, 5:37 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Can't comment on whether given those resources, it was feasible that Kenny could win the League.

But even if they had, could the extra revenue which would have been generated (increased gates/prize money/corporate, CL entry etc) possibly have matched all the extra money they must have been gambling (assuming they really are hundreds of thousands "in the hole")?

I personally think it would have had a major impact on the debt, reducing it significantly, add to that the exit from the Cup and the gates we lost from that. We literally won damn all prize-money over two seasons, and you know how that effects home attendance - specifically Derry, fighting for the league in the last month or two can be the difference of 4,000 or 1,500 every home game. Its not rocket science.

**Mr A** · 06/11/2009, 5:49 PM

Richie Sadlier and Tony O Donoghue both saying that Derry are to be relegated on RTE.

**thischarmingman** · 06/11/2009, 5:58 PM

Originally Posted by dortie

Believe me Kenny's objective was to win the league. It may not have been made public but the money and resources where given to him to do just that.

The board obviously have made bad decisions but it didnt help getting beat at home by Sligo/Dundalk etc. Not to mention getting dumed out of the cup.

But it's not like we were up there at the end of last season and just needed a little extra push- we were miles off the pace. Referring to losses against Sligo and Dundalk makes it sound as though that's what has let us down this season when we had the exact same problems last season. All last season anyone could see that we while we were capable of playing lovely football against teams who opened up against us, we couldn't break down teams, we lacked imagination at times, we lacked creativity at times and we didn't seem to be in possession of a plan B. And that was with McCourt and McGinn. Not to mention the fact that we could have done with a 20-a-season striker.

Roll on this season, we lose McCourt and McGinn and lo and behold, we while are capable of playing lovely football against teams who open up against us, we can't break down teams, we lack imagination a lot, we lack creativity a lot and we don't seem to be in possession of a plan B. Not to mention the fact that we could do with a 20-a-season striker.

The nicest thing I can say is that if you expected City to win the league this year you were letting your heart rule your head.

**galwayjames** · 06/11/2009, 6:22 PM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

But it's not like we were up there at the end of last season and just needed a little extra push- we were miles off the pace.

To be fair everyone was off the pace last year, Rovers, Cork etc... & I would have to say the Derry squad was good enough to be challenging for the league, sure you were only a few points off at the start of June, a run without scoring goals if I remember correctly killed your challenge....

**MariborKev** · 07/11/2009, 12:11 AM

Emotional, but a great's night craic tonight.

My personal favourite was the rendition of "Suspicious Minds" at the board......

**brendy_�ire** · 07/11/2009, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by MariborKev

Emotional, but a great's night craic tonight.

My personal favourite was the rendition of "Suspicious Minds" at the board......

Wile emotional.

Can't believe we're gone.

**A N Mouse** · 07/11/2009, 1:01 AM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Considering DCFC's present "relationship" with Swifts, Linfield and Cliftonville, I wouldn't be so certain that the IL would even have you back...

Do you ever devolve?

Aside from the reasons given re: not wanting to go back. The reason why there'll be no team in the IL calling the Brandywell home, anytime soon was discussed several hundred posts ago and yet you persist with meaningless drivel.

**Acornvilla** · 07/11/2009, 1:11 AM

Originally Posted by A N Mouse

Do you ever devolve?

Aside from the reasons given re: not wanting to go back. The reason why there'll be no team in the IL calling the Brandywell home, anytime soon was discussed several hundred posts ago and yet you persist with meaningless drivel.

EG keeps repeating the same sort of stuff over and over so the discussion goes around in circles arg!!

and would ya go ta bed