Drogheda

**Dodge** · 11/12/2010, 7:29 PM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...r-2456985.html

Surprised it hasn't got a mention.

If they're predicting a shortfall of €150k for 2011, shouldn't thye just knock €150k off the budget?

**Jofspring** · 11/12/2010, 7:38 PM

They would struggle next season but surely they will just have to go back to playing all young players that are coming through from the A team with a few older heads in the team to at least keep the club afloat, similar to Salthill, Wexford, Mervue.

**Spudulika** · 11/12/2010, 9:45 PM

Maybe Drogs fans could enlighten us, though it could be a case of not wanting to admit the need to rebuild from the ground up. It was only a couple of years ago when they went close to a giantkilling in Europe, not to mention winning trophies. The sensible thing is to cut their cloth to suit their budget, though from what I've been hearing there will be more clubs in trouble come this time next year. If all clubs played by the rules - paid only on contract and nothing under the table, then the LOI wouldn't be in freefall.

**Ezeikial** · 12/12/2010, 12:13 AM

Unfortunately there is nothing unexpected in this latest report about financial diifficulties at Drogheda. There were reports in October of €30k-€40k being needed just to make the seasons end, and I would be amazed if the extent of the difficulties are as simple as there being a projected shortfall of €150k by end of the season of 2011, as the Indo report implies (and almost certainly not as simple as cutting the 2011 playing budget by €150k).

The Drogheda folk may well be worn out with "crises meetings" and repeated calls to save the club from extinction - there could be little appetitite and even less spare cash for another, especially facing into the graveyard division

The proposed closer involvement of the Claret and Blue Club last year did not seem to materialise in the way it was being suggested, and there is a real possiblity that Drogheda United may not survive the current prediciment.

I really hope that this does not prove to be the case.

**pineapple stu** · 12/12/2010, 5:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

If they're predicting a shortfall of €150k for 2011, shouldn't thye just knock €150k off the budget?

But then how would they win stuff?

How've they gotten into such a bad position so shortly after having most of their debt written off?

**Lim till i die** · 13/12/2010, 1:06 PM

Pretty quiet in here!!

I can only assume there's absolutely no one with money backing them and every club needs one. Even a completely amateur setup is going to cost you a couple of hundred grand.

Was looking forward to the trips up there an all

**passerrby** · 13/12/2010, 1:13 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...r-2456985.html

Surprised it hasn't got a mention.

If they're predicting a shortfall of €150k for 2011, shouldn't thye just knock €150k off the budget?

what if their budget is €150K

**Dodge** · 13/12/2010, 1:18 PM

Well then, uh-oh!

**DRDoc** · 13/12/2010, 3:23 PM

for a 40 week season, a budget of 3750 a week would amount to . . . .150k

**Lim till i die** · 13/12/2010, 3:42 PM

Assuming that includes manager and coaches you can still add in:

Insurance
Travel
Medical
Officials

Off the top of my head.

Now say Drogheda get crowds of 400 at a (fairly generous) average of 8 quid a head for 19 games. That's €60800.

Which leaves a big massive hole for someone to fill.

**pateen** · 13/12/2010, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Assuming that includes manager and coaches you can still add in:

Insurance
Travel
Medical
Officials

Off the top of my head.

Now say Drogheda get crowds of 400 at a (fairly generous) average of 8 quid a head for 19 games. That's €60800.

Which leaves a big massive hole for someone to fill.

Chryst!
When you put it that way that makes things quite scary for any club.
Hope to see FORAS figures if they release them to members

**Lim till i die** · 13/12/2010, 4:14 PM

Just thought of training facilities aswell.

EDIT: And The Revenue. And Auditors.

**SkStu** · 13/12/2010, 4:25 PM

its not just gates though is it? Every club has more than one stream of income, be it - sponsorship, bar revenue, merchandise, club lottos and fundraising etc etc...

Dont be scared Pateen.

**Dodge** · 13/12/2010, 4:27 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

its not just gates though is it? Every club has more than one stream of income, be it - sponsorship, bar revenue, merchandise, club lottos and fundraising etc etc...

Dont be scared Pateen.

Not forgetting loans from fans, double mortgages, begging buckets etc etc

(yeah it was easy, so what? )

**Mr A** · 13/12/2010, 4:28 PM

Yeah, but sponsorship in particular has collapsed recently. Businesses are getting it too tight to spend on that sort of thing any more. It's going to hurt the clubs very badly this season.

Even the normally reliable fundraisers seem to take a lot more effort for a lot less return these days.