QuoteIf you are around tonight then ask him. If not then see if anyone you know can ask on your behalf. Unfortunately I can't make it.Originally Posted by Spudulika
I would have been worried with the Dundalk consortium taking over and/or the Trust going in. I had hoped and thought that GM was going to be clever and get out while he didn't have to dig further holes, but there is so much still sitting there that is deeper and darker than he initially let on that it's not funny. And worse of all is his/DFC's treatment of genuine interest in the club. Of course this won't be addressed as it doesn't suit. It's just a shame they've been destroying Dundalk's standing by not just commanding the situation. The man did put his own money into the club, his own business interests have been rocked and he shold be allowed get out. But one question - was it his own money in the YDC?
If you are around tonight then ask him. If not then see if anyone you know can ask on your behalf. Unfortunately I can't make it.
Getting text updates, and I asked the GM in person and got 3 answers. So hopefully they'll clear it up tonight.
GM as in General Manager
Last edited by Spudulika; 21/11/2011 at 8:20 PM. Reason: clearing up identity
Gerry Matthews clarified this along with a big chunk of detail about the YDC previously - apart from the Sports Capital Grant of €250k he funded the rest of the construction costs jointly from his own resources and assistance from other friends/investors, on the understanding that this money would be repaid only when the YDC was fully operational and generating profits.
The report (linked below) on that Supporter meeting will also clarify that no club funds (season tickets, match ticket revenue etc was used at all), but the idea was/is that the club coffers would benefit from YDC revenue immediately it generates profits and not having to wait 20 + years untill contruction costs are paid off.
http://www.dundalkfc.com/matthews-on...lanning-levies“We started it and we went back to them, and then all of a sudden, with the recession and the cutbacks, the Capital Sports programme was abolished altogether and there was no money, so we didn’t get our money. I had a choice to make. I could try to proceed with the building – there wasn’t very much done at this stage – or not proceed with it. We put a lot of money into the design of it – we had to design it twice – and we had all our planning application fees, so I went to friends of mine who are investors, but they’re more friends than investors, and jointly we came up with a mechanism to try to finance it. We proceeded on this basis, and I just want to be clear – I was committed to building this building in Oriel Park. And the reason it was built in Oriel Park and not Hiney Park was, this is my contribution to Dundalk Football Club and the town. It could never be sold. Even if I want to sell it, I can’t sell it. If my sons want to sell it when I’m gone, they can’t sell it. This is why it was built in Oriel Park and not in Hiney Park. Had I built it in Hiney Park, I could do what I like with it – I could sell it or I could turn it into a warehouse. I want to make that clear.
20 applications for the Dundalk job.
Actualy it will be 19 once they filter my spoof application
The Trust are having another meeting next week, which is good enough.A line in the sand has to be drawn fairly soon because there is a huge sore beginining to fester,if it hasnt already gone septic!! I still have some faith in GM,but my faith decreases by the day.
Tis all mad! GM & co offer some rallying cry to DFC supporters, now it seems, going on orielweb posts, the crosshairs have been lined up on the Trust! Are fans really that malliable, fickle, or just plain stupid. Oh and if anybody ever goes to a meeting in Oriel Park dont wear a suit what ever you do, or you may be singled out as that groups 'advisor/puppet master' or something!
30 applications for the managers job was stated (start worrying Magicme), no shortage of interest from the UK and then yer usual few from LoI!
I can't access OW from work. What's being said?
nesta I think you will find that nobody is accusing the trust of anything, the main questions being asked by fans is if there is any bad blood sitting there now between the trust and gm. People are saying that there seemed to be bad vibes coming from their corner last night. I cant comment fully to the situation as I could not,make the meeting due to work commitments but from messages I got from people at that meeting was there seemed no be.
There is no issue between the trust and GM
I hear Mark McGhee is one of them
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_McGhee
According to BBC Sport this is carried by the Daily Mail -Mark McGhee, sacked a year ago by Aberdeen, has put his name forward to be the new manager of Irish club Dundalk. (Daily Mail)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/15852012.stm
Local Paper The Argus carries this report from the recent Supporter Information meeting -
http://www.argus.ie/sport/soccer/dun...s-2943184.htmlDundalk owner to relinquish control 'within six weeks'
By TERRY CONLON
Wednesday November 23 2011
DUNDALK FC owner Gerry Matthews has told the club's supporters that he is on the verge of quitting the club.
More than 200 fans attended a meeting in the Youth Development Centre on Monday night where they were brought up to date with developments regarding ownership of the club and the hunt for a new team manager.
Matthews said he is less than six weeks away from surrendering control of the club and handing over to a re-constituted board.
The club is in the process of big changes, with a new manager scheduled to be appointed in the next couple of weeks to replace Ian Foster, whose contract was not renewed after two years in charge.
Close on 30 applicants have applied for the vacant post, and the club this week was still receiving CVS, although the deadline has passed for applications. The club was 'very happy with the calibre of candidates', General Manger Paul Johnston said yesterday.
They include World Cup players and former players from home and overseas, with the club's preference being for a replacement or at least a backroom member of staff with personal knowledge of the League.
Mr Johnston said the club will be looking to provide the successful candidate with a player budget of between €5,000 and €6,000, and plans to start interviews for the post next week.
Dundalk FC has gone through a period of turmoil since before the season ended, with proposed takeovers involving the Supporters Trust and an investors group consisting of the principals of the club's former main sponsors Fastfix and former Financial Director Ciaran Bond failing to materialise. The club are also looking for a new
Stepping down - Gerry Matthews. main sponsor.
The club owner said his departure after five years in charge could be even sooner than the six weeks he announced with a revamped board in the process of being set up, comprising eight to 10 members, with possibly four newcomers.
There were strongand heartfelt calls by, among others, club president Jim Reilly 'to put to bed any discontent or ill feeling' and for all to get behind the club, as Mr Matthews addressed issues and rebutted criticism of him.
He offered to open club accounts for examination to an outside accountant or auditor and also a quantity surveyor to look into the cost of the newly-opened Youth Development Centre, which he insisted was a big asset to the club - but wouldn't be pumping any more money into Dundalk FC.
The club was successful in negotiations with the Town Council to reduce the €430,000 planning levy on the building and to agree a structured payment scheme, he revealed.
He asserted that the club met all its financial commitments since he took over, including paying players. He also stated that, contrary to reports, the Oriel Park synthetic surface had been accorded two-star rating which means that it can stage Champions League games.
Johnston said that the club expected to have a four-member interview panel in place by the end of the week, one with football experience, and a representative of the board, business community and Supporters Trust, guided by a mentor with Human Relations qualifications.
Matthews said 'different people have been approached and have expressed willingness to join the board. So I think it will be time for me to step down. Some existing members might go and some might stay and there will be additions,' he said.
He couldn't say whether there will be a change at the top in the board, stating that Padraig Mcgowan has been a 'tremendous chairman'.
The aim was to secure quality rather than quality, and the board talked to a few senior people. -Dundalk Youths received a walkover as Shamrock Rovers failed to travel on Sunday to fulfil their fixture in the Dublin Schoolboy League. They are scheduled to play at home this Sunday.
- TERRY CONLON
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Foster needs hard cheese with his usual whine !!!
The blame for an extremely dissapointing season lies everywhere else but not with him of course !!
Last edited by bullit; 25/11/2011 at 7:42 PM.
Totally agree, he was HANDED a euro spot in 2010, big crowds too that season, established decent players in both seasons, Faz, Fenn, Milligan, Quigley & Byrne, other young players Miller/Kearns, and local youths like Griffin, Cian Byrne and possibly Nathan Muprhy, other big players who turned out to be rubbish, Bolger & Gutherie, all of these were his fault for poor mgt and just more and more reasons why he blew it. In hindsight, possibly the worst manager ever to manage more than one season in the PD.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), only Irish club to win a game / points in Europa League Group Stage (2016).
I think he's right about the pitch though.
The injury list at Oriel Park was ridiculous and a few non-biased people have said the pitch could be a factor in that.
It's long been established that harder ground leads to more injuries and, visually, the Oriel surface looks abnormally firm. I believe Newcastle had a problem a few years ago with players picking up knee injuries with the weather being much colder up there.
There is a whole bunch of contrary opinions and research about this, but it was the same pitch without the long injury list in 2010 and 2009.
If a manager really believed that the pitch would cause more injuries, then surely the logical actions would be to assemble a larger squad pre-season, and to do the bulk of the training on grass during the season itself
Last edited by Ezeikial; 26/11/2011 at 2:21 PM.
How could he when the budget is not available to do so?
Cumann Peile Dún Dealgan - Champions 2015 (too many accolades to be typing)
Termonbarry Athletic TID!
who do ye want lads to be the new Dundalk manager? I know Tommy Johnson has being linked with the job along with Sean Connor. Would Connor be welcomed back with open arms?
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
Isn't the argument that he went for quality (Byrne, Hawkins, Quigley) over quantity? If he knew the pitch was likely to cause injuries, the correct approach might have been to pass on one of those and perhaps get two less talented players to cover the numbers. But then he'd have been accused of lacking ambition so I can see his argument.
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