A Couple of Questions Re Dundalk

**White Horse** · 04/07/2012, 1:36 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

So are we looking at a New Dundalk looking to buy the current clubs assets and apply to the league next season?

That would be the plan. However, there will be a legal issue over the development centre that could cause the liquidation to be a draw-out affair.

**Comic Book Guy** · 04/07/2012, 2:37 PM

Hope you guys pull through, always enjoyed my visits to you. There's something seriously the matter with club football in this country if the 2nd most successful club are in jeopardy. Really hope your supporters trust can turn things around.

**Dodge** · 04/07/2012, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by Comic Book Guy

Hope you guys pull through, always enjoyed my visits to you. There's something seriously the matter with club football in this country if the 2nd most successful club are in jeopardy. Really hope your supporters trust can turn things around.

While I desperately hope that Dundalk survive, I don't think 'club football in this country' can be blamed for a chairman doing the sort of shennagins he seems to have done

**Jofspring** · 04/07/2012, 3:29 PM

It would be awful to see Dundalk go out also.

Is it a case of if crowds were higher (by maybe 1,000 or so) then it could have been avoided or was this situation inevitable anyway?

Getting closer and closer to one division whether people like it or not.

**Spudulika** · 04/07/2012, 3:38 PM

Jofspring, Dodge is too close to the mark, doesn't matter if it was a sell out week in, week out, money was drained from the club and so much bad blood built up that there was no way back. When you have a group flying in to take over the club and give a share of things to the trust, with what the owner wanted all along (to be left with his "moneymaker") and a proper deal in place to save the club last October, and this after 2 other bids put to the owner, it all looks a total mess. What I've heard this evening is that Dundalk will be gone by the end of this week (figures with the 48hours mentioned today on this thread). The Casey family can really turn this all around, but there has been so much funny business that football could disappear from Oriel for a year or two.

**White Horse** · 04/07/2012, 3:40 PM

Originally Posted by Jofspring

It would be awful to see Dundalk go out also.

Is it a case of if crowds were higher (by maybe 1,000 or so) then it could have been avoided or was this situation inevitable anyway?

Getting closer and closer to one division whether people like it or not.

The club was sustainable on attendances in 2007 to 2010.

However, the decision of the owner to build the development centre was always going to cause a probelm if he decided to sell.

Dundalk's problem is that we have both issues at the moment.

**Comic Book Guy** · 04/07/2012, 3:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

While I desperately hope that Dundalk survive, I don't think 'club football in this country' can be blamed for a chairman doing the sort of shennagins he seems to have done

True enough, but a chairman doing the sort of shennanigans he seems to have done was not exclusive to Dundalk, it happened at a lot of LOI clubs (ourselves included). I know it's not exclusive to Ireland either but it would appear that supporters run clubs offer the best long term survival strategy for most if not all LOI clubs unless you happen to have a wealthy benefactor.

**Dodge** · 04/07/2012, 3:47 PM

Originally Posted by Comic Book Guy

True enough, but a chairman doing the sort of shennanigans he seems to have done was not exclusive to Dundalk, it happened at a lot of LOI clubs (ourselves included). I know it's not exclusive to Ireland either but it would appear that supporters run clubs offer the best long term survival strategy for most if not all LOI clubs unless you happen to have a wealthy benefactor.

And Bohs have shown the fan route isn't without its pitfalls too.

**Jofspring** · 04/07/2012, 3:53 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

Jofspring, Dodge is too close to the mark, doesn't matter if it was a sell out week in, week out, money was drained from the club and so much bad blood built up that there was no way back. When you have a group flying in to take over the club and give a share of things to the trust, with what the owner wanted all along (to be left with his "moneymaker") and a proper deal in place to save the club last October, and this after 2 other bids put to the owner, it all looks a total mess. What I've heard this evening is that Dundalk will be gone by the end of this week (figures with the 48hours mentioned today on this thread). The Casey family can really turn this all around, but there has been so much funny business that football could disappear from Oriel for a year or two.

Originally Posted by White Horse

The club was sustainable on attendances in 2007 to 2010.

However, the decision of the owner to build the development centre was always going to cause a probelm if he decided to sell.

Dundalk's problem is that we have both issues at the moment.

Jesus lads that doesn't sound good at all. As mentioned for this to happen to such a big club (no offence Monaghan) makes it seem so much worse.

Dublin City, Kilkenny City, Kildare County, Sporting Fingal, Galway Utd, Monaghan Utd, Cobh Ramblers and now possibly Dundalk, all to have left the league (at its top two levels in Cobh and Galways case) over the last 8 years. Not to mention we could be looking at SD Galway and possibly Mervue too.

**White Horse** · 04/07/2012, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by Jofspring

Jesus lads that doesn't sound good at all. As mentioned for this to happen to such a big club (no offence Monaghan) makes it seem so much worse.

Dublin City, Kilkenny City, Kildare County, Sporting Fingal, Galway Utd, Monaghan Utd, Cobh Ramblers and now possibly Dundalk, all to have left the league (at its top two levels in Cobh and Galways case) over the last 8 years. Not to mention we could be looking at SD Galway and possibly Mervue too.

Most clubs are two bad years away from disaster.

Up until 2010, Dundalk were considered to be running an ideal template for a provincial club.

In two years, all the previous good work was undone. It is scary how quickly it can happen.

**SkStu** · 04/07/2012, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

And Bohs have shown the fan route isn't without its pitfalls too.

Irrespective of the club structure, what is required is prudent stewardship and strong leadership at the end of the day. Its as simple as that. (Human nature inevitably tends to get in the way...)

**MagicMon** · 04/07/2012, 4:09 PM

I can't believe that a club like Dundalk could go by the end of the week- surely the profile would be enough for the FAI to move in and keep things going? Whatever about the reaction to MUFC leaving, this would really make an impact because of the history. Would there be a new team for next season or would it be likely to end up as another Cobh/Galway without a shot at getting a licence?

Good luck to Dundalk fans and I hope yous hang in there (and that's from a Monaghan fan)

**Mr A** · 04/07/2012, 4:21 PM

Originally Posted by White Horse

Most clubs are two bad years away from disaster.

I'd say it's a far shorter time scale than that for most clubs unfortunately. Certainly we knackered ourselves in a mere one year in the premier and have walked a very fine line since in keeping the show on the road.

**Oldred** · 04/07/2012, 5:23 PM

So this could be another 3pts for Pats from a game they lost!!!
Hope Dundalk survive regardless.

**dong** · 04/07/2012, 6:50 PM

Originally Posted by White Horse

Most clubs are two bad years away from disaster.

Up until 2010, Dundalk were considered to be running an ideal template for a provincial club.

In two years, all the previous good work was undone. It is scary how quickly it can happen.

Two bad decisions away more like in my opinion.
This is a catastrophe of the highest order. For a club with the history and tradition of Dundalk to end up in such a mire is beyond comprehension.
I hope to God they can live to fight another day.
Best of luck lads. This isn't in the Fingal or even Mons category. It's far far worse. No disrespect to anybody intended.

**Dodge** · 05/07/2012, 8:24 AM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

What I've heard this evening is that Dundalk will be gone by the end of this week

Rovers at home next week, Derry at home the following week. I think they'll hang on for those pay days, no?

**Longfordian** · 05/07/2012, 9:09 AM

I read somewhere, Twitter probably, that they have the next two weeks' wages in place but they're uncertain where the money will come from after that. So you'd imagine they'll hold out for those games anyway.