Given that it costs a bare, this is the minimum amount you'd need to be absolutely terrible, 180 to 200 grand to field a First Division team, the inability to raise 19 should probably focus some minds on whether or not senior football is for them at any club which struggles to raise it.
I would be very sceptical as to whether the FAI get, or indeed even demand, this 19 grand off every club before the season starts.
But it's only 19k.
And everyone is fixating on it.
Even though it's only 19k.
Let's say they cut it to 5k.. that's a 7% reduction in costs to a club spending 200k currently (and there are several clubs turning over less). Most businesses would bite your hand off for a cost reduction of that size. If they also reduced refereeing costs and perhaps fines they could knock say 10% off what it costs to be a D1 club. Not massive of course, but in the current environment it could make a big difference.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Do you honestly think 15 to 20 grand would make a big difference to a competing senior club?? (or that it even should?!?!)Not massive of course, but in the current environment it could make a big difference.
Insurance: 20 grand
Medical: 15 grand
Training: 10 grand
Travel: 8 grand
Staff: 20 grand
Players: 40 grand
That's me being incredibly, stupidly, generous on the remaining expenditures there.
Now say Harps (and again I'm going to be really generous here) take 40 grand on the gate over the course of a season.
You're still having to go find that other 70 odd.
I'm not saying it's right that it's 19 grand, or that it shouldn't be reduced. I'm just saying the talk on here from a lot of people like removing the 19 grand would be some kind of panacea for all the leagues ills and would make insolvent clubs suddenly solvent is an absolute nonsense.
There's a bigger picture there, referee costs and fines which you mentioned are a part, insurance is another big part, wages are another big part.
I think the reason people focus on it is that the league takes in more in affiliation more than it pays out in prize money. That's always going to stick in people's craw. plus clubs like Harps have cut a lot already and bar going all amateur (which means non league clubs will be able to outbid us on all players rather than just most and would probably cost us more in gates and sponsorship than we'd save) there's not much left to do on that front. Last year we came very close to going under for the want of 40k..
For what it's worth I'd flatten the distribution of prizemoney as well, having it massively weighted towards the top is like bringing the graduating class from gamblers anonymous to the local bookies to celebrate.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Boom and BOOM. That nail was well and truely hit.
19k shouldn't make a difference, but it does.
In the grand scheme of things though, it's not just the entrance fee.
But it would go a long way to helping with financial problems.I'm not saying it's right that it's 19 grand, or that it shouldn't be reduced. I'm just saying the talk on here from a lot of people like removing the 19 grand would be some kind of panacea for all the leagues ills and would make insolvent clubs suddenly solvent is an absolute nonsense.
This is the big problem. Referees in this league are very healthily paid, and they shouldn't be. The standard is shocking, and they get well rewarded with being so bad.There's a bigger picture there, referee costs and fines which you mentioned are a part, insurance is another big part, wages are another big part.
Fines are extortionate, and often hurt a club badly. A club and fans playing by the rules shouldn't be hit with fines, but it happens.
A club saving €20,000 over the course of a season with reduced league entrance fees, fines, refereeing costs, insurance could make or break a season.
Remember the days 20k would have been a huge profit margin and a hugely successful season for Limerick LTID?
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
"LTID iznt aloud coment on da legue cuz limrick iz rich nw an wern alwayz"
Jesus wept lads.
EUREKA!!Boom and BOOM. That nail was well and truely hit.
19k shouldn't make a difference, but it does.
In the grand scheme of things though, it's not just the entrance fee.
Like you said yourself above though it shouldn't.A club saving €20,000 over the course of a season with reduced league entrance fees, fines, refereeing costs, insurance could make or break a season.
Why would it??
Because the clubs are all ****ed.
Are the clubs all ****ed because of the 19 grand??
No.
That's all I'm saying boys and girls.![]()
How much would Mons be in the hole had they not folded? I'd say 19k is more than enough to sink a club.
1K is enough to sink a club if their cash flow is bad enough and there's a big enough ****** looking for it.
My point is that people need to ask why this is the case.
Not bang on and on about the 19 grand like twould sort everything.
Life without LTID makes no sense.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
How badly it can affect a club depends who you owe the €20k to. The FAI, bad as they are, aren't going to throw clubs out if they haven't paid all of the fee. If you owe it to players or the Revenue it could be a different story.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
It wouldn't make it much more enticing but it would surely help prospective clubs keep their costs under control. As it is, it's just another of many barriers to entry.
The biggest problem is that the clubs arent getting any of that 19000 back. If the prize money was in accordance with the entrance fee it would be much much easier for clubs.
People certainly seem to focus on it a lot though, but I suppose that's tied in to dislike for the FAI.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
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