Where do Longford Town FC go from here?

**Dillo** · 27/10/2004, 8:12 PM

Since that famous night down in Cobh when LTFC gained promotion to the Premier Division it really has been a remarkable few years to say the least. The development of 6,500 capacity Flancare Park, reaching five cup finals and winning three, qualifying for Europe for the third time and the Setanta Cup and finishing as high as fifth in the league reveal a swift and fascinating transformation in the club's fortunes.

But as a club, I just wonder what's the next step for Longford Town to take? Unfortunately, I really don't think it's possible for De Town to go full-time professional. But if we are to challenge the likes of Shels, Bohs and Cork for the League, turning professional is the only way in doing so. Our current squad, in my view is nowhere near good enough to win the league.

Financially, the club is undoubtedly prospering and for it to gain further success it is essential that a number of quality signings are made in the forseeable future. I just wonder though if Town have reached their limits (is this as good as it's going to get?) or can they expand their horizons as far as qualifying for the Champions League proper?? Aim for the moon and you'll reach the stars!

What do others think?

**Macy** · 28/10/2004, 7:17 AM

Originally Posted by Dillo

Financially, the club is undoubtedly prospering and for it to gain further success it is essential that a number of quality signings are made in the forseeable future. I just wonder though if Town have reached their limits (is this as good as it's going to get?) or can they expand their horizons as far as qualifying for the Champions League proper?? Aim for the moon and you'll reach the stars!

Financially prospering? I very much doubt it, like every club in the league I'd say our finances are stretched to the limit. Until at least half of those that went on Sunday go regularly and we're getting average attendances of at least 2500 (with big games up to 4-5000) I think we're doing as well as we can expect.

I'd love us to go full time, but until the people that turn up for finals become regulars then it's not realistic. If people would rather bankrupt the club for a season of challenging, well I hope the committee have more sense.... Even full time there's no garantee - look at Bohs and Drogs, big wage bills no return.

I'd actually like us to retain the bones of the squad and try and kick on from early next season. Which has been our downfall for several seasons going back to the Spock/Lawlor season.

Priority has to be a regular goal scorer (I think we've found our midfield answer in Deano) - one that will finish more chances than he misses (someone like Seanie?). Who that may be I don't know, the only one I can think of who's realistic is Adrian Murphy. McHugh won't leave Harps with them coming up, and we couldn't afford Crowe or Byrne.

Midfield, hopefully Gary Murphy will come back and do the biz. Defence we're good enough. There's no keeper available that is better than Digger.

**Wiseguy** · 28/10/2004, 12:27 PM

We're fine at the back but we need 2 or 3 better midfielders and a goal scorer as this is where we have fallen down each season.I think we have arrived at a point where we need a big step to move forward as i think the league will be more competitive next season but with some decent players out of contract at other clubs there should be enough talent on offer to solve some of our problems but can we afford much? the fact that we have europen footie next season & the setanta cup should be enough of an incentive to attract most players.

**Martinho II** · 28/10/2004, 1:45 PM

i was speaking to one of the boys on the coaching staff at the weekend and he informed me that gary oneill wont be cumin tothe club as shels have first option on him. according to my source,the reason o neill is goin to shels is cos shels are owed €15000in rent from continity home farm and olie byrne will waive it only if gary on niell will come!

a few players i would love to see cum to us next season-adam trundle, stewie (if he wants to!,)trevor vaughan, daryl murphy, willie bruton

should be an excellent season for us next year,the setanta cup will be an adventure and a half! and europe again!

**Macy** · 28/10/2004, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

Its not a case of more money (though we could do with a sugar daddy like da hoops). Its a case of gettin' more miserable ba8ta8d* off their @sses out to Flancare on a Saturday night !

That's the same thing isn't it? btw There's more to the Rovers situation than meets the eye. It's not €9mill to do with what they like...

**Longfordian** · 28/10/2004, 7:16 PM

Trevor Vaughan feckin hell..seen the size of him have you..think a slower and fatter Andy Myler..Granted, we do need a striker and a midfielder preferably one who can play left wing too

**Dillo** · 28/10/2004, 7:41 PM

Some very interesting thoughts there lads.
I would have to agree with you there Macy in retaining the core of the team and building a new squad around this group of players. However I believe big Deano is being slightly overrated. He has definately improved as a player but I still have my doubts about him. Gary Murphy has a certain amount of footballing ability but he is too light and will struggle to ever make an impact in the EL. As for Adrian Murphy he has scored goals for Athlone in a very mediocre league but whether he can do it in the Premier remains to be seen.
Wiseguy is spot on in saying that Town have arrived at a point where it'l take a big step to move forward. Two or three new midfielders are needed for sure as is a natural goalscorer. Hopefully European football and the Setanta Cup will be the necessary incentive to lure some big names. I have always agreed with you Cop on that the League should be our main priority. Why should we settle for second best? As someone recently pointed out, Longford people seem to have an inferiority complex when it comes to sporting achievements. Longford Town's next ambition should be to win the league. Whether this means turning professional or not I don't know...

**Macy** · 29/10/2004, 7:41 AM

Originally Posted by Dillo

As someone recently pointed out, Longford people seem to have an inferiority complex when it comes to sporting achievements.

Longford people have a complex about supporting a team week in, week out. If they did then turning pro, or having the budget to compete for the league would be a reality. We can bring over 5000 to cup finals but struggle to get a 1000 Longford people through the gate for home league game.

Drogheda are a case in point - they're crowds haven't risen that much when they're challenging for the title (well when they were anyway). They're basically full time and challenging and have seen no benefit to their gates.

So lash big money (even for part timers) and make our precarious financial situation worse, and spend the club out of existence, for one or two seasons of challenging for the league with no garanteed return. No thanks - you may call it an inferiority complex, I call it realism.

IMO I'd rather get the ground fully finished (totally covered etc) and up to "A" standard rather than blowing loads on the team. Try and get people through the gates first then spend what we have, not gamble it away.

On the players - harsh on Deano, considering he's basically played 15 months without rest.

Adrian Murphy is scoring in a shíte Athlone side, and in the past done well for us.

Gary Murphy is a great prospect, and should be given his chance. He was great in some of the league cup games last season.

One decent midfielder (to echo Marty I'd love to see a Deano-Stuey combination in the middle), and one decent goal scorer and I think we'd be okay.

**observer** · 29/10/2004, 9:35 AM

If the Town are to sign new talent then the question to ask is who do you see being released. Surely at least 6 if the budget is to stretch to 3 new players. The obvious ones are Brian McGovern, Darragh Sheridan and Brian Byrne. Some of the others will be sad partings for their past contributions ie. Vinnie, possibly Eric (big bucks). If a new midfielder comes in will either Pip or John Martin be considered expendable? Mick Dempsey will be retained as will Gary Cassin (small pay I reckon) though I think he should be put out on loan to develop (like Gary Murphy).
I look forward to your thoughts as I do not know how long players contracts have to run.
By the way of Adrian Murphy's 15 goals with Athlone, 2 were against Premier sides (Derry and Longford) 2 against UCD, 1 against Bray and 1 against Kildare, so the opposition was'nt all poor.

**footballplease** · 29/10/2004, 10:46 AM

a fully fit and back on form pip along with a rested deano would be some force next year in the centre. agree with you about a left sided player though.
However the main target should be a striker - the goals for record this year has been nothing short of pathetic.

**Albert** · 29/10/2004, 11:28 AM

The league has to be a priority, at the very least we should be keeping well clear of the relegation zone, we MUST try to establish ourselves as a top 4 side. I dont think winning the league next season is realistic, but certainly making a top four finish is and I dont mean by scraping there we should be comfortable for it throughout the season, this would be a nice spring board for a league challenge in the future. A striker is desperately needed and someone creative in midfield, Stuey would be perfect but I doubt he will come. I disagree with cop on on Baker, I think our front players to be fair to them havent got a lot of decent ball, they are not the biggest guys and need it to feet and in fairness that didnt happen for a large part of the season. WHen baker is on form he is as good a anyone in the league and I felt was our most creative player all season, but I think I prefer him on the wing, maybe he will swap with Barrett next season but this year we had to stick him up front as he was the only one who could get the ball in the net

**Macy** · 29/10/2004, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

Going full time is probably unrealistic, but I don't think there's much point in "covering the whole of Flansiro" either. What's the point in having a massive covered stadium with a tiny support.
As regards persuading the good folk of Longford out to Flancare regularly, a well-discounted season ticket is the only way to go.

The stadium wouldn't be that massive, and would mean that people wouldn't have the weather excuse anymore. Facilities are an investment that will be there for years to come. Gambling on the players wages (which are totally unrealistic across the league) in the off chance we may challenge for the league is píssing it away. A covered stadium, along with finally completing the bar should increase the money coming in. Set up one end as the away end, the other as a proper family stand.

Surely a well discounted season ticket will only reduce the money coming in, since current holders would also pay the reduced rate. Galway went this way and it would be interesting to see the results over the season.

A re-introduction of the ground season ticket would be step forward though. The arguements for it's scraping were:
1) People were using them to get in the stand
2) Nobody brought them.

If it was 2, then 1 wasn't much of a problem. If 1 was the problem then they could easily be made a different colour anyway. With regard to 2, I know several people who would've brought them, even though they wouldn't make the money back over the season. It's all lost money to the club.

**observer** · 29/10/2004, 2:04 PM

Who would you let go? I asked the question already in this thread but no one wants to answer it. I can understand that some contributors can't for obvious reasons, but surely some of you have ideas.

**max power** · 29/10/2004, 2:07 PM

Originally Posted by Cop on

As regards persuading the good folk of Longford out to Flancare regularly, a well-discounted season ticket is the only way to go.

its on the way, i heard the figures mentioned and its very very very good value.

let go or not resign, brian byrne, darragh sheridan, gary murphy all will leave i feel.... it is possible another midfielder will too if someone else comes in to the club,

stewie and dean would be amazing but we need left side cover, that is not shane's position and sean has made left back his own.

**Macy** · 29/10/2004, 2:10 PM

Lavine and Keegan (Adrian Murphy plus one coming in)
Darragh, Brian Byrne.
McGovern (goes without saying).
Dempsey (Give Cassin his head).

**max power** · 29/10/2004, 2:13 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

Lavine and Keegan (Adrian Murphy plus one coming in)
Darragh, Brian Byrne.
McGovern (goes without saying).
Dempsey (Give Cassin his head).

sorry forgot bout mcgovern, keego has another year on his contract so it could be expensive to let him go.

i'd keep mick dempsey for another season and am undecided on eric, but the other 2 defo agree with. and would love to see adrain come back.

**Martinho II** · 29/10/2004, 2:19 PM

what do ye guys think of the story in todays sun

town are being linked with Stephen Caffrey the bohs striker,he has being a peripehal figure for bohs this season! was a great battleaxe for bohs and glentoran(i think!) in his day

same paper is sayin that digger is being linked with a move to st pats-will digger leave us on ahigh to go to the club that his family has supported!

sad if he goes!

**max power** · 29/10/2004, 2:22 PM

Originally Posted by MARTINHO II

what do ye guys think of the story in todays sun

town are being linked with Stephen Caffrey the bohs striker,he has being a peripehal figure for bohs this season! was a great battleaxe for bohs and glentoran(i think!) in his day

same paper is sayin that digger is being linked with a move to st pats-will digger leave us on ahigh to go to the club that his family has supported!

sad if he goes!

well in the indo and in person digger said himself he wants to finish playin with us and then take a behind the scenes roll......if digger leaves there will be a riot on the streets of longford

**Macy** · 29/10/2004, 2:22 PM

Caffrey is a midfielder. Not convinced he's better than what we've got - similar to Vinny.

Thought Pats were after Gregg from Bohs. Could be bullshít ahead of tonights match...