Off season rumours

**harpin** · 28/01/2015, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by faceoff

If they're going down that road surely to god Shane Clarke is the best option.Rumour Russell is interested in John Connery.

I like Shane and I thought he'd do a lot better in the First when he was here but if Junior players are the answer we're in big trouble

**kingpin4** · 28/01/2015, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by harpin

I like Shane and I thought he'd do a lot better in the First when he was here but if Junior players are the answer we're in big trouble

Hard not to agree. While all the lads mentioned are very good players. It's not like they're just stepping up to the First Division, we're asking guys to go right to the highest level they could be playing in Ireland. May not be a huge step up, but surely Russell released Hanlon and Sheedy because he didn't deem them good enough. He didn't take a chance on Clarke midway through last season, but yet these guys are being deemed good enough now.
You'd have to feel a little bit sorry for Russell because if we start the season with the current squad, he's going to take the flack for it all when there are 400 people watching a game in the Markets Field.
For the money that'd be offered to Clarke, Connery, Hanlon and Sheedy, I'd rather take one Shane Tracy over the 4 of them. Worrying times at the moment.

**bluewhitearmy** · 28/01/2015, 5:04 PM

Originally Posted by kingpin4

Hard not to agree. While all the lads mentioned are very good players. It's not like they're just stepping up to the First Division, we're asking guys to go right to the highest level they could be playing in Ireland. May not be a huge step up, but surely Russell released Hanlon and Sheedy because he didn't deem them good enough. He didn't take a chance on Clarke midway through last season, but yet these guys are being deemed good enough now.
You'd have to feel a little bit sorry for Russell because if we start the season with the current squad, he's going to take the flack for it all when there are 400 people watching a game in the Markets Field.
For the money that'd be offered to Clarke, Connery, Hanlon and Sheedy, I'd rather take one Shane Tracy over the 4 of them. Worrying times at the moment.

He has been screwed the same way Taylor was. Promised this that and the other in terms of budget and then given nothing like he was promised. Only a matter of time then when things start going wrong during the season for the club lads to start spreading the stories about how its all his fault just like they did with Taylor.

Going for junior players that aren't even the best junior players in the city is just embarrassing no offence to Red Hanlon or Barry Sheedy but if Russell can turn around and say Shane Clarke wasn't good enough last season then those two are a million miles away. They wonder why people get annoyed when it was people from the club spreading things like they had a good chance of getting Ronan Finn and we end up with this garbage so far.

**blueblood** · 28/01/2015, 5:23 PM

Is there any truth in the rumour that POS has no money for players because he has to pump his money into the Markets Field. If true I really feel for him having to deal with the idiots of LEDP.

**bluewhitearmy** · 28/01/2015, 5:27 PM

Originally Posted by blueblood

Is there any truth in the rumour that POS has no money for players because he has to pump his money into the Markets Field. If true I really feel for him having to deal with the idiots of LEDP.

If that is true and he is paying for it to be redeveloped he would wan't to be getting the LEDP to give him the keys to it. If he is paying for the work to be done and keeping the original arrangement with them then it isn't the LEDP that are the idiots.

**CraftyToePoke** · 28/01/2015, 5:39 PM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

He has been screwed the same way Taylor was. Promised this that and the other in terms of budget and then given nothing like he was promised

I thought Taylor was given a reasonable purse early on ? Or no ? And would there not be contractual clauses re playing budgets at this level for Russel coming in ? I know its something id want security and assurance of anyway, not something that would be done on a handshake at the top level of Irish soccer surely?

Not confronting you here, genuine questions.

**delboyderis** · 28/01/2015, 5:47 PM

Dont know if its true about pat putting his money into the markets field and having nothing to spend on a squad?its a pity if it is true because the club could end up in the first division with the mediocre squad thats there at the minute.it must be frustrating for martin russell and pat if it is the case.

**blueblood** · 28/01/2015, 6:09 PM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

If that is true and he is paying for it to be redeveloped he would wan't to be getting the LEDP to give him the keys to it. If he is paying for the work to be done and keeping the original arrangement with them then it isn't the LEDP that are the idiots.

I doubt he's paying the full amount for the redevelopment but if he is he'd better get the keys, still I suppose it's still no excuse the way the club have treated some players from last season, it costs nothing to be nice

**bluewhitearmy** · 28/01/2015, 6:30 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

I thought Taylor was given a reasonable purse early on ? Or no ? And would there not be contractual clauses re playing budgets at this level for Russel coming in ? I know its something id want security and assurance of anyway, not something that would be done on a handshake at the top level of Irish soccer surely?

Not confronting you here, genuine questions.

Taylor never had a bad budget don't get me wrong but he was promised that the budget would be increased for a push for european football in his second season, instead it was slightly cut. He still had enough of a budget that he should have done better than he did but the club did go back on what they told him. Have way more sympathy for Russell he was told after last season that he would be given the money to push on from last years finish and the way things are going that is clearly not the case. Anyone that thinks Russell is putting a squad like this together by choice is mad.

**bluewhitearmy** · 28/01/2015, 6:31 PM

Originally Posted by blueblood

I doubt he's paying the full amount for the redevelopment but if he is he'd better get the keys, still I suppose it's still no excuse the way the club have treated some players from last season, it costs nothing to be nice

If he is paying a single cent towards it he would want to be getting a far better deal than the club were originally from the LEDP.

**LK37oldskool** · 28/01/2015, 6:39 PM

The team that's been put together won't get any better,there's no money. Cutbacks are been made everywhere.

**CraftyToePoke** · 28/01/2015, 7:27 PM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Taylor never had a bad budget don't get me wrong but he was promised that the budget would be increased for a push for european football in his second season, instead it was slightly cut. He still had enough of a budget that he should have done better than he did but the club did go back on what they told him. Have way more sympathy for Russell he was told after last season that he would be given the money to push on from last years finish and the way things are going that is clearly not the case. Anyone that thinks Russell is putting a squad like this together by choice is mad.

Well, maybe Taylor wasn't shaping up as a man to be giving even more money to as like you say, he had enough playing budget for the side to be deemed under performing. Maybe as well the public response to being in Thomond with several marquee signings didn't warrant throwing more money at it, or him.

Re Russell, I still cannot believe that in this day and age a contract was signed at the top level of Irish soccer whereby its unclear how much the playing budget will be and what he will be expected to achieve with it in order to keep his job. And if he has put himself in that position, it's his own lookout. Is this the case ? As you are saying he was told one thing but another is happening.

But, overall, I broadly agree with most on here it's an underwhelming pre season, even taking into account I had expected a more developmental approach to players with his achievements at UCD, to be re signing released players or players previously deemed not good enough is not going to get people flocking, but neither did several UK imports and all the Thomond fanfare. So we wait and see, I am sure the club sees no value in a relegation season.

**Lim till i die** · 28/01/2015, 8:17 PM

There's no way under the sun the club would have given Russell a budget clause in a contract.

I'd be interested to know if any clubs do it.

Way too many variables to be promising a fella anything.

As evidenced by the fact we haven't a pot to **** in all of a sudden.

You can be sure of one thing, if there was a budget clause Russell would have walked by now.

Can't see any of Pats money in Markets Field either, we would have heard about it by now.

As for seeing no value in a relegation season, that's fairly obvious but no mon no fun, as they say.

The squad as it is now will do an Athlone.

**bluewhitearmy** · 28/01/2015, 9:18 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Well, maybe Taylor wasn't shaping up as a man to be giving even more money to as like you say, he had enough playing budget for the side to be deemed under performing. Maybe as well the public response to being in Thomond with several marquee signings didn't warrant throwing more money at it, or him.

Re Russell, I still cannot believe that in this day and age a contract was signed at the top level of Irish soccer whereby its unclear how much the playing budget will be and what he will be expected to achieve with it in order to keep his job. And if he has put himself in that position, it's his own lookout. Is this the case ? As you are saying he was told one thing but another is happening.

But, overall, I broadly agree with most on here it's an underwhelming pre season, even taking into account I had expected a more developmental approach to players with his achievements at UCD, to be re signing released players or players previously deemed not good enough is not going to get people flocking, but neither did several UK imports and all the Thomond fanfare. So we wait and see, I am sure the club sees no value in a relegation season.

I have never ever heard of any manager getting guarantees on what budget he will have from a club and I speak to a few LOI managers. It may happen but I haven't heard of it ever.

**bluewhitearmy** · 28/01/2015, 9:20 PM

Originally Posted by LK37oldskool

The team that's been put together won't get any better,there's no money. Cutbacks are been made everywhere.

You have changed your tune from telling us all we were being negative for no reason and everything was gonna be fine so thats worrying.

**Jofspring** · 29/01/2015, 9:44 AM

If Pat is putting money into the Markets Field then he must be getting some kind of guarantees. At the end of the day Pat is a business man and he wouldn't have made the money he has if he was a mug.

**Bambino** · 29/01/2015, 9:46 AM

Does anyone know the reason why there was a falling out between Shane Tracy and the club? Its disappointing seeing the likes of Darry Kavanagh signing for Carrick United, i know he played for us before but he hasnt done half bad the last few years with Pats and Sligo, he'd also be a decent additiojn seeing whats there at the moment.

Also, with regards the junior players in town the only ones worth moving for would be Clarke and Waters. Clarke is probably the best striker at junior level in the country and was deemed not fit enough to come in over half way through the season from what i heard. I dont think it was a question of his ability. Waters is a raw talent and with Russells record of developing players it might be worthwhile signing him to see if he could be a Jay O'Shea type of player, unbelievable pace and extremely tricky winger!! There wouldnt be other players around town in my opinion. Red hasnt really set the world on fire at Pike either so if he cant stand out with them then how do Limerick expect him to make a difference at senior level.

It goes without saying that we all want the club to do well and hopefully something good comes together with regards the squad in the coming weeks cos would be great to see a decent team back playing in the markets field.....hard to be optomistic at the moment though!!

**LK37oldskool** · 29/01/2015, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

You have changed your tune from telling us all we were being negative for no reason and everything was gonna be fine so thats worrying.

Things are way worse than i thought, i'm not kidding. Dont know how things have been let get to this stage and unfortunatly there are still 6 weeks to kick off. Watch this space.

**donnrua** · 29/01/2015, 2:20 PM

Originally Posted by LK37oldskool

Things are way worse than i thought, i'm not kidding. Dont know how things have been let get to this stage and unfortunatly there are still 6 weeks to kick off. Watch this space.

What's with the watch this space nonsense. This is an off season rumour thread so if you've got anything then you should spill. We all love a good rumour!

**da bishop** · 29/01/2015, 7:50 PM

no comparision between budgets for Taylor and Russell,the chairman has pulled the brakes ,maybe he has done some thinking because up to now it would seem others did it for him..businessman or not he pumped lots of money into many dead horses ,players,staff,venues etc ,good intentions on his part but totally unrealistic especially since promotion.a settled season in the MF and that will be it imo.football wise nothing wrong with a few locals joining the squad once they are the right choices and not ...juniors ...to make up the squad.