Dundalk's pitch and ground discussion thread.

**colonelwest** · 13/08/2015, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

He did have to flog a piece of land for €60 that was bought for €800k, never mind the Quayside office block going for a song like €300k or something. He is hanging on for dear life to claw back some of his bank balance. If people boycotted Tool Fix his supposed one last standing income he might hand over the lease - he can keep the YDC though that would be an issue with Des Casey i'd say!

Exactly, his portfolio/ businesses have taken a hammering the last few years and Hiney Park was bought purely on speculation that he'd be able to grease the right palms and get it rezoned for housing etc.

The YDC should have stayed with the club when the Fastfix lads took over, even with it being built partially on Casey land but the price GM was looking was exorbitant, he really got a fantastic deal at the time considering the situation he was in, which has only increased over the last few years. I wonder now if he'd be more agreeable to a deal at a reasonable price given his current situation. Within the next year is the time frame to try and hammer something out with him before the property/ construction/ land merry go round really starts picking up again. It's fantastic facility to be fair and sure the only reason he got the grant money in the first place was because he was the owner of the club/ leasee on the land and it was supposed to be a long term benefit for the club itself.

As far as I remember Oriel/ DFC is one of the regional centres of excellence now for the FAI as well, in an ideal world we could work out the lease/ ownership of the ground so we could draw down grant money and possibly in an ideal world take ownership of the YDC too. Maybe work out a deal on the price for it where the club leases it out to GM for 5/ 10 year term which would be a reversal of the current situation but at least he maintains control of the operating business out of it.

**dundalkfc10** · 13/08/2015, 1:33 PM

Originally Posted by colonelwest

Exactly, his portfolio/ businesses have taken a hammering the last few years and Hiney Park was bought purely on speculation that he'd be able to grease the right palms and get it rezoned for housing etc.

The YDC should have stayed with the club when the Fastfix lads took over, even with it being built partially on Casey land but the price GM was looking was exorbitant, he really got a fantastic deal at the time considering the situation he was in, which has only increased over the last few years. I wonder now if he'd be more agreeable to a deal at a reasonable price given his current situation. Within the next year is the time frame to try and hammer something out with him before the property/ construction/ land merry go round really starts picking up again. It's fantastic facility to be fair and sure the only reason he got the grant money in the first place was because he was the owner of the club/ leasee on the land and it was supposed to be a long term benefit for the club itself.

As far as I remember Oriel/ DFC is one of the regional centres of excellence now for the FAI as well, in an ideal world we could work out the lease/ ownership of the ground so we could draw down grant money and possibly in an ideal world take ownership of the YDC too. Maybe work out a deal on the price for it where the club leases it out to GM for 5/ 10 year term which would be a reversal of the current situation but at least he maintains control of the operating business out of it.

I don't think he wants it anymore. No way is it making money. Football pitches are only in use for 2/3 hours Mon to Thurs, and the odd 21st/40th etc... and the odd charity event

**GCdfc** · 13/08/2015, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by colonelwest

As far as I remember Oriel/ DFC is one of the regional centres of excellence now for the FAI as well, in an ideal world we could work out the lease/ ownership of the ground so we could draw down grant money and possibly in an ideal world take ownership of the YDC too. Maybe work out a deal on the price for it where the club leases it out to GM for 5/ 10 year term which would be a reversal of the current situation but at least he maintains control of the operating business out of it.

I believe that GM has leased out the YDC to a former staff member of his that is running it.

**Nesta99** · 13/08/2015, 3:05 PM

So while the terms of the lease forbid it it is sub let to a sub let? Surely that is a breach of the lease and allows the Caseys withdraw the lease for the breach and reissue to Dundalk FC. So it seems to me that if DFC take the lease back as is certainly possible the planning levy on the YDC will becom become a liability to the club or the Casey trust for a facility that is built on land of 2 owners...wont be able to slag Bohs off over land issues anymore as this all comes out in the wash!

**colonelwest** · 13/08/2015, 4:03 PM

So GM has sub let the sub let? Inception level stuff at this stage! Shirley as Nesta says that's breach of contract never mind he's in breach of the original lease with the Casey family? It's a horrible can of worms we're in the process of opening, as much as I and most appreciate what GM did for the club while he was there it's an absolute mess of a situation to try and sort out now, all tying back to him getting out of the club and the fastfix lads coming in.

**Nesta99** · 13/08/2015, 7:29 PM

I still believe that he never wanted to sell up and hoped to cash in on Oriel Park. Any building development in the area seemed to be linked with a new home for DFC as is happening with DkIT now albeit for different reasons - DkIT have said nothing and all there is is a tenuous link due to a former plan with Louth GAA that collapsed as a result of lack of central GAA funding. i doubt the FAI would help resurrect the project with their financial contribution. GM should cut his losses and give up his leasehold otherwise he will end up down his initial money with €300k of council rates and levies on top; Not hanging in there in the hope circumstances may change and Boom II will bail him out of the hole.

**Dunny** · 13/08/2015, 7:37 PM

There's a boom ii ?
Is GM still involved in the building game ? I know he had a steel business at Castletown Cross but is that still going or is Toolfix and the YDC all he has now?

**jinxy lilywhite** · 13/08/2015, 9:00 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

I still believe that he never wanted to sell up and hoped to cash in on Oriel Park. Any building development in the area seemed to be linked with a new home for DFC as is happening with DkIT now albeit for different reasons - DkIT have said nothing and all there is is a tenuous link due to a former plan with Louth GAA that collapsed as a result of lack of central GAA funding. i doubt the FAI would help resurrect the project with their financial contribution. GM should cut his losses and give up his leasehold otherwise he will end up down his initial money with €300k of council rates and levies on top; Not hanging in there in the hope circumstances may change and Boom II will bail him out of the hole.

While lack of central GAA funding was an issue as they want most if not all games in the Leinster championship played in crooker, the nail in the coffin for it was the south Louth GAA clubs refusal to have them based in Dundalk.

In relation to this debacle the one who loses out the most in all this is the club. I am under no illusion that the current setting was developed under the best intentions but then why should the lads invest more money in an area that they don't own and are only theoretically subletting.

The dkit project I would take with a huge ladle of salt. Because there is no official word from them that they would wish to build a stadia and wish for is to be anchor tennents. Also is it going to be municipal with a running track, as I can't see it being just for footy.

In all honesty I think the cheapest option for the club is to try to buy the lease outright

**Nesta99** · 13/08/2015, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Dunny

There's a boom ii ?

"hanging in there in the hope circumstances may change and Boom II will bail him out of the hole"

**Dunny** · 13/08/2015, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

"hanging in there in the hope circumstances may change and Boom II will bail him out of the hole"

Cool

BTW no way would i be calling for or supporting a boycott of his store in Park street as was suggested,that's just stupid.I know a couple of lads that work there & they have families to feed and houses that need paying for.Wise up.

**Nesta99** · 14/08/2015, 12:28 AM

Maximum impact...No I phrased it badly, i wasnt suggesting that his shop should boycotted. I was more saying that he is playing a risky game and could jepordise his reputation and his ongoing business interests. He is putting his notoriously difficult nature in a very public domain and I am surprised some of his closest associates haven't had a quiet word of advice.