Athlone Town

[Dunny]

The chairman told me directly that Drogs could NOT survive in division 1.
However that may have changed now that United Park has been sold and City North hotel is set to invest.

Show us.
City North Hotel are they major or wha?
Good luck to Athlone,hope they make it through the mire and come back out again,really decent club.

[Nesta99]

Bottom line more so with the drogs than Athlone probably, once again built a squad that they are struggling to sustain and cause the club to allegedly fold if relegated. Bar the pitch, United Park wouldn't take a huge amount in upkeep and with the recent talk about pitches throughout the league it could be a minimal outgoing. With income from gates, say 200 in attendance at €20 a head = €4k so roughly €2k per week or however this can be tweaked, Claret and Blue blue club income, sponsorship, some bumper gates depending on opposition etc. Why the whole scaremongering when there is income. Old hat but even an amateur team could be cobbled together to keep the club going until finances improve suficiently.
The coaching team cant have been cheap though JMc leaving saves a bit.

Athlone it seems that plenty of power wrangling at board level have held them back, but were unlucky really as while Cooke didnt work out but Long got them within touching distance of safety but games ran out and then lost an obviously a very talented manager who has done a great job at Bohs. Then Cooke gets appointed to Bray and redeemed himself by helping to steadying the lub.

[White Horse]

However that may have changed now that United Park has been sold and City North hotel is set to invest.

Be careful what you wish for.

A new ground will increase your overheads. Look at Athlone. What has their new ground contributed?

Mick Cooke showed how it was possible to achieve success at a club with a low fanbase. He was rewarded by being run out of town.

[ThePrisoner]

The chairman told me directly that Drogs could NOT survive in division 1.
However that may have changed now that United Park has been sold and City North hotel is set to invest.

Per the FAI's audited accounts for 2013, they own United Park (along with St Colman's Park). Can you confirm if United Park has been sold and if Drogheda received any of the proceeds?

[ThePrisoner]

Figures were released this year. Club turned a loss in 2013 but a profit in 2014. 2013 was realistically a profit as European money hadn't been taking in to account.

Dundalk's figures:

2013 Loss €26,906
2014 Profit €53,229

The European money flowing from second place in the 2013 season is accounted for in the 2014 season and not the 2013 season.

[Darklordsbane]

say 200 in attendance at €20 a head = €4k s



Who charges €20 entrance I've only ever been charged €15 premier and €10 first division

[nigel-harps1954]

Drogheda hardly charge €20 into United Park? Any wonder their crowds have gone to sh!te if so.

[White Horse]

Drogheda hardly charge €20 into United Park? Any wonder their crowds have gone to sh!te if so.

Certainly €20 if you are an away fan and want to sit. I think the standing away section is €15. Not sure about the prices for home fans.

[nigel-harps1954]

Jesus, that's a disgrace. Such terrible prices to stand in the most unstable bucket of a stand in the country (outside of Finn Park).

[Dodge]

AFAIK Dundalk and Drogheda are the only 2 clubs to charge €20 into the stand. Must be a Louth thing

[nigel-harps1954]

To a certain extent, you can understand Dundalk with supply and demand, but Drogheda, who are rarely getting above 500 at their games, are hardly going to attract many people to the games charging them 20 euro to have a seat?

[Jofspring]

€20 is very steep for LOI no matter what club it is.

[White Horse]

€20 is very steep for LOI no matter what club it is.

The stand price was raised to €20 in Oriel Park as the budget was increased to keep the likes of Richie Towell, Daryl Horgan, Stevie O'Donnell etc. at the club.

Dundalk have no sugar daddy and cannot expect to get the numbers through the gate as Cork. The current success is built on a balanced budget.

[Nesta99]

Even with 200, a very modest estimate for Drogheda if in the 1st division it is still €3k+ a bit from stand tickets - I still dont get why the Drogheda chairman claims that relegation will kill the club off. Use a long term plan similar to Wexford Youths who are now in the promotion mix after 8 seasons from scratch (the same length Dundalk were in that division). My point was more that Drogheda could have a minimum of 3k per week from ticket sales not including other income, which is probably more than many others in the 2nd tier yet the continue on. So is there a lack of will from the Drogheda board to dig deep if relegated or it is a rallying call of sorts, is there an ego thing that would see the club fold rather than going amateur and youth orientated? . I didnt intend my guesstimate of ticket price,income and attendance as anything more than an adjunct to the point that clubs like Drogheda and Athlone are talking about their doomsday rather than just changing their business practices and by proxy their players profile to stay afloat. Their players may be payed very little as stands now, but have players that play for nothing, their payment is their development as footballers. If this model type is still unsustainable then start calling it a day.