Buying the club

**Citymark** · 08/02/2002, 9:49 AM

The past few weeks have seen a lot of debate about the current board and owners of the club, and the fact that they don't seem to want to invest in the club.

So my question is, how much do you think it would be needed for a consortium/supporters to buy out the club?

Do you think it is fesabile?

How much should be offered?

**Gary** · 08/02/2002, 10:15 AM

Ahh the topic of many a nights hard drinking. What we decided is that the club have very few actuial tangible assets, so it would not be that expensive. (now i see Joe yawning at this one

), But Bournmouth AFC supporters club bought out the club a number of years ago, when the club was in severe financial turmoil, and while things may not have gotten better on the pitch, they certainly improved off of it. Point is, its not impossible to buy out a club, but with only ordinary Joe Soaps like ourselves, we would not be able to sustain the running of the club. Great if we could but its a bit of a dream Id imagine.

**mouldymurphy** · 08/02/2002, 10:16 AM

ill chip in i promise to give�10

**vlad** · 08/02/2002, 10:20 AM

that should be able to buy you half the squad if you go by their market value!

**mouldymurphy** · 08/02/2002, 10:39 AM

half ! i was going for the full squad and half the under21s

**S�C** · 08/02/2002, 11:09 AM

The fans own a significant percentage of Dundalk, Galway have a member on the Board. I dont see why City could not do the same, riase money for the club and more importantly give us a say in the running of the club.

**A face** · 08/02/2002, 11:57 AM

That will never happen, Some City supporters are not organized, and couldn't get it together if they tried. The olde p iss up and brewery thing if you know what i mean. Half the people on here at a rough guess are afraid of joining the supporters club for fear of some piped up conspiracy and some other mumbo jumbo that they come up with, and you expect them to try and buy out the club. You must be joking.
(thats a bit rich coming from me seeing as i have missed the last few meetings, but i had college on Tuesdays so i couldn't go)
Collectively is the only way anything will happen and when people say "Oh it'll never happen" and give up after the first thought, it wont go anywhere. If supporters were to get a place on the board then it would be great, probably the best thing ever to happen to a club in Cork.

Neil · 08/02/2002, 12:05 PM

Good points Face.

There are loads of people who post here with all sorts of ideas (banners, UCC/City supporters club, away trips, atmosphere, confetti etc.) but when it comes down to it just couldn't be bothered making the effort. If people can't even go along to a SC meeting for an hour on a Tuesday night, what chance is there of anything changing.

**A face** · 08/02/2002, 1:04 PM

Is that they still, without any question will scream abuse at the players and board and fellow fans when they see fit, fans getting shouted down when they try to start anything. Dont get me wrong i give abuse sometimes as well, but it is when we dont get any acknowledgement from the players when we travel half the country or europe to see them lose, or i go to an U-21's game to see O'Flynn playing his socks off and never getting to the first team, our when you try and pitch in to help out and then fans would never been consulted or even just told of something like the leicester link. thats what pis ses me off ..... i know that doesn't give me licence to abuse anyone but at least i try and do something about it, in fact i'd love to do more. Some people IMO just dont think.

**pete** · 08/02/2002, 1:09 PM

btw whats the membership total for the SC at the moment?

Eventhough i'm based in dublin i promise to join before start of next season.

**dalo** · 08/02/2002, 1:21 PM

Originally posted by A face
Is that they still, without any question will scream abuse at the players and board and fellow fans when they see fit, fans getting shouted down when they try to start anything. Dont get me wrong i give abuse sometimes as well, but it is when we dont get any acknowledgement from the players when we travel half the country or europe to see them lose.

Surely though people who pay there money's worth to go to games are just as entitled to give their opinion as the supporters club. i was in the supporters club years ago and i didn't see the point of wasting my time there after a year. some of the people there were a bit odd to say the least

most people go to games as a relief from the very real pressures of work and home (a lot of which the members of the supporters club wouldn't have a clue about). it isn't a big political thing for a lot of supporters.

furthermore what makes the supporters club think they could run the club any better. aren't the club directors- supporters as well?

**Troy.McClure** · 08/02/2002, 1:51 PM

Originally posted by Citymark
...the current board and owners of the club, and the fact that they don't seem to want to invest in the club.

It seams to have passed everybody buy that we actually DO have a new chairman. Im sure that he does have an interest in the club, otherwise why would he put his money into it? He has been involved in LOI for many years (all be it with the Evil Enemy) so he shouldnt be just another "merchant". I think that we will see changes in the summer break, that is if changes will be made. The chairman IS the club (off the pitch) and he is relatively new to it, so lets see what happens during the summer.

**patsh** · 08/02/2002, 2:09 PM

Must you be in the supporters club to be a real fan of the club?
If you are not a wealthy person who wants to invest, there are
some things you can do if you want to have a say in a club:
1. A good plan for raising money .
or
2. Take on some of the financial burden of running the club .
[COLOR=indigo]For instance =>Would the SC try to raise enough money to pay two players wages? Say come up with �1000 pw > 100 fans @ �10, or 200 fans @ �5 per week. (500 pw being a fairish wage.)[/COLOR]

As someone who is critical of the board himself, it must be acknowledged that they are the people in charge, and it would be better to work with them, rather than against them. For instance other things which could be done:
Does the SC ask director's to meetings?
Does the SC try to promote fund raising/other ideas with the director's?
Has the SC asked the director's how they can help they club?

Has the SC properly organised themselves? i.e. get across to other CC fans that by joining the SC, they can help the club?

Just some idea's...............

**dalo** · 08/02/2002, 2:17 PM

exactly the sc club members preach all the time on this site about the borad and the club and so on but what do they do to promote the sc to prospective new members?

the sc constantly criticise the actions of everyone else but are they are above criticism? i don't think so yet they never look at themselves and constantly come across as being a bunch of reactionaries to everyone else. i know for afact dave barry thought they were a bit of a joke during the whole leicester thing. in fact they are pretty invisible to the majority of supporters most of the time.

look at yourselves first lads

**Gary** · 08/02/2002, 2:34 PM

Losing the run of yourselves there a bit I'd say fellas. Now I am not a member of the SC, simply because I don't want to be. I know alot of people who are though, and Ive yet to hear them preach about anything. And the SC DO fund raise. AFAIK its the SC who looks after the lotto, table quizzes etc. Yes, the SC asks directors/players/ managers to meetings - doesnt meran they have to show up does it. the SC sponsor a player every season.

As for dalos comment on the new chairman. well fair enough, BUT what has he done any different from Dunne before him? What radical changes have you seen?

**dalo** · 08/02/2002, 2:41 PM

all good points gwa. i am not there to defend a chariman but are we really in a viable position to inrtoduce radical changes. we are probably not in finiancial terms able to do it. at the moment all the chairman can do is keep the club afloat that is always their first priority

btw what does AFAIK stand for?

Neil · 08/02/2002, 2:48 PM

Originally posted by dalo
what does AFAIK stand for?

as far as I know... AFAIK.

**patsh** · 08/02/2002, 2:48 PM

I'm not criticising the SC. I'm just trying to find out about it, and my point is that while you may be or want to be a member of the SC, you can still be a good supporter of the club.
It's great that the SC run the lotto and other stuff,
but for instance, in all the matches I go to, no one ever has ever asked me if I want to contribute time or money to the club. I bring my son to all the home games, and pay an adult price for him as it is the only way so far that I have been able to give the club a bit extra. Surely the time to get to people who may be happy to get involved is at matches? How about the SC having a table where people can talk to members and find out how they can help or join? If only one or two extra people per game can be brought in to help, it will eventually make a big difference...

Neil · 08/02/2002, 2:53 PM

Originally posted by oddboy
How about the SC having a table where people can talk to members and find out how they can help or join? If only one or two extra people per game can be brought in to help, it will eventually make a big difference...

The SC run the Lotto and AFAIK they have a table inside the turnstiles on matchday. Any one of the lads would be glad to talk to you about it..

**Peadar** · 08/02/2002, 4:05 PM

You could buy the whole lot for under �1,000,000
I've already enquired as I've a few million spare.
Unfortunately the board wouldn't accept offers in Turkish Lira

Running a club isn't easy my friends and IMO one big step to improving the club would be having an office with full time staff. ie a Marketing Manager, PR staff etc, etc...