Saudi Takeover of Galway

**galwayforsam** · 14/06/2018, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Actually I was talking to a Galway fan at work. He said they can't even get 80 people to sign up to the Co op this year. He said the people of Galway have no real interest in the club or football in general but would happily jump on a bandwagon if successful.

What kind of figure do Cork have? Have seen between 400-500 Co-op members mentioned in some places.

**Mr A** · 14/06/2018, 11:39 AM

Cork are at about 450 members AFAIK, down from a peak of 850ish.

**micls** · 14/06/2018, 12:21 PM

It's hard to sustain interest in membership when there's no immediate disaster looming.

Little things can help, for examplebers are voting in our 3rd kit for next year, priorities for euro tickets etc to try to keep people engaged.

**gufcfan** · 14/06/2018, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by micls

priorities for euro tickets

(Makes note)

**Charlie Darwin** · 14/06/2018, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by micls

It's hard to sustain interest in membership when there's no immediate disaster looming.

Same for Rovers.

**nigel-harps1954** · 18/06/2018, 10:03 PM

So, the Saudis are taking over. Initial immediate investment of €500,000 is reported. Game changer.

**EatYerGreens** · 18/06/2018, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

So, the Saudis are taking over. Initial immediate investment of €500,000 is reported. Game changer.

That sort of money would be a game changer for Galway, but I'm not convinced it'll guarantee them any sort of success. The European money is such that if the Saudis are serious about challenging for the Premier Division title at some stage then they're going to have to up that sum by quite a bit.

**total hoofball** · 18/06/2018, 10:28 PM

500k is the same investment gone into Shels, good sum of cash for a first division club but only one club can go up automatically with UCD looking strong bet for that spot this season

With the headline rte articles I was under the impression millions we're been invested but maybe that will come if they get promoted by 2019 or 2020?

**wonder88** · 18/06/2018, 10:34 PM

First step has to be to get into the premier division, will 500k achieve that this year with the gap to UCD?

**Poor Student** · 18/06/2018, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by wonder88

First step has to be to get into the premier division, will 500k achieve that this year with the gap to UCD?

The 1st Divison season is two thirds over. You're talking about bridging a 12 points gap with 30 points remaining to play for. There's also the small matter of 4 other sides in between. The playoffs are an achievable goal though.

**El-Pietro** · 18/06/2018, 11:39 PM

Waterford, Dundalk, Shels and now Galway all receiving outside investment (Rovers too to an extent but that was from someone they had an previous relationship with). What is going on?

**stann** · 19/06/2018, 6:03 AM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Waterford, Dundalk, Shels and now Galway all receiving outside investment (Rovers too to an extent but that was from someone they had an previous relationship with). What is going on?

Maybe "is cool" had far more of a marketing reach than anyone realised.

**Sean South** · 19/06/2018, 6:22 AM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Waterford, Dundalk, Shels and now Galway all receiving outside investment (Rovers too to an extent but that was from someone they had an previous relationship with). What is going on?

Im not sure but i find it hard to believe that after what all the Galway fans have been through over the years and finally getting a supporters owned club. The first opportunity that comes they give up their club to to a possible snake oil salesman.

**White Horse** · 19/06/2018, 8:57 AM

Have these Saudi investors have a track record in investing in football? I take the view that each case should be assessed on its own circumstances.

There are fan ownership fundamentalists who decry any foreign ownership. However, there are many successful examples of clubs in smaller leagues that are foreign owned.

**El-Pietro** · 19/06/2018, 9:20 AM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Im not sure but i find it hard to believe that after what all the Galway fans have been through over the years and finally getting a supporters owned club. The first opportunity that comes they give up their club to to a possible snake oil salesman.

Or literal oil salesmen as the case may be.

**Terry** · 19/06/2018, 9:40 AM

Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

That sort of money would be a game changer for Galway, but I'm not convinced it'll guarantee them any sort of success. The European money is such that if the Saudis are serious about challenging for the Premier Division title at some stage then they're going to have to up that sum by quite a bit.

That is the initial investment to get GUFC back into the Premier League. A "substantial seven figure sum" has been rumoured locally to be in place to go for european places there after.

**Terry** · 19/06/2018, 9:42 AM

Originally Posted by Sean South

Im not sure but i find it hard to believe that after what all the Galway fans have been through over the years and finally getting a supporters owned club. The first opportunity that comes they give up their club to to a possible snake oil salesman.

The Co-op will still be in place in the club with a 25% share, with that open to an increase.

**Longfordian** · 19/06/2018, 9:44 AM

Originally Posted by Terry

That is the initial investment to get GUFC back into the Premier League. A "substantial seven figure sum" has been rumoured locally to be in place to go for european places there after.

Sounds like the type of thing I’d want to see in writing before the vote to be honest.

**disgruntled** · 19/06/2018, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Terry

The Co-op will still be in place in the club with a 25% share, with that open to an increase.

I found it disapointing that Galway Co-op had only 107 members eligible to vote ?
https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/201...galway-united/

**Terry** · 19/06/2018, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by disgruntled

I found it disapointing that Galway Co-op had only 107 members eligible to vote ?
https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/201...galway-united/

So does the Co-op, but thats all they can get to sign up.

Galway is in the mist of a GAA revival of sorts, with the hurlers getting gates of over 30,000 for a match recently against Kilkenny. Also the Gaelic Footballers coming good with the batch of young players and are tripling there gates from 2 years ago.

Connacht is also virtually a Galway supported team and their marketing team are extremely good, with huge financial backing from the IRFU and local businesses also. Most of their matches are sell outs nowadays as they can attract teams with big names into the city through the current competitive set-ups.

Galway is not a "soccer" supporting county, except for the normal Irish bandwagoning, and the only way to attract these bandwagon brigades is for a huge financial contribution from our new overlords......I mean investors !