League of Ireland Finances

[Mr A]

John O Connor doing some very interesting blogs on the financial results of LOI clubs. So far Derry, St Pats, Limerick, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk. More to come as well.

https://leagueofirelandfinance.blogspot.com/

The blogs speak for themselves but show even some of the clubs making Europe are hugely dependent on 'investment' in one form or another.

[Longfordian]

I didn’t realise Dundalk’s wage bill jumped that much in those years. Though as the article states the 2014 figure was surprisingly low and clearly they have been able to pay it.

[Yossarian]

I didn’t realise Dundalk’s wage bill jumped that much in those years. Though as the article states the 2014 figure was surprisingly low and clearly they have been able to pay it.

Bonuses for qualifying for the Europa League group stage would make up a big part of the wage bill for 2016.

[oriel]

Bonus payments for 2016 would have easily exceeded €1M, as the senior players, probably most of the first team regulars got €40k each. It was a fair enough payment given the club took in around 6m gross, without the players performing to this level, prize money would have been a fraction of this.

Interesting to note the figure DFC still have as cash at bank, quite a healthy balance and good to see as always need to have a rainy day fund for less successful seasons.

[Ezeikial]

Interesting to note the figure DFC still have as cash at bank, quite a healthy balance and good to see as always need to have a rainy day fund for less successful seasons.

The takeover by the Peak6 consortium probably renders this irrelevant.

This cash at bank was most likely part of the consideration that Peak6 paid the former owners or may have been extracted in some tax efficient manner prior to sale.

Suffice say that either way the current owners are likely to have access to cash if they wish to spend

[oriel]

The takeover by the Peak6 consortium probably renders this irrelevant.

This cash at bank was most likely part of the consideration that Peak6 paid the former owners or may have been extracted in some tax efficient manner prior to sale.

Suffice say that either way the current owners are likely to have access to cash if they wish to spend

That's a fair point, it was also suggested by Dan McD on the weekly LOI podcast that Dundalk will be strengthening during the winter, so the funds are clearly there to be used.

[placid casual]

Are you guys aware if any of the peak6 money is to be used to make ground improvements, or do you feel the bulk big the cash will be spent on squad improvements? Genuine question btw.

[sbgawa]

Peak 6 have made it clear that investment in the ground will come from profits through success on the pitch.
With the likes of McElhaney, and others signed on good multi year contracts 2 or 3 rounds in Europe wont leave much for investing in the ground.
The only way I can see any major investment in the ground will be by another group stage qualification or significant transfer income as a result of the longer contracts.

Either is possible and that is the business plan. Its a reasonable chance of success but depends to a large extent on winning the league and getting a crack at the champions route. The boost in seedings following the 2016 success means they have a leg up.

The challenge for everyone else is to come up with a way of competing with the bigger budget.
Great admiration for Cork for what they've done (I've been writing them off all season) for me Rovers have to gamble on having the best possible starting 11..... and fill out the squad with youngsters or low cost squad players and then hope for a bit of luck with injuries.

[dundalkfc10]

Are you guys aware if any of the peak6 money is to be used to make ground improvements, or do you feel the bulk big the cash will be spent on squad improvements? Genuine question btw.

They stated when they took over, any improvements would take place gradually. They have put tarmac down in the home end side of the stand and behind the town end goal. Have done up the YDC building again, has a bar which was open for the European games. Prob be open for the big games as Lillywhite is fine on its own for normal games.

At the start of the summer chairman has said plans have been submitted to the relevant authorites, but could be at least 6 months before they have an update.

Rumour around town, that they are considering purchasing the Derryhale Hotel (closed this years) direct across from Oriel. This could mean Oriel is what they plan to do up and not a new ground in another location.

Dundalk fans as much as anyone would love an updated ground (although no ground in the league comes close to Oriel for noise when its packed) but im sure every teams fans could say the same on that one

[Ezeikial]

Are you guys aware if any of the peak6 money is to be used to make ground improvements, or do you feel the bulk big the cash will be spent on squad improvements? Genuine question btw.

Clear priority is to build the squad and generate revenue through European participation

It may be that ground upgrades are planned for sooner than originally indicated

[oriel]

The most active member of the new owners, and the chairman, Mike Tracey has acknowledged the away section is the worst in the league (not hard to be fair) but at least he has mentioned this on numerous occasions, so hopefully something will be done soon. He also went into that section to chat to Bohs fans for the first of the 2 home games this season.

I would like to see even some temporary improvements made in the short to medium term (noting the home section on the town side of the stand isn't much better), hopefully they will make further improvements during the winter, but I would say any longer term new builds for instance, will be a bit away, but its on their radar (we hope).

For immediate investment, it would appear the squad will take priority, this is where the earned income will hopefully come from to invest into the ground.

[Longfordian]

Bonuses for qualifying for the Europa League group stage would make up a big part of the wage bill for 2016.

Yeah for some reason I was thinking that wouldn’t have shown until 2017 but obviously it would have been paid in 2016.

[ToberonaTornado]

They stated when they took over, any improvements would take place gradually. They have put tarmac down in the home end side of the stand and behind the town end goal. Have done up the YDC building again, has a bar which was open for the European games. Prob be open for the big games as Lillywhite is fine on its own for normal games.

At the start of the summer chairman has said plans have been submitted to the relevant authorites, but could be at least 6 months before they have an update.

Rumour around town, that they are considering purchasing the Derryhale Hotel (closed this years) direct across from Oriel. This could mean Oriel is what they plan to do up and not a new ground in another location.

Dundalk fans as much as anyone would love an updated ground (although no ground in the league comes close to Oriel for noise when its packed) but im sure every teams fans could say the same on that one

They'll quickly go from billionaires to millionaires if they buy that money pit black hole
Ever wonder why there's not a lot of investors or none lined up to take that project over?

I honestly think we'll see some investment in the ground in 2019 with the away area being prioritised.I really hope so.

[Longfordian]

I was surprised at how low Harps’ payroll was in 2016, €164k. Ours was €205k, we’d overachieved in 2015 with a €198k payroll. Bray managed to make a €120k profit in 2016, not sure how they managed that?

[pineapple stu]

Director investments, same as everyone else. Just means they were at least paying off debt, not building it up.

Surprised how close Pat's payroll was to Cork's tbh

[El-Pietro]

https://leagueofirelandfinance.blogs...-2017.html?m=1

Interesting stuff on the costs associated with Roadstone.
Also of note is that Rovers playing/coaching budget was 1.2m euro in 2017. Cork City's was 1.1m. I don't think Dundalk have filed accounts yet so we won't know what they spent for a while yet but I would expect they outspent us as well. We just need one more club with a higher budget and we can claim the prize of fourth biggest budget.

[sbgawa]

I think some of the people involved in roadstone must still be on the club books as 83k doesn't come near the full time staff and paid coaches in roadstone. The investment is huge but if we can produce kids for the first team and get the odd transfer like bazunu it might prove to be the right path. If u look around the league at the number of kids coming through t he work by the fai introducing the national underage leagues is going to pay off for everyone. I don't buy into the vibe that we aren't producing talent. That talk just suits o Neill and his ilk.

We are still claiming the 4th largest playing budget

[El-Pietro]

We are still claiming the 4th largest playing budget

You can claim it all you want!

[Real ale Madrid]

https://leagueofirelandfinance.blogs...-2017.html?m=1

Interesting stuff on the costs associated with Roadstone.
Also of note is that Rovers playing/coaching budget was 1.2m euro in 2017. Cork City's was 1.1m. I don't think Dundalk have filed accounts yet so we won't know what they spent for a while yet but I would expect they outspent us as well. We just need one more club with a higher budget and we can claim the prize of fourth biggest budget.

Come on Waterford - you can do it!

[placid casual]

Read through a few paragraphs of that document and kept seeing the words "I assume"... Stopped reading after that.
Chippie living up to his moniker.