2022 Season, Arrivals and Departures

**patsdad** · 23/12/2021, 8:10 PM

1 is what should have happened. Dundalk and SOD tried a “workaround” which is why it’s going to court.

**D24Saint** · 23/12/2021, 8:17 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

In respect of the contract, surely these were the options?

1/ Dundalk get confirm that one was signed for 2 years after cup final and agree compensation (correct thing to do).

2/ Verbal agreement on contract extension only - no case.

3/ Pats annoyed he advised he was going to leave his position 48 hours after cup final win, and 1 week later formal notice to leave, can obviously see the annoyance, but is that it?

Option one is how business should have been done IMO. Nobody in Pats would have been happy with it but it would have been what it was. It’s the subterfuge that left a sour taste.

**oriel** · 23/12/2021, 8:42 PM

I've made it clear from the outset, if it was proven that he was under (a signed) contract, then Dundalk need to pay Pats compensation, simple and end of.

Verbal contract extension, very different, is this what its down to, two options ?

Will certainly be interesting in January what happens.

**Martinho II** · 23/12/2021, 8:49 PM

To slightly change the subject we have made 2 further signings from Bray today Dylan Barnett and Darren Craven. Callum Warfield and Ben Lynch have resigned contracts for us.

**nigel-harps1954** · 23/12/2021, 9:25 PM

Brayford Midlanders vs Cabrayteely should be fun next season.

**Longfordian** · 23/12/2021, 9:59 PM

Yes it seems we were secretly party to the Bray takeover.

**LOI101** · 23/12/2021, 10:04 PM

I doubt this will ever see the inside of a courtroom so we might be waiting a while to find out the facts of the matter which is a pity. It wouldn’t be up there with the OJ trial but would definitely have a lot of us here interested.

I don’t see what Pats have to gain by taking a court case against SOD. I’d be inclined to agree with the Pats fans here that Mr. K, as they call him, wouldn’t take a case he didn’t have legal advice that he could win. Then again, the quote from SOD he references advice he got. Solicitors represent their clients etc

I also believe that the Pats owner would do this for ****s and giggles. He won’t be losing sleep over legal costs even if he did lose. The opposite applies to SOD.

Its interesting that the article doesn’t make any reference to papers being served on Dundalk. Tie that back to the point about Kelleher’s legal advice. Maybe he’s been told he doesn’t have a case against Dundalk or maybe that could be forthcoming in the future.

If if did go to court, Pats/Kelleher in order to receive compensation would have to demonstrate some sort of loss that they wish to be compensated for. I assume they gave Drogheda a few quid for Clancy for it to be so amicable. Hardly worth going to court for. Get the popcorn out for when Pats are arguing they are suffering a loss due to Clancy not being as good as O’Donnell. Very unlikely but would be fun.

Another bit I find interesting about this, depending on how it turns out obviously, is would there be any impact on SOD’s agent down the line.

Is there any LMA like organization out there? I don’t think there is coz the PFAI did manager awards. Are managers members of the PFAI then? Would Gilhooly be representing SOD?

Lastly I’ve seen people refer to fixed term contracts. Having worked on many fixed term contracts over the years, it is quite common for either party to the contract to be able to terminate them at short notice, usually one pay cycle be that weekly or monthly however the individual gets paid.

Anyway some entertainment for the off season, be interesting to see how it turns out.

**Calcio Jack** · 23/12/2021, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

It was only a tongue n cheek observation.

Of course it was �. As was my reply

**Louth4sam** · 23/12/2021, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

You seem very very sure of your facts there. Do you really think Pats are serving legal papers because Garrett Kelleher is �butthurt� ? That would be incredibly silly of him if he hasn�t a legal basis to bring a case, wouldn�t you think ? He is effectively putting his money where his mouth is.

I don't have any more facts about what happened than Pats fans have. There was claims that there was a two year contract signed and it was public knowledge. If it's public knowledge it shouldn't be difficult to point me in the direction of it.

Do you really believe there is no emotion in this and it is strictly business for Kelleher? Any compo or settlement he'd get would be chump change to him. I'm sure Kelleher and his team believe there is a legal basis to bring a case, this doesn't mean he'll win. How did his Nama case go?

**Louth4sam** · 23/12/2021, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

The evidence is in a well educated multi millionaire going to the high court. I could be wrong but if he is I�ll eat my hat. I�m reading between the lines. It�s safe to assume the same legal people wrote the contract and filed the lawsuit. It�s not rocket science that one. Their reputation is on the line in their own trade.

Evidence?? So let's not have court cases any more, if you're rich and educated it's case closed, judgment in favour of the wealthy scholar.

I hope that both O'Donnell and the legal advice he got is correct regarding termination and he is backed to fight this by the club. I can see it being settled out of court for an undisclosed sum though.

**Longfordian** · 23/12/2021, 11:16 PM

It seems to me looking on that nobody is suggesting a brand new two year deal was signed. Pats seem to believe that there was an option in the original deal for them to extend it for a further two years which they took up. SOD may believe that the original contract also allowed him to walk with a week's notice. Which I have to say seems unlikely.

Alternatively he may be arguing that there wasn't an option for Pats to extend unilaterally in which case if he was still working for them after the written contract had expired he may, theoretically, be able to argue that he was then on a pay period by pay period rolling agreement. If he was being paid weekly then that may be why he believes all he needed to do was give a week's notice. We'll have to let the hired lawyers argue that out before we can know for sure.

**D24Saint** · 24/12/2021, 5:23 AM

Sad to see Lee Desmond leave for the USA. He has been excellent in recent seasons. It’s good news to see Paddy Barrett return , the squad is building nicely now.

**Jd2793** · 24/12/2021, 7:51 AM

desmond was a cut above, huge loss.

**sadloserkid** · 24/12/2021, 7:59 AM

"St Patrick�s Athletic go legal route in case against departed manager Stephen O'Donnell" https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-40772541.html

Here's another link. As an outsider with no legal background I think O'Donnell's language is interesting. When he's talking about his legal right to resign I wonder if he's talking about himself specifically as one specific football manager or is he saying that in the general sense he has the right in the same way that I can give notice to Amazon and stroll on about my business elsewhere. If the latter he's on shaky enough ground I reckon.

The bit about Pats potentially seeking phone records doesn't make it sound like they have a signed contract to drop onto the table either though.

**D24Saint** · 24/12/2021, 8:53 AM

https://www.sacrepublicfc.com/news_article/show/1199963

They play in the league down from MLS. I’m not sure if the American system has promotion & relegation. It’s a good move for him and should be an excellent adventure. I’d love to see him back some day.

**patsdad** · 24/12/2021, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

"St Patrick’s Athletic go legal route in case against departed manager Stephen O'Donnell" https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-40772541.html

Here's another link. As an outsider with no legal background I think O'Donnell's language is interesting. When he's talking about his legal right to resign I wonder if he's talking about himself specifically as one specific football manager or is he saying that in the general sense he has the right in the same way that I can give notice to Amazon and stroll on about my business elsewhere. If the latter he's on shaky enough ground I reckon.

The bit about Pats potentially seeking phone records doesn't make it sound like they have a signed contract to drop onto the table either though.

I think it’s more likely that the phone records are to establish when the negotiation started with Dundalk.

**oriel** · 24/12/2021, 9:49 AM

Originally Posted by D24Saint

https://www.sacrepublicfc.com/news_article/show/1199963

They play in the league down from MLS. I’m not sure if the American system has promotion & relegation. It’s a good move for him and should be an excellent adventure. I’d love to see him back some day.

Always thought that division is a perfect fit for a LOI player, decent salary, not a bad standard and get to travel, some clubs based in warmer parts of the states too, I wonder is this the same division that Barrett and Kilduff went from Dundalk?

That league and SPL are great options for LOI players in my view, we also need to get away from England being the first choice, PL obv too high, Championship will only take the very best too, some of the less big euro leagues can be good options too, but probably less links for our players to go to.

Note to self 'Well done for not commenting on the Pats - SOD saga' ..........................yet !

**D24Saint** · 24/12/2021, 9:59 AM

Originally Posted by oriel

Always thought that division is a perfect fit for a LOI player, decent salary, not a bad standard and get to travel, some clubs based in warmer parts of the states too, I wonder is this the same division that Barrett and Kilduff went from Dundalk?

That league and SPL are great options for LOI players in my view, we also need to get away from England being the first choice, PL obv too high, Championship will only take the very best too, some of the less big euro leagues can be good options too, but probably less links for our players to go to.

Note to self 'Well done for not commenting on the Pats - SOD saga' ..........................yet !

Yeah it�s the same level of the US pyramid. I�d say the wages & perks are good with the added bonus of the climate. I�m not sure about quality of the standard in that division. I was a MLS game a few years ago and it was a decent standard without being top level.

**Jack B** · 24/12/2021, 10:18 AM

Tunde Owolabi just announced for Pats as well. Interesting one that, I actually missed the game where he scored a hat trick against us but anytime I saw him play I thought he looked a real nuisance, if a little rough around the edges in terms of end product.