QuoteDario Castelo leaves Athlone:
https://athlonetownafc.ie/club-statement-dario-castelo/
Just as we fear the joie de vivre around the league could be peaking!Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Dario Castelo leaves Athlone:
https://athlonetownafc.ie/club-statement-dario-castelo/
Keith Long gets the bullet
https://waterfordfc.ie/2025/04/19/cl...nt-keith-long/
Reading comments under the club’s statement, a lot of fans seem to be pointing the finger at the club or players for their bad form. I’ve no idea who is to blame.
There are plenty of Bohs fans who would be happy to have Long back at the helm. He is definitely a level above the 2 spoofers who came after him.
Waterford had a poor 2nd half of last season aswell so it was inevitable Long was going to get the bullet if there was no change in form this season. I expect they will revert to a UK manager which you just can't see improving the situation
I'm not really sure what the Fleetwood crew are expecting when Waterford are used as some hybrid feeder club with a core LOI panel mixed with constant turnover of young Fleetwood loanees, random UK/foreign imports who look to be trialled and then Fleetwood picking off for themselves the few of Waterford's best performing players like Patterson, Coughlan etc. that setup at best is only going to result in a bottom half of the table Premier Division club permanently looking over their shoulders
The Leinster Senior League needs a strong Bohemians
It wouldnt be unusual to undeestimate how competative the LoI Premer Divisions is. That a small run, good or bad, changes the complexion of a season. Prior to last season there wa always the P/T relegation fodder, but last year people had to be on their game and/or spend. Its harder again this season where bigger clubs will get relegated. It hasnt fully gotten through to Pilley, it has at Drogheda. Quick fix half season loans, constant turnover of players, subpar youngsters that a Fleetwood are trying to build value to offload by sending to LoI, its only one direction when on that path and its seems to be Fleetwoods model.
Dan McDonnell reporting some Canadian businessesman is taking full control at Athlone and they want Ruairi Higgins in charge of the first team
Yeah his name is Eric Perez and has close ties with a company called Argyle Green LLC.
Talks being held for weeks now but I haven't heard anything with regards to a deal yet
They are involved in a few sports clubs probably the most known being Plymouth Argyle.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/cq5z5z67n5no
Last edited by Battery Rover; 21/04/2025 at 12:30 PM.
Really hard to know what the Fleetwood owner(s) are thinking or hoping to get out of the Waterford connection. Although they may have very little interest in LOI given they have accumulated losses of over 40 million sterling. Interesting they were reported as losses as opposed to debts, dunno if there is a difference. The new owner finances basically the old fraudster owners finances ... it's asterisk territory.
The only thing that makes sense is blooding kids in the senior game to boost their ale value. Maybe access to the European market, UEFA prizemoney for a quick, underestimated easy cashflow. There is something particularly distasteful about the Pilley family wealth and that saying something considering some large ownerships. Losses could be covered by cash reserves I presume so not debt, but thoe losses will become debt as the ability to pay stops. Not sure post Brexit but loss making subsidiaries allowed tax deductions so would might have had some benefit to having a LoI not self suffcient, Stu might be someone who'd know better but surely its a drop in the ocean of 40m losses. Is Waterford an asset that could be overpriced to keep a balance sheet looking a bit healthier? For a while now it looks like a potential asterick things and Id wonder again where are all the 'careful now' naysayers of investment groups or multiclub owners in LoI ala early P6 days??
Everything helps - LoI transfers have been small beer for far too long.
Last edited by Eminence Grise; 21/04/2025 at 9:51 PM.
Hello, hello? What's going on? What's all this shouting, we'll have no trouble here!
- E Tattsyrup.
What club would most likely hire Keith Long next? I think he joined Waterford after a few games into the 2023 First Division campaign. Are there any First Division clubs who would fit the profile of where he might go next?
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined. First Division '14: 7 first teams.
Opportunity lost for new clubs/regions to join the LoI family.
He has history with Athlone, Bray and Dundalk.
Waterford still talking to Higgins who appears to be their first choice, with Stephen Rice the apparent second option now
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/stephen-rice-enters-frame-for-waterford-job-as-talks-remain-ongoing-with-ruaidhri-higgins/a291535386.html
Paaatrick's Agletic
Liam Burt joins Glentoran. A move that tees himself up nicely for the inevitable Linfield move, followed by Cliftonville
Paaatrick's Agletic
Looks like Higgins will be taking the Coleraine job and Ian Ryan the Athlone one
Paaatrick's Agletic
I hope they realise why he’s known as tampon.
In for one out for 3, absolute headless when he does show up
Yeah and he's used to hanging out of c....cant say it out loud even if chanelling Billy Butcher!
Higgins now confirmed at Coleraine:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/cdxg84rzxd5o
I wonder how Higgins is viewed by Derry fans now given the pretty middling returns from the big off season expenditure and highly rated new manager in Lynch?
From the outside looking in it seems a lot of the same issues have persisted since Higgins departure.
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