As expected , Trivela have removed Joanna Byrne from her position of Director and Co-Chair of Drogheda United
https://droghedaunited.ie/trivela-statement/
As expected , Trivela have removed Joanna Byrne from her position of Director and Co-Chair of Drogheda United
https://droghedaunited.ie/trivela-statement/
The sharpened concern about governance comment is interesting.
Will she step down or challenge the decision?
She has a choice step away and let the manager who keeps bleating about the distraction concentrate on football or put herself and her politics first..........my guess is she fights
Should be interesting to see how all of this plays out, and what effect it will have on the football side of things.
Also, would imagine the war of drogs support is split, pro Byrne and not wanting to pxxx off the owners who are paying the bills, seems from reading bits most are pro Byrne, but that won't count for much if she's forced out, and seems she will be.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), only Irish club to win a game / points in Europa League Group Stage (2016).
The problem with the majority of people is that they dont appreciate how hard raising money for loi teams is.Originally Posted by oriel
There are loads of better ways for Drogs fans to protest in favour of or against whatever issue they want without risking their clubs future funding
If you have a friendship between a fan group and director who does go batting for them when it becomes necessary, then they will not want to lose their protection. That goes for any similar arrangement at any club. She has a relationship with these people in her political realm also, directing their fundraising activities and ensuring media coverage of the efforts. They help with her politics between lobbying, fundraising and campaigning. I think the owners see these as the conflict of interest more than her political party membership and its policies. The was emphasised recently with photos together in the days before the game in Oriel. But often, a real fan, that finds themselves on the outside, goes quietly for the benefit of the club rather than prideful refusal to leave damaging the club. It moves in to the realm of Pat O'Sullivan, or Cork Tommy though without the financial issues etc. But club is not first and foremost, so I actually think she will just go quietly - she can fight another day as these American Investments group ownerships always end in tears after all even though Arkaga is the only one that actually just upped sticks with scorched earth, but twas no kilcoyne job!
https://www.thejournal.ie/joanna-byr...92069-Mar2026/
Hopefully she goes full Enoch and stands outside all day with her satchel
As a Drogs fan, I'm delighted she's gone. As a member of Sinn Fein (I let alone a TD) and with all THAT entails - she should never have been allowed to rise to that position in the club.
Not sure what Trivela's endgame is here. Think the majority of fans are gonna be p1ssed off about this and they've just brought more trouble on themselves than they would have if they just let it go
To be fair to Club owners , they are as entitled to Principles as anybody else but they are funding the club.
If you are happy to take someones money you cant really complain if you dont like their views and expect to stay in your position talking agaisnt them while they continue to fund the club.
Byrne should fight - the hedge fund that own the club were happy enough to have her in the job when it suited their interests - now they want to dispense with her because they don't want to p*ss off supporters of the big orange turd.
The only real way to hit Trivela is in the pocket - Drogs fans and away fans should boycott the games in Drogheda - this hedge fund's sole purpose in owning Drogheda is to develop a couple of players that they can then cash in on transfer fees and pocket the money.
Good news for Waterford anyway if enough Drogs fans take you up on this, they might avoid 10th spot after all with Drogs tail spining into bankruptcy.
Although the big Orange lad might give up his BS when he hears Drogs are in trouble.
Last edited by sbgawa; 23/03/2026 at 5:06 PM.
Trivela can do what they want, they came in and paid off all debt at the time, bought the ground off FAI, paying all the bills - now whether they actually do partly fund a new ground with capital grants that their choice, they could also do the nuclear option and do a Milltown 87, but I doubt they would.
Drogs fans need to be careful here, if they pxxxx the owners off so much and they pull out, unless they get a replacement, its back to FD and living week to week.
Byrne should never have got involved in any of this, should focused on the running the club only.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), only Irish club to win a game / points in Europa League Group Stage (2016).
If you are an employee of a football club, then like any employee of a company, you can expect to be reprimanded or even dismissed by your employer if they think you have breached the terms of your contract of employment by your actions or behaviour when carrying out the duties of your employment.
The blurring of football and politics in the LOI has gotten to the point that people think they can say or act in a certain way without any repercussions or consequences. Nobody is bigger than the club and if the powers that be want you gone then you will be gone.
Morally, this decision stinks. But practically, if Trivela pull the plug it could have serious ramifications for the club. As much as some would like to see her fight, if this becomes a massively toxic situation and environment for the owners do those people wanting to fight the good fight run the risk of doing harm to the club? It's a no win situation here and another reminder of how risky it is opening the doors to outside investors.
Byrne is not an employee - she is a director. She was already a SF councillor when she was appointed chairperson AFTER Trivela took over the ownership. It suited their interests at the time to make that appointment. Now that she has made a public pronouncement about the genocide in Gaza they have a problem. No matter what Trivela say this is an attempt to mute a political representative who is also a representative of the club.
There is no 'blurring' of football and politics - football (indeed all sport) has always been completely interwined with politics and the powers that be have always used sport for political ends. Hell - the FAI and LoI were founded on the basis of politics.
There are always repercussions and consequences - like the wholesale embarrassment of FIFA giving the war-mongering orange turd a 'FIFA peace award' in order to stroke his ego. There are times in history where you have to take a stand and this period of time is one of them. The genocidal war-mongering actions of the Trump regime and the Zionist state are potentially driving the entire world into a disasterous political, economic and social future. I am not a supporter of SF - but Byrne was right to take this stand and she should be supported by every football supporter on th island if they have any kind of a moral compass.
This reminds me of the time in yhe 1930s famously warned Herr Hitler they were keeping an eye on him.
If anyone thinks driving drogs to the wall will bkther Trump they are completly deluded
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