Money..

[WeAreRovers]

I remember the same said about UEFA Licencing.

What is this "UEFA Licencing" you speak of?

KOH

[pete]

We need to remove the eL, have a knock out competition but allow teams that lose matches back in throuhg a qualifier section. Play all the games at the new Lansdowne Road. We will get 5-6 decent crowds for the big clubs but will need to play the season over 3 months.

[Schwalker]

I don't think the league would be all that much weaker. The vast, vast majority of the players would still be here, just on less money.

Maybe the 65% wage cap can make an impact next year...

Your clubs pay 65% of their income in WAGES???

My club (S04) pay around 30% and we are big spenders in the bundesliga..

[DmanDmythDledge]

Your clubs pay 65% of their income in WAGES???

My club (S04) pay around 30% and we are big spenders in the bundesliga..

No at the moment clubs can spend what they want on wages. I wouldn't know what percentage each club spend on wages.

As of next season clubs will only be allowed to spend 65% max of income on wages.

[Schwalker]

No at the moment clubs can spend what they want on wages. I wouldn't know what percentage each club spend on wages.

As of next season clubs will only be allowed to spend 65% max of income on wages.

But but but..If a club spend that much on wages how can they afford to pay for their stadiums? New players? service their debts?
build new training facilities? Afford a decent youth academy? etc etc..

[CharlesThompson]

Schwalker - our clubs pay significantly more than 65% on wages. That is why our stadiums a rotting and why the Revenue Commissioners are squeezing clubs for the money we owe them.

[Schwalker]

Schwalker - our clubs pay significantly more than 65% on wages. That is why our stadiums a rotting and why the Revenue Commissioners are squeezing clubs for the money we owe them.

But it can´t continue like that. Something got to give..Either the clubs use some common sense and accept that they can´t spend more than they earn or they will fold.

It´s an earn more or spend less scenario..

[Dr.Nightdub]

Can someone just give John Delaney's mobile number to Schwalker? He can let on to be Sepp Blatter and threaten all sorts of nasty stuff unless the local administrators of the FIFA franchise start to actually run this League properly.

[sonofstan]

Can someone just give John Delaney's mobile number to Schwalker? He can let on to be Sepp Blatter and threaten all sorts of nasty stuff unless the local administrators of the FIFA franchise start to actually run this League properly.

Better, can we just give Schwalker John Delaney's job? how could he be worse?

[Schwalker]

Can someone just give John Delaney's mobile number to Schwalker? He can let on to be Sepp Blatter and threaten all sorts of nasty stuff unless the local administrators of the FIFA franchise start to actually run this League properly.

Hmm, I could actually get hold of Lennart Johannson...Good enough?

PS..Not that he will do anything I suggest, just wonder why some drunk idiot is calling him at his home.

[pineapple stu]

Ah, the joy of introducing new people to the league.

[Battery Rover]

Have often wondered. How many teams are actually living within their means? I know we didn't the last few years but have now decided as tough as it will be that we have to do it. Hence all players being west of the shannon. Club probably running of a €2500 weekly budget

[BohDiddley]

So very true. There are too many of us that somehow believe that if we tweek some specific element slightly then the crowds will come pouring in...they won't. And blaming summer soccer for not being able to dramatically improve on this problem is silly and over-simplistic. There is no catch-all solution to the various problems that we face. Some changes will make some improvements, but the sooner we accept this league's limitations (and work around them) the better. The Derry team that lost to a Cypriot side three years ago weren't a pub team, the Derry team that hammered Gretna the other night aren't world beaters - certain small but significant hanges were made, and they paid off. Those that don't shouldn't be an excuse for saying "ah fcek it, it's usless".

Both answers are right. You can take an accounting view on this or you can take a marketing view.
Accounting means balancing the books and living within your given means. That will avoid the succession of financial crises that we've been having, and of course will avoid the tax and wage scandals that continue to discredit the league. We can limit the analysis to that if we are happy to follow minnow clubs playing in a minnow league and continue to call everyone else a barstooler.
A marketing approach will seek to increase crowds in the long term, by including as many people as possible. Ultimately, the reason that clubs cannot live within their means is that there is not enough money coming through the turnstiles. Crowds matter. And crowds are getting smaller.
An awful lot hinges on the job that the FAI makes of propagandising the league and achieving a cultural shift in how we Irish relate to football. You can't put € signs on that, but that doesn't mean it isn't critically important. This is a major strategic opportunity. Pray it isn't wasted. My fear is that, in order for anything to be achieved, the first thing that has to happen is that we have a cultural shift in the FAI.

[dcfcsteve]

My fear is that, in order for anything to be achieved, the first thing that has to happen is that we have a cultural shift in the FAI.

Spot on.

The FAI should be doggedly fighting the EL's corner - tooth and nail - at every opportunity.

For example - every televised game brings additional money into our league, so they should be banging down the broadcasters doors on a regaular basis looking for them to show more games. This weekend has 2 great fixtures that could have a huge bearing on who wins the league (Cork v City / Shels v Bohs). The FAI should've spent the last few weeks solid badgering the 4 terrestial channels and Setanta about what great games these would be and the need to broadcast one of them. In reality I bet you they've done feck all, and most of the channels haven't really twigged how key these games are.

Until the FAI starts to use its funds and influence to puch us, we'll stay in the shadows. But I seriously doubt they care that much to even want to - let alone bother.