Limerick to leave Hogan park for Greenfield Site?

**Guy Incognito** · 09/08/2006, 4:03 PM

According to an article by Owen Ryan in todays Limerick Independent Limerick Fc are to leave Hogan Park when they current lease expires. Quoting Danny Drew," We still have a two and a half year playing agreement with Hill Celtic and they have said that they will honour it. It wasn't the trustees or the Fai we made the deal with on using Hogan Park with, it was Hill Celtic." With Ryan reporting the following, "Mr Drew added that the club had already put in an offer on another grenfield site and that it had been accepted." The question of funding this new site was addressed by Mr Drew as such,"The first thing is that whoever takes over the lease is going to have to reimburse us for the investment we made there." Also in a blast at new tenants the Fai Mr Drew had this to add,"Merrion Square don't care about the clubs. They never have, and they probably never will!"

So, what does everyone think? 2 and a half years at Hogan park would give us time to construct a purpose built stadium at a new greenfield site. However with Danny blasting the Fai and going on his own, it looks like we won't be on the invite list for the new "Fantasy football premier league of Ireland and parts unknown world championship Ltd."

**joeSoap** · 09/08/2006, 5:02 PM

Originally Posted by Guy Incognito

Quoting Danny Drew," The first thing is that whoever takes over the lease is going to have to reimburse us for the investment we made there."

I don't think so...Why would any new tenant have to re-imburse a previous tenant for something that falls under a previous lease agreement? There will be absolutely no legal grounds for compensation, under any circumstances. JRM Sports have a five year lease, and if that is honoured, then there can be no legal claim to anything.

The FAI will now be in a position to offer Limerick FC a dream scenario, providing the lease actually gets signed over to them. Yet it seems that ego and personal greed might prevent the club from playing in a new stadium and in the superleague.

The finance simply is not there to purchase a greenfield site and develop it. If supporters and prospective sponsors are told that there is, or will be, they will have been told bare faced lies.If this route is taken, then it will be a two fingered salute to the FAI from Danny Drew. It will also place the club in massive debt and seriously endanger its existence.

**4tothefloor** · 09/08/2006, 6:53 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

If this route is taken, then it will be a two fingered salute to the FAI from Danny Drew. It will also place the club in massive debt and seriously endanger its existence.

He's already given two fingers to Joe Young, by also publicly having a go at him, and look where he got with that? Young ended up changing his mind, and IMO, gave the lease to the FAI to spite Drew.

He's now having a rant at the FAI, who to most peoples eyes are actually trying to help the club by taking on the lease. The FAI don't have to take on any lease if they don't want to. It's a ridiculous reaction, and like you, I don't believe for one second that we have a greenfield site lined up. I thought Drew had learned a few lessons from his outbursts last season, but obviously not......

**joeSoap** · 09/08/2006, 7:08 PM

Imagine that.........we agree on something...

**4tothefloor** · 09/08/2006, 7:45 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Imagine that.........we agree on something...

Except on Noel O'Connor

**LFC in Exile** · 10/08/2006, 8:00 AM

This is crazy. I don't know whats going on behind the scenes but this on teh face of it seems a no-brainer. The FAI want Limerick FC to be strong and succeed. However, the FAI have already told the Dublin clubs that they will not fund stadium developments at several grounds near each other. They are not going to fund the development of their own ground and co-fund a Limerick FC ground. The club will have to build it themselves. How much does a 5,000 seater stadium cost? (We could use a 10,000 seater for underage internaitonals etc but we will need to cut our cloth). I reckon €2m at least at a wild guess? Where will we get this?

Just like Limerick to snatch crisis from the jaws of security.

**sadloserkid** · 10/08/2006, 11:19 AM

I would love to hear what possible reason could be given from walking away from Rathbane now that we've finally secured a lease...

**CraftyToePoke** · 10/08/2006, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

I would love to hear what possible reason could be given from walking away from Rathbane now that we've finally secured a lease...

i know, we are finally nearly there, after going through this for all my adult life, this club just leaves you with your head in your hands at times.

hopefully it will settle and the power struggle (if that is whats going on) will not go on too long or jeopardise the security of the club.

what would you estimate the attendance at the other night slk?

**sadloserkid** · 10/08/2006, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

i know, we are finally nearly there, after going through this for all my adult life, this club just leaves you with your head in your hands at times.

hopefully it will settle and the power struggle (if that is whats going on) will not go on too long or jeopardise the security of the club.

what would you estimate the attendance at the other night slk?

300 or so maybe. Not one of our bigger ones. About 40 from Galway I'd guess though they can probably answer that part themselves.

**LFC in Exile** · 10/08/2006, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

I would love to hear what possible reason could be given from walking away from Rathbane now that we've finally secured a lease...

There is no sensible reason.

The lease for the FAI includes a centre of excellence for the region, looking after underage structures etc. First off, they have to say that. How does it look if they just gave a ground to an eL team - there has to be something in it to prevent a precedence elsewhere. Second, if there is a centre of excellence Limerick FC should be at the centre of it. Identifying players and benefitting from coaching.

Hang on a minute. Maybe the reason is that the club is no longer commited to excelllence.

**joeSoap** · 10/08/2006, 5:57 PM

Just for the record, I would like to say that any opinions I post here are not meant as personal insult to any one individual. If I agree with something I will support it, if I don't I will criticise it, but that criticism is not directed at any one individual and is meant to be constructive.

If anyone takes offence at my posts, please pm me and I will be more than happy to apologise if necessary.

**gael353** · 10/08/2006, 8:44 PM

Right first up the lease which the Joe Young crowd have given to the FAI has not and will not, ever be signed IMO. He wasted Limerick FC�s time telling us since 1992 that this is the home of Limerick soccer and now he�ll keep the FAI �donkey/carrot� for the next couple of years but as I say it will never happen. If word is to be believed then Limerick FC has bought a Greenfield site. All grants, which have been given to Limerick FC but as of yet not drawn down, are to Limerick FC, and not to any specific ground. The Limerick Leader article is a load of ****, similar to the paper and should be treated a such. I too believe that DD is wrong to fall out with the FAI at this time and would do well to work together so that neither of them come out financially worse off or be led down a garden path by one Joe Young. I think a site away from Rathbane is now the best option however, not for the next 2/3 years as we have a deal with Hill Celtic who have been very good to us. BTW Hill Celtic knew nothing of this Young/FAI deal so that will tell you how much thought went into it. The lease is never going to happen lads so I�d keep back on the celebrations just for now. The announcement that the lease had been signed was more triumph lent ****e from let�s say� past tense limerick Fc. Also I am now told that the launch of the jersey is now going to be at or thereabouts, the Derry City League cup semi final. I am very unhappy at the way things are going on the pitch at present but as a supporter I will continue to support my team.

**Westside** · 11/08/2006, 3:59 AM

Originally Posted by gael353

The lease is never going to happen lads so I�d keep back on the celebrations just for now. The announcement that the lease had been signed was more triumph lent ****e from let�s say� past tense limerick Fc.

I would agree with you Gael, we were told last season the same story, da priest had given us the lease, here we are 12 months down the road and no lease, the FAI stepping in would make me even more wary of the situation, Look at what happened at Bishopstown, don't the FAI lay claim to that, why are Cork not there now. Ok some might say it was because of small attendances, but hey if you have your house in order, a good side that are up there competing week in week out in the premier, then the crowds will come. Don't tell me that in the last few years where Cork have had success at home and abroad they wouldn't have been able to fill Bishopstown, course they would. Anyone who believes that John Delaney is doing this with the sole intention of helping Limerick Fc needs to have a chat with themselves.

On another issue I think the reason DD is flying off the handle so much lately is down to the pressure he is under from off field and on field happenings of late, I am not condoning it, but in a round about way can undersatnd it. The team has gone to pot, crowds are dwindling as each week passes, a big wage bill, probably breaking even on that score, a priest thats fcuking him about, a manager whose has no plan B and can't sack, cause it will cost too much to get rid of him, then go and do his day job and try to be a family man aswell, its bound to take its toll. Most of us on here have only normal everyday troubles to contend with, and some might say he's bringing it on himself but DD could quite easily walk away from all this nonsense, and hey who would blame him, I wouldn't, lest we not forget, the last nail was just about to be hammered in to the Limerick Fc coffin 3 years ago but for his intervention. As a Limerick Fc supporter I too will continue to support them even through this rough patch.

**LFC in Exile** · 11/08/2006, 9:08 AM

Originally Posted by gael353

All grants, which have been given to Limerick FC but as of yet not drawn down, are to Limerick FC, and not to any specific ground.

Fair enough Gael, but the grants are for �300k. Not exactly going to go too far on a greenfield site. And what chances of further money if the FAI have lease on Rathbane. I agree with you 100% on the chances of Joe signing over to the FAI. I advised caution on that when the news broke. I would not believe that man's radio - so DD may be wise to keep options open.

Originally Posted by Westside

Look at what happened at Bishopstown, don't the FAI lay claim to that, why are Cork not there now.

The FAI bought Bishopstown a couple of years ago - long after Cork City were out of it. In fact I understand they bought it from Cork City (or bought the lease from Cork City) so they did well out of it. The FAI acted very well on Bishopstown. Also, as I am sick of stating here - the FAI want a strong premier-level senior side in Limerick. Delaney is interested in making this happen and there is a lot of goodwill towards the club at higher levels in the FAI.

**Mr A** · 11/08/2006, 9:35 AM

I can't see the FAI doing the lease thing if Limerick aren't involved. Drew was unwise to take a shot at the FAI but if he can make a gree-field site work then that would be the best possible outcome for Limerick FC. A ground owned lock, stock and barrel by the club would secure its future and there'd be no more messing over leases. Plus I have always thought you'd be better out of Hogan Park. But all that depends on making the greenfield site work of course! But on the other hand, it wouldn't take a huge amount of work (as it goes) to get to Hogan Park levels.

**4tothefloor** · 11/08/2006, 9:51 PM

Originally Posted by LFC in Exile

I agree with you 100% on the chances of Joe signing over to the FAI. I advised caution on that when the news broke. I would not believe that man's radio - so DD may be wise to keep options open.

So what exactly is Joe Young's game then? He's signing over to Limerick, then he isn't. He's signing over to the FAI, but nothing signed yet. If he doesn't sign over to the FAI, why on earth would he go so public about it and describe it as 'the happiest day of my life'? (Must have been some boring life you had there Joe

). To me it looks like he doesn't know himself what he's doing.

Originally Posted by Galway Harps

But on the other hand, it wouldn't take a huge amount of work (as it goes) to get to Hogan Park levels.

Well that's the thing. The greenfield site would be a dream and the most expensive part would be acquiring it. We'd need to get a greenfield site close to the city and communities, not out in the middle of nowhere. After that it wouldn't take a lot of investment to get to what we currently have in Hogan park - which is basically a pitch, clubhouse and a galvanised shed surrounded by footpaths and a perimeter wall. Most big junior clubs have these basic facilities.

**LFC in Exile** · 13/08/2006, 6:45 PM

Originally Posted by 4tothefloor

The greenfield site would be a dream

I don't agree - IMO the best option is Hogan Park with a long-term lease by the FAI and playing rights to LFC. I would expect a greenfield site would be purchased in the name of JRM Ltd. Then the shareholders of JRM Ltd would have the rigth to do with theland as they wish. DD is the majority shareholder in JRM. Now, I believe his intentions are 100% honourable. However, I also think it is bad practise to put the cluib on a site owned by one person or with power to use that land vested in one person (this is what has us over a barrel with our pants around our ankles at present). Whatever anyone's views of the FAI (many believe they are incompetent) but I don't think anyone would think of them as an organisation to shaft a football club. So I would feel more secure if I know 5 years down the road a similar situation to teh current one could not arise.

**nshoop** · 13/08/2006, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by LFC in Exile

but I don't think anyone would think of them as an organisation to shaft a football club. :

Good one!

**LFC in Exile** · 14/08/2006, 8:11 AM

Originally Posted by nshoop

Good one!

Yeah - the FAI set out to get you guys. Just another part of the great anti-Rovers conspiracy.

**nshoop** · 15/08/2006, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by LFC in Exile

Yeah - the FAI set out to get you guys. Just another part of the great anti-Rovers conspiracy.

Well they made the man that nearly killed us their president so they're not exactly our pals! Altogether Now,

Who's that lying on the carpet,
who's that lying on the floor,
Oh it's louie on his back and he's had a heart attack
and he wont be screwing rovers any more.