And Then There Were Three - The First Division

**Sniffer** · 03/10/2007, 5:20 PM

First Division fans constantly bemoan the lack of coverage; some thoughts on the season so far here

**fbtn** · 03/10/2007, 9:04 PM

Refreshing to get some coverage for the First Division and good article but tell me, why do you think Higgsy had a load of money to spend on the Harps squad?

**jebus** · 03/10/2007, 9:34 PM

Originally Posted by fbtn

Refreshing to get some coverage for the First Division and good article but tell me, why do you think Higgsy had a load of money to spend on the Harps squad?

Because he spent a load of money on the Harps squad?

**Sam_Heggy** · 04/10/2007, 9:44 AM

Originally Posted by jebus

Because he spent a load of money on the Harps squad?

Like what? The supporters club paid the fee for John O'Loughlin, a local business man paid for another player and the rest were on free. Why would a club in debt spend loads of money on players?

How is it that so many people outside of Harps know what our finances are?

**btid1** · 04/10/2007, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

Why would a club in debt spend loads of money on players?

That is the eternal EL question which most clubs in the country are guilty of apart from maybe UCD.

**Magicme** · 04/10/2007, 10:42 AM

The day we spend loads of money on players instead of ploughing almost every penny we have into developing our grounds, improving facilities for the whole club & running our 8-9 juvenile teams, mini leagues & women's team, is the day I leave the club.

We dont have any really debts but we dont want to pay big money for players.

**btid1** · 04/10/2007, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Magicme

The day we spend loads of money on players instead of ploughing almost every penny we have into developing our grounds, improving facilities for the whole club & running our 8-9 juvenile teams, mini leagues & women's team, is the day I leave the club.

We dont have any really debts but we dont want to pay big money for players.

Fair point Magicme, maybe I should have prefaced that statement by saying that it is far more prevalent in the Premier Div but no exclusive to it either.

**bohsmug** · 04/10/2007, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by jebus

Because he spent a load of money on the Harps squad?

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

Like what? The supporters club paid the fee for John O'Loughlin, a local business man paid for another player and the rest were on free.

I don't think Jebus meant that "Higgsy" spent his own money on the squad.

**Sniffer** · 04/10/2007, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by fbtn

Refreshing to get some coverage for the First Division and good article but tell me, why do you think Higgsy had a load of money to spend on the Harps squad?

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

Like what? The supporters club paid the fee for John O'Loughlin, a local business man paid for another player and the rest were on free. Why would a club in debt spend loads of money on players?

How is it that so many people outside of Harps know what our finances are?

While the players mentioned may not have cost the club in terms of fees, the quality of many of the playing staff at Finn Harps does not come cheaply in terms of wages.

**fbtn** · 04/10/2007, 11:22 PM

Our accounts are handed out all members every year. We have the same weekly wage budget as last year. It is €7,000. If that is a lot of money for the First Division then apologies, yes Higgsy has had a lot of money.

**Sniffer** · 05/10/2007, 11:49 AM

Compared to Cobh's supposed €2,500 per week it is indeed a lot of money.

**Sam_Heggy** · 05/10/2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Sniffer

Compared to Cobh's supposed €2,500 per week it is indeed a lot of money.

If you know so much, what is Dundalks, Athlones, Shels and Limericks wage bills?
What is the lowest budjet in the prem?
What was Shamrock rovers and Galways budjets last season?
Im asking because the fore-mentioned clubs all had promotion in mind when setting their budjets (with the exception of Shels) at the start of the season.

I do find it hard to believe that Cobhs weekly budjet is just €2500. They pay travel, players (even pay per play at 16 players used per week is less than 150 per week expecting every1 else to recieve nothing.), management, advertising, grounds keepers, etc.
A hell of alot of charity work going on in Cobh I doubt.

**jebus** · 05/10/2007, 12:18 PM

Limerick's is 5,000 last time I checked/moaned about the way the season has tailed off.

Further question, why is it that Harps fans are the only ones who get bent out of shape when the subject of wage bills come up? Not trying to start a conspiracy theory, but I think Harps have something to hide, something sinister perhaps

**Mr A** · 05/10/2007, 12:22 PM

but I think Harps have something to hide, something sinister perhaps

*Laughs in an evil manner*

Watch your back Jebus.

**Sam_Heggy** · 05/10/2007, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

Limerick's is 5,000 last time I checked/moaned about the way the season has tailed off.

Further question, why is it that Harps fans are the only ones who get bent out of shape when the subject of wage bills come up? Not trying to start a conspiracy theory, but I think Harps have something to hide, something sinister perhaps

U calling me bent?

**jebus** · 05/10/2007, 12:37 PM

Well I've just been told to watch my back up Finn Harps way, so I just assumed that was the norm on match days at Ballybufty

**Sam_Heggy** · 05/10/2007, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

Well I've just been told to watch my back up Finn Harps way, so I just assumed that was the norm on match days at Ballybufty

Full assault on Jebus

Anyways back on topic, Harps budjet is a mere €50million a week, we had Shevchenko on trial but we didnt think he was worth it. We currently have a bid in for Kaka and while he wants to sign Milan are holing out for another few quid.

**bellavistaman** · 05/10/2007, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

I do find it hard to believe that Cobhs weekly budjet is just €2500. They pay travel, players (even pay per play at 16 players used per week is less than 150 per week expecting every1 else to recieve nothing.), management, advertising, grounds keepers, etc.
A hell of alot of charity work going on in Cobh I doubt.

It definitly isnt much over that Sam, very small squad, some players who travelled to harps,21's would have only got €40. We have a very very small budget i seriously think 2500 is the budget if it was less would not be surprised. Unfortunatly we really had little or no money start of season one of the lowest.

**Mr_T** · 05/10/2007, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

Further question, why is it that Harps fans are the only ones who get bent out of shape when the subject of wage bills

Because Harps are a club who faithfully do not spend more than they can afford and their fans know that. Last season we had a disasterous return of results v our budget, resulting is terrible crowds and losses looming. We cut the budget and steadied the ship for this year. We went into this year with apparently much the same budget, and to attribute Higgsy's success to splashing silly cash is not doing him or Finn Harps FC justice.

Originally Posted by Sniffer

Compared to Cobh's supposed €2,500 per week it is indeed a lot of money.

As I said in another thread, this comparing of educated guesstimates of how your club's wage bill compares to another clubs is bull$hitology of the highest order.

People quote Cobhs as having a bill of €2,500 per week. So as Sam Heggy said, thats about €150 per player, before manager and coaching staff, physio etc. Even if you accept that as realistic - is that GROSS or NETT, concepts most EL fans still struggle to grasp the massive difference between.

Is the €5k per week figure for Limerick gross or net or inclusive of manager and backroom?

People trumpet figures with no idea whether they are comparing like with like.

Harps figues are being quoted as around €7,000 per week and if this is INCLUDING manager, coaching staff, physio AND tax (look it up if you don't understand the term), which I believe it is, it is far from extravagant.

If Cobhs figure is a NETT figure for players wages only then while still very low, its probably at least double that when taken as GROSS and including management.

Harps wage bill, which will be public record come the club's AGM is certainly less than Dundalk's and Shelbourne's (quoted as being set at €10k per week by the developers who bailed them out again preseason) and Athlone's (I heard figures they were offering to players Harps were interested in and we couldn't even come close to competing).

Hence the reaction from Harps fans at the statement about money falling from the sky at Finn Park.

PS: "panglossian" - is Sniffer the Rico of foot.ie???

**Sniffer** · 05/10/2007, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mr_T

PS: "panglossian" - is Sniffer the Rico of foot.ie???

Sorry, couldn't resist it. Have to admit I'd never heard of the word until I spotted it in a match report in last week's Sunday Life of all places. I can't cut grass to save my life.