2008 Licences

[exiled_gufc_fan]

Licences must be obtained by next Thursday.

According to the Westmeath Independent, Athlone might be in trouble:

Athlone currently owe the Revenue Commission in the region of €65,000 and have debts in excess of €15,000 in unpaid player wages from last season. The news of Athlone’s drastic debts has also put their membership of the League of Ireland in some doubt, as the club bid to receive a First Division playing licence by next Thursday, January 31.

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/story.asp?stID=1406

[Keen2win]

As much as I don't like them I really don't want to see them go out of business.

[jebus]

It would be a shame if they did. Surely there is an American baron (ala Limerick), or a wannabe despot (ala Galway) that can save them?

[GenerationXI]

fcukin hell

[Philly]

They don't seem like a well run club. I remember last season their programme was basicly the same the second time we visited there as the first, stats were not updated or anything and it had the same pictures. The club doesn't have a website from what I can tell. They had a huge wage bill last season also, which was no feasible given their attendances.

It would be a huge pity if they went bust because of the stadium they have just built.

I think the FAI are helping them save themselves though and expect them to pull through.

[Buile Shuibhne]

It begs the questions - Is the UEFA Licencing system worth it?

Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford and Athlone all have struggled financially in the past year.

The Licencing system has done what it is designed to do and exposed these shortcomings.

All well and good, it's the survival of the fittest, but it looks like we'll be left only with a smaller league of well run clubs.

The A League is designed to bring new - and viable - clubs into the eircom League. Only 4 new clubs came in and it remains to be see whether they survive. Is it too hard to get into the League?

Reading between the lines and from chatting to some of eL officials at the forum last week, I get the feeling that they were disappointed that there wasn't more applicants who either applied or who made the grade.

The Licencing system certainly isn't 'a rising tide which will lift all boats' - some clubs are getting swamped.

The Licencing system has many merits and is certainly very much a move in the right direction - but will we be left with a smaller elitist league?

[Battery Rover]

We should be ok from what I have heard but only just (Fingers crossed)

It is time for our club to get back to grass roots and develop this big money every year is killing the club. We need a complete restructuring for things to work

Myself and Ash are trying to generate interest in a trust to look after the club promotion etc

I am working on a website at the moment and it should be ready for the end of February. I have recruited a couple of local journalists that are helping me with content for both this and the programme and if we can get this trust going with a strong committee it will help things no end.

It is now time for committee to stand up and be counted so us as supporters can help

[Battery Rover]

Licences must be obtained by next Thursday.

According to the Westmeath Independent, Athlone might be in trouble:

Athlone currently owe the Revenue Commission in the region of €65,000 and have debts in excess of €15,000 in unpaid player wages from last season. The news of Athlone’s drastic debts has also put their membership of the League of Ireland in some doubt, as the club bid to receive a First Division playing licence by next Thursday, January 31.

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/story.asp?stID=1406

The financials have to be in by that date. The first instance committee doesn't sit until about the 16th February.

[RonnieB]

I wonder if we can get a license first time around for once.

[Martinho II]

fingers crossed ronnie b fingers crossed!

very sad reading about athlone. tell u one thing we may be better off than athlone but at least their press are up to the pulse compared to our lot... we only find out ronan frawley is joining us in an interview in the westmeath indep[endent!!


very poor pr from our club. ... website could do with being updated more often..


rant over...

[Sonic]

I wonder if we can get a license first time around for once.

A first division licence! Surely in Gods holy name we can manage it first time this season

[Dodge]

It begs the questions - Is the UEFA Licencing system worth it?

Yes, and please return the league title you won when you shouldn't have received a license

[Battery Rover]

very sad reading about athlone. tell u one thing we may be better off than athlone but at least their press are up to the pulse compared to our lot... we only find out ronan frawley is joining us in an interview in the westmeath indep[endent!!

Kevin O'Neill the journalist that wrote that piece has Athlone Town running through his veins. If he gets a sniff that something is going on he will dig and dig until he gets the information.

[Buile Shuibhne]

Yes, and please return the league title you won when you shouldn't have received a license

But Shels did win the league with a current & valid licence, under the then criteria.


Your personal antipathy towards Shels can't that.

[Dodge]

But Shels did win the league with a current & valid licence, under the then criteria.


Your personal antipathy towards Shels can't that.

My antipathy can't what?

And there's no way in hell you had a tax clearance certificate legally...

Good luck to you playing the angles, but legal eagle chicanry will only get you so far, and you are where you are by the choices your club made. I hope that title keeps you warm in the first division

[sullanefc]

All this financial trouble Dublin City, Shels last 2 seasons, then Limerick, Kilkenny and now Athlone!!!! Hopefully the wage cap can prevent this and prevent clubs from spending beyond their means. How did Athlone run up a tax bill of 65k?? How much are they paying their players??

[Terry]

some of their players were on over a grand a week !!!! ridiculous.

On top of the €65,000 owed in tax, the players are also owed a total supposably in around €15,000?

[Buile Shuibhne]

My antipathy can't what?

And there's no way in hell you had a tax clearance certificate legally...

Good luck to you playing the angles, but legal eagle chicanry will only get you so far, and you are where you are by the choices your club made. I hope that title keeps you warm in the first division

Left out the word 'change' - btw 'chicanery' is the correct spelling

Anyway back on topic - another problem area could be Premer Div & First Div reserve teams in the A League. Squads will have to be 22+ obviously, incurring a bigger wage bill for clubs, but playing in the A League isn't going to generate any extra income with gate money negligible?

First Div can't afford to enter teams, while Premier Div clubs will be watching their 65% wage cap?

[Poor Student]

Left out the word 'change' - btw 'chicanery' is the correct spelling

Anyway back on topic - another problem area could be Premer Div & First Div reserve teams in the A League. Squads will have to be 22+ obviously, incurring a bigger wage bill for clubs, but playing in the A League isn't going to generate any extra income with gate money negligible?

First Div can't afford to enter teams, while Premier Div clubs will be watching their 65% wage cap?

I'm not sure the 'A' Championship is going to increase the wage bill all that much. Unless you have a squad like Drogheda or Shels 2004-2006 I think it'll be mainly inexperienced young players getting a shot or injured players returning and senior fringe players who didn't figure the previous game. Clubs aren't going to go out and sign players to field in the division.

[oldyouth]

Can anyone tell me where I can read a copy of the actual requirements in order to secure/maintain the EL Licence? I know a lot of it is financial stability but I'm curious about the 'football' side of things