So which clubs are in danger of not finishing the season?

**Nesta99** · 05/09/2008, 5:04 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

If people who have put in large sums of money on the basis of the stadium being built want their money back then the club is in serious jeopardy. That's the impression I get from the article.

Money back? Would be blood from a stone! Do a cork and reform as Drogheda Hibs. Hasnt the money that has gone to Drogheda an erm gift, with hope of some return....the gamble just may not pay with no new stadium

**Longfordian** · 05/09/2008, 5:27 PM

I don't know the ins and outs of it really but the article reckons €12m was put in on the basis of the stadium being up and running by 2008. I can't imagine anyone loving the Drogs that much to just give all of that to them. They're certainly worried in Drogheda at present by the sounds of things.

**Celdrog** · 05/09/2008, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by pete

35m? surely not?

Thought it was a bit high myself but I think it also includes the retail shops, leisure centre, fast food, petrol station and the 4km link road. I saw �11M somewhere for the stadium costs a while ago

Originally Posted by pete

3m a season? I never understood this logic. Why not just keep the cash for when the stadium is ready? On the field success while at United Park doesn't seem to have boosted support by much.

I think the logic here is that the stadium idea was already the plan before the on-field success came. A new board came in after the hinge trading fiasco. Vincent Hoey as chairman is a big a Drogs fan as anyone else. It seems their vision was to give the town a top class team with a top class stadium. They already were well on the road when we won the cup in 2005, Vincent was on the telly the next day with the stadium plans. Louth CC scuppered that one in 2006, Meath CC welcomed them with open arms and now appear to have shafted them as well. I don't think anyone could have forseen that this was going to drag on so much.

I assume the amigos thought they would have a self sustaining club by now.

If it somehow works out then they will get the freedom of the town and probably be allowed to bring Oliver Plunkett home occasionally. If it fails they should still get the recognition for trying and giving us the good times.

Its shocking that in an alleged economic downturn, politicians/civil servants contrive to prevent serious leisure facilites and amenities being built and screw a developer who has already invested �110M (or �160M depending on reports). Mind you if the deal is totally dead its safe to assume Meath CC will be under an incredible spotlight

We will finish the season and I cannot see us go bang, but don't expect us to contribute too many co-efficient points in the near future.

Oh and Ciaraa, its not Gundalk or Scumdalk - its Craptown

(as The dundalk CEO told us in Oriel three years ago)

**John83** · 05/09/2008, 7:01 PM

Originally Posted by Longfordian

I don't know the ins and outs of it really but the article reckons �12m was put in on the basis of the stadium being up and running by 2008. I can't imagine anyone loving the Drogs that much to just give all of that to them. They're certainly worried in Drogheda at present by the sounds of things.

The last I heard was that the board had converted their director's loans into shares or something like that. They may have run up a debt since, but Drogheda don't owe �12M or anything near it. There might still be enough to take them down, a la Cork though.

**stamullendrog** · 05/09/2008, 7:59 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Ciaraa in what way are the drog fans disillusioned, is it simply on field performances? after that seems the club are making a hell of an effort but being scuppered. All this going out of business stuff if stadium is not built is a load of horse sh#te really. Drogheda Utd can continue as a club, just not at the level of cost currently - how did the club exist without sugar daddies in the past (not without problems i know) Monaghan, Wexford 2 clubs living within means and developing all the time.....

and i managed to refrain from clich�d terms for our southern neighbours ah what the hell the dregs, drugheda blah blah

and get it right it is Fundalk and the posh parts Fundalkey

another part of the problem is the state of united park its hardly even up to divisions one standard even is it???personally have no problem going back to being a normal club but we will need somewhere to play

**blackholesun** · 05/09/2008, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Celdrog

I think the logic here is that the stadium idea was already the plan before the on-field success came. A new board came in after the hinge trading fiasco. Vincent Hoey as chairman is a big a Drogs fan as anyone else. It seems their vision was to give the town a top class team with a top class stadium.

Werent the builders backing Drogheda only using the stadium issue as a lever to get the planning for the houses and other stuff around it? I doubt any of them had any genuine interest in DCFC or any aspect of Irish football. If they now had to sacrifice the stadium to save other aspects of the project, I am sure they would do so without losing any sleep.

bhs

**Mr A** · 05/09/2008, 10:23 PM

But they needn't have ploughde so much money into the club to do that..

**Paddyfield** · 05/09/2008, 10:35 PM

According to a local newspaper today [Galway City Tribune] two British businesmen have expressed an interest in investing in Galway United. Limerick man Danny Drew is also sniffing around.

Read: http://www.galwaynews.ie/4871-utd-target-new-backers

**superfrank** · 05/09/2008, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by Paddyfield

Limerick man Danny Drew is also sniffing around.

He's like the Roddy Collins of chairmen.

**pete** · 09/09/2008, 4:03 PM

Originally Posted by Paddyfield

According to a local newspaper today [Galway City Tribune] two British businesmen have expressed an interest in investing in Galway United. Limerick man Danny Drew is also sniffing around.

Read: http://www.galwaynews.ie/4871-utd-target-new-backers

When asked about the two businessmen seen at the Bohemians game, Leeson would only say that...

Did have anything to say? Do I have subscribe to see "no comment"?

**Nesta99** · 10/09/2008, 2:54 PM

Originally Posted by stamullendrog

another part of the problem is the state of united park its hardly even up to divisions one standard even is it???personally have no problem going back to being a normal club but we will need somewhere to play

Im not suggesting relegation with any glibness! But with remedial work United park would suffice as a 1st division ground wouldnt it? Additional turnstiles/reduced capacity could be overcome. The main issue as i see it is the distance between floodlight pylons etc and playing area....there are other LoI grounds I would have United Park over any day!! Ground share option is there...just ask any Rovers fan! Talking to Terry Collins(i think is his second name) couple of months ago, nice chap but quite smug about the way in which Drogheda has overtaken Dundalk currently, hope to bump in to him again someday lol

I do hope problems are solved bythe way

**oldyouth** · 10/09/2008, 7:17 PM

UCD are safe for next year following a near miss

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Yep, we found the ball, thanks. It was in the bushes behind the goal. Fortunately, people had paid into the game, so the club would have had money to replace it if all else failed.

**stamullendrog** · 10/09/2008, 9:47 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Im not suggesting relegation with any glibness! But with remedial work United park would suffice as a 1st division ground wouldnt it? Additional turnstiles/reduced capacity could be overcome. The main issue as i see it is the distance between floodlight pylons etc and playing area....there are other LoI grounds I would have United Park over any day!! Ground share option is there...just ask any Rovers fan! Talking to Terry Collins(i think is his second name) couple of months ago, nice chap but quite smug about the way in which Drogheda has overtaken Dundalk currently, hope to bump in to him again someday lol

I do hope problems are solved bythe way

united park is really hemmed in with the gaelic grounds and anneville crescent the road at the other end and windmill house.pitch isnt up to required spec anyway and no room to change that.ive said it on drogs message board could they not look at getting in with the athletics crowd and trying to do something to lourdes stadium that would benefit drogs and the whole community

**Nesta99** · 11/09/2008, 11:05 AM

Hasnt Drog Borough Council done somthing with lourdes stadium recently? I also believe that it has only 4 lanes (daft that!!!). Would be a small pitch too but might be an improvement on United Park, not been to Lourdes Stadium so im speculating, what about a deal with the County ground

....well they are skint

**passinginterest** · 16/09/2008, 9:04 AM

According to the Independent this morning Cobh are almost gone. Apparently players will not be paid for the rest of the season and are threatening to strike if no assured of full payment at the end of the season.

It's sad for Cobh they seem to have made some very poor financial decisions this year.

**Schumi** · 16/09/2008, 9:24 AM

What's going on in Cobh? Where is all their money going, do they have big debts that they have to pay back or something? I would have thought that the income from their bar would have put them in a better position than most teams near the bottom of the premier. They're hardly paying much more to their players than anyone else and their crowds haven't been too bad.

**gael353** · 16/09/2008, 9:38 AM

Originally Posted by Schumi

What's going on in Cobh? Where is all their money going, do they have big debts that they have to pay back or something? I would have thought that the income from their bar would have put them in a better position than most teams near the bottom of the premier. They're hardly paying much more to their players than anyone else and their crowds haven't been too bad.

We were down recently the night they hammered Galway

some, not many of their fans were telling us that their income was about 20/25 thousand per month and their outgoings which they said was wages only but i doubt that was 50 thosand per month. Saw in some papers that they owed creditors €350,000 but that figure seems to vary depending on what paper you read and what the chairman tells them. Some ppl were saying that they owe over half a million with over 100.000 owed to the tax man. No pub would pay for those debts. Its a lot of specualation very little fact comming from the club, and when it does come knowone believes the one person giving the info, the chairman

**Mr A** · 16/09/2008, 9:54 AM

Cobh made the classic mistake (also made at Harps and Galway) of paying premier wages to division one footballers. I do feel sorry for Cobh though, they got up on a shoestring and were always going to have to spend big to even keep the players they had. You could almost say they were not really ready to come up I guess.

**shep** · 16/09/2008, 10:33 AM

All the recent developments really do make grim reading,i would certanly hope that if Dundalk gain promotion that they dont fall into the trap of commiting to silly contracts with players.Clubs from next season on can surely use the example of this season when thrashing out deals with potential signings.Yes Pats and Boh's will still offer top doller to secure the best players,but everyone else,players,fans included are gonna have to take a reality check.I for one would rather see my club survive long term than have 3/4 good years and then go out of business.The only way forward is probably to produce locals,look at Limerick,they have a great crop coming through that is probably costing little,and if someone comes in to sign them your getting a nice fee.

**jinxy lilywhite** · 16/09/2008, 10:49 AM

I believe the current problems afflicting clubs will lead to a cartel and clubs will agree amongst themselves to keep wages at a realistic level. Maybe they could agree not to outbid each other.