Pat the Rat

[mike]

They wanted a new striker in pre season, no money, so had to go with that lad Shaw from Longford and he has hardly featured. I heard the figure before on the rent for Tallaght, I can't recall the amount but it was significant, maybe 60k per year, think that includes all bills that go with it, still a fair whack in outgoings.

I heard from the 1.2m they made on EL run of 2011, all that is gone, and remember nothing would have been invested into the ground, as they are not responsible for that.

However I heard Dundalk have also spent a fair chunk of the pending CL money on wages, so that's worth bearing in mind, but we are poles apart in terms of how both clubs are run.

Cork too have a nice stadium, but their rent is also not cheap either, its an expensive business running football clubs, at all levels, but Rovers seem to be on a very rocky road, and if they miss Europe this year, that will be a massive dent in their coffers.

[Townfan7]

Rovers pay €1,500 per week rent on Tallaght, that's not bad when you think they have nothing else whatsoever to pay for the ground ie maintenance, improvements etc. Even taking been away every second week, that works out at 200 paying punters @ €15. a head & they have the rent covered every fortnight.

I can't see Rovers sacking Fenlon, they simply couldn't afford it, so they may be stuck with him that is unless he jumps ship but why would he ? Also even if he did, who would have him ?...

C'MON THE TOWN:

[dell]

There are men with means at Rovers that can dig deep if need be but the members owned club would probably end. If they dont qualify for Europe it will certainly make for a turbulent close season in Tallaght.

I don't feel at all comfortable with pointing the finger at Rovers or any club in relation to their future finances. We may be in good hands currently but can any LoI club afford not to always be conscious of potential financial difficulty? Bray have signed a batch of players on 2 year contracts and are struggling and have given Mick Cooke the boot, i'd say that will cost them a few euro too.

[mike]

Fair shout on not pointing fingers at any LOI club, history has shown that any, most actually are only 4-5 years away from severe financial pressure, and who knows if we can't get movement on the lease in oriel park and the current owners and mgt team leave in a few years, we could re-visit the dark times again.

Rovers still have a 6k bill to pay though per month, on top of wages, this is still a fair dent to come out of (on average) two home games, and there was a rumour they missed a few payments last season (since paid)

Then again our last two attendances have dropped alarmingly, and if this continues our short term finances may also be stretched.

[Townfan7]

Pat the rat sacked today after a disastrous tenure in charge of Rovers. Good enough for him & for Rovers.

C'MON THE TOWN:

[Smokie]

Would have liked him to have stayed. They might play better with a new manager & give us a harder game

[dell]

Can anyone give reasons for why Paul Doolin seems to be such a highly regarded manager/coach and favourite for the Rovers job. Ok he won the league and 2 FAI Cups with Drogheda but imo that was on the back of 'bottomless' pit of money. The football was dour albeit suited to the European game and he was unlucky a couple of time on that front (take a bow Graham Gartland). Baraclough too I feel owed a lot to the work done by Paul Cook. After than, unless the job is advertised and someone comes out of left field we are left with the old usuals that get bandied about. Russell could be worth a punt but wouldn't be a quick fix. Bradley may see out the season and seems like a good young coach but Rovers went down that road with Trevor Croly. Certainly interesting times for the cup specialists! I also read today that their 'new' investor insisted on 4 boardroom places and that while the interest free loand of €1.2mil €500k of that is to meet running costs for this season. So Mr Roche's influence is gone and some pretty top sounding businessmen have been brought on board.

[Johnny Guitar]

Did drogheda not only win 1 fai cup?

You are correct with doolin. Hard to see how he wold give up a cushy number with the fai.

[dell]

You are right JG IT WAS 2 Setanta Cups and 1 Fai Cup. Doolin has already left the FAI even before Fenlon got the poke in the chest from Oz.