Drogheda United press release

A P

The Future is Claret & Blue!

The Board of Drogheda United FC today announced its intention to transform Drogheda United into a community club, owned and directed by the recently formed and successful Claret & Blue Club.

Like many businesses in the region, Drogheda United has been badly affected by the economic downturn. However, despite the challenges both on and off the pitch, the club enjoys massive support in the community, typified by the unprecedented fundraising effort that saved the club from extinction at the turn of the year. Newly appointed General Manager Sean Connolly said that the Board had in recent weeks considered ways to restore the vitality that surrounded the club before it entered examinership. “Various options for running a club successfully were examined and, of those, the community ownership model as exemplified by Shamrock Rovers stood head and shoulders above the rest. Having come to that conclusion, it has been decided to place the club on a non-profit footing with all revenues being vested in the club. A transfer of ownership of Drogheda United to the Claret & Blue Club would give existing and new members a direct say in how the football club is run and would in effect entrust this vital community asset to its supporters. There’s a lot of hard work ahead but the people of Drogheda proved during examinership that they are ready to stand up and be counted”.

The Claret & Blue Club was formed in June 2009 as a means of bringing a constant, guaranteed revenue stream into Drogheda United FC. It has rapidly evolved into the most innovative fundraising initiative in the League of Ireland today. With a membership already in excess of 200, a trebling of this number would provide the strong platform needed to smooth the transfer of ownership to the supporters of DUFC. Members currently receive discounts in 35 local businesses in the Drogheda area, and are entered into a monthly prize draw. As an additional incentive to join, main Claret & Blue Club sponsors Panorama Holidays have also offered the first 500 members a €100 holiday voucher.

Over the coming weeks the club will consult with supporters on how best to manage the transfer of ownership.

Lifelong supporter and major shareholder in Drogheda United Vincent Hoey said, “The club empathises with the many people and businesses who are struggling to cope with the effects of the recession. We intend to show leadership and to work more closely with the business community, the local authority, the Chamber of Commerce and all citizens to the benefit of the club and the region’s economy”. Mr. Hoey added that significant changes to the structure and administration of the club have already been implemented with the recent appointment of General Manager Sean Connolly and Commercial Manager Peter Halpin.

In order to secure the immediate future of the club, a “Legacy” initiative has also today been unveiled under which a number of business leaders will be invited to provide additional financial support and become life guardians of the club. This scheme is targeted at those who recognise that this important community asset is an integral part of the social fabric of the region.

Mr. Connolly said, “The support of local business leaders will be essential in allowing us the time to effect a smooth transition of ownership to the people. I am confident that we can reinvigorate the club over the coming weeks and months so that supporters can look forward to a strong and thriving club achieving further glory for the town and its environs.”

Xavi6

Had a read of that early on.

What sort of numbers are they projecting in terms of members?

stovelid

A P wrote: »

A transfer of ownership of Drogheda United to the Claret & Blue Club would give existing and new members a direct say in how the football club is run and would in effect entrust this vital community asset to its supporters. T

Is it a real transfer though? Will you become an actual members club?

Not sure I would pay member subs without voting /ownership rights.

Fair play though. Hope you raise some funds from it.

A P

As far as I understand, a real transfer of ownership is on the table. Nothing is set in stone at the moment. Discussions will take place between all interested parties in the coming days to chart the way forward. Realistically it will take over 500 members to make it a viable proposition.

Sherifu

Heard this today on the radio. Interesting to see if it works out.

shanec1928

fair play for them to sort it out after the mess they got them self into.

dreamers75

Hope it works out.


Altho biggest shame is whats next door to united park if they could sell United Park make that ground an all seater and share everyone would win.

A P

Thanks for the positive feedback so far. Hopefully the following will help to clarify the current situation:

The directors of Drogheda United are willing to relinquish all control of the club on the understanding that the Claret & Blue Club can attract sufficient members and thus generate sufficient revenue to run the club in the Shamrock Rovers style model. The Claret & Blue Club currently comprises 200 members from a cross-section of supporters and is therefore seen as the logical vehicle to take over ownership and administer the club. This of course will only happen if there is a will on behalf of supporters. In effect a very, very small group of people have been doing all the work to date, voluntarily and willingly, but this is not a way to run any organisation in the long term and it is now time for all those interested in maintaining football in Drogheda to play their part in creating a framework within which the club can be run on a self-sustaining basis.

We are in the unique position in Drogheda where the directors are offering their shareholding to a body that it is hoped can, if not immediately, then as soon as is practicable be changed into a supporters trust type body because it already fulfills two of the criteria required i.e. it has a substantial number of members and these members are contributing funds. Put simply in order to do this, people and money are needed to run the club and the Claret & Blue Club already goes some way towards being able to provide both and can be grown if there is a will by the supporters to go this route. The directors will facilitate this in any way that they can. In other words they will stay as long as they are required and will assist with both the legalities of this process and the smooth transition. We have this opportunity now and we must make sure that it is used wisely for the benefit of the club.

fh041205

dreamers75 wrote: »

Hope it works out.


Altho biggest shame is whats next door to united park if they could sell United Park make that ground an all seater and share everyone would win.

Its never that easy with the GAA. Dare I mutter the name of Thomas Davis... That will never happen, I'm sure of that. Its been suggested a couple of times but to no avail.

A P

A public meeting to shape the future of Drogheda United will take place in the Tommy Leddy Theatre in Drogheda at 8pm on Wednesday 28th October. All are welcome. More details on www.CandB.ie

A P

Drogheda United FC is hosting the most important public meeting in the club's history tomorrow night at 8 p.m. sharp in the Tommy Leddy Theatre, Matthew's Lane, Drogheda (beside Tesco Extra).

This meeting follows last week's announcement by the board of DUFC that it proposes to transfer its shareholding in DUFC to the Claret & Blue Club and turn Drogheda United into a non-profit-making, community club. It also follows a week of talks involving DUFC management, the founders of the Claret & Blue Club and members of the DUISC (Drogheda United Independent Supporters Club) committee.

It is vitally important that everyone who has an interest in the club and in its role in the community attends.

The agenda will cover the progress within the club in the past year, the present status of the club, the reasons behind the decision to propose transforming the club into a community club owned and directed by the Claret & Blue Club, the mechanisms for the transfer in ownership, the future of the club and its pivotal role in the community. There will also be a number of key announcements on the night.

Main speakers will be:
Vincent Hoey
Jonathan Roche, Chairman Shamrock Rovers
Noel Byrne, Director and General Manager Shamrock Rovers
Alan Mathews, 1st team Manager DUFC

There will also be a number of individuals who will comment and take questions including representatives from the FAI.

Buses to the venue will leave United Park at 7:15 p.m. and McDonald's fast food restaurant at 7:25 p.m. All are welcome.