Greatest League in the World 2024 [new thread available]

A large amount of people over there would say baseball is the National game.

Wouldn't really say full time, it's morning training compared to evening training. Would say the majority of the lads will still be working part time or full time depending on their roles with slightly reduced hours, for example I can't see Luke Byrne giving up what seems a decent day job.

I don't think people have the same attachment to their college as you'd see in the USA or even the more prestigious colleges in the UK. While I enjoyed my time in DIT I never went to attend a game of any sport there and didn't particularly care how they got on. Most people I knew both in DIT and other colleges were similar.

I'd have some sympathy for the Drogs but essentially if there's a release clause there and we've activated it then it's the same as any other transfer really. Does look like we're favourites for Browne and Doyle if they don't go to Scotland and England in fairness but that was the case before the whole management mess started allegedly.

No conspiracy, but unless Pats are flat out telling lies, O’Donnell was offered a contract in September. There seems to be some doubt about whether he signed or not, so either he was dicking Pats around, (perhaps with an eye on the Dundalk job becoming vacant ?) or he did sign, and now wants to jump ship because Dundalk came calling. The fact that he seems to have been stalling on players contracts does smell a bit either way. Almost like he knew he wouldn’t be there. It’s partly the timing, after such a good season that stings, but I get it, if I was a Dundalk fan I probably wouldn’t give two hoots either. That’s football I suppose, as someone else said. And yeah, we’re taking Clancy from Drogheda by all accounts, but that seems to have been a much more above board deal.

will be very funny if O’Donnell falls on his arse next season at Dundalk though. Schadenfreude won’t come close to it.

Clancy confirmed with a two year contract. Interestingly phrased statement.

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9042

If Buckley was to leave us I'd be calling Clancy before O'Donnell, and I felt that way before this whole saga (who knows what really happened?).

I really like Clancy and think Pats have done well here.

How is it clear exactly ? There is obviously something going on in the background, otherwise why haven’t Dundalk announced O’Donnell yet ?

As regards Clancy, there are no guarantees, so we’ll see how it works out. Looks like a positive move though. His first job should be to get Chris Forrestor and Lee Desmond signed up. Recruitment will be key.

I think it all comes down to compo now. Could well be a legal battle, but O’Donnell will ultimately end up at Dundalk and some sort of deal will be done. After all, he’s no good to us now.

O'Donnell had not a signed a new contract by September after 4 months of negotiations, it is clear if a performing manager has not signed a new contract after that timeframe with two months left in the season that there is issues with personal terms and resources he would be working with unless someone somehow thinks he was tapped up by Dundalk's new owners for 6 months before they took over the club from Peak6

Well flagged Dundalk have not announced O'Donnell because Pats have not announced O'Donnell's departure as manager and because of a potential legal dispute/compensation claim with Pats claiming in September that they exercised a two-year option in his original contract and claiming O'Donnell and his team agreed to. O'Donnell disputes this, him and Dundalk are confident Pats have no legal claim

Cabinteely haven`t got half the underage structure Joeys have. It just seems pretty clear now that Cabo wanted out of the league and they save a bit of face with this move.

Presumably they`ll get the same deal as Joeys and Bray will look after the senior side while they look after the underage sides which is why they joined the league in the first place.

lol SOD resigned from pats released a statement via INTEGRITY sports or some ****, why resign if not under contract?

Honestly who advises these people.

Anyhoo Dundalk you can announce him now.

Exactly. That says it all. Patrick’s should sit tight and say zip.

i don’t particularly mind that he has left. It’s the manner in which he went about it that strikes me as disrespectful.

And IF (emphasises on IF - because it relates to faking virus to prevent player contract negotiations etc) the other rumours are true about his carry on the last number of weeks it’s less than gentlemanly at the least.

Ok good to know. You can’t be up to those Bohs messers.

speaking of..i see Bohs announced 11 resignings.

would hope Forrester and the other stalwarts will stay. Matty Smith would be a must.

Abankwah - what’s his status? Serious potential and still only 17!

Would love him back at Rovers but out of any LOI clubs budget.

Lower league England is a merry go round for managers so probably enough clubs in L1&2 to keep him employed for the next decade.