The roof has gradually been falling in at Brandywell in recent week, as one financial horror story after another has emerged as to the true state of the club's finances. A number of people over the weekend asked me "What do you think will happen?" and to be honest I don't know what will happen. On the road back down last night I did consider what I would prefer to happen.
I've my own estimation of the level of debt that the club is in and if I'm near the mark, I can't see how the club can get out of it. We managed to haemorrhage cash despite winning in Europe and selling three players cross channel, as well as McHugh to Linfield. No one in the squad stands out in terms of the quality of McGinn or McCourt, so there is likely to be little interest from across the water in the current squad.
The first Celtic friendly destroyed a lot of credibility and like the doubting Thomases, even if a full strength Celtic side showed up, a lot of people won't bother going this time round. This is we ever get a full strength Celtic side to come. You can't blame people having been stung once.
How else are we going to raise significant finance? The Dream Draw was a lot harder to sell the last time round and being honest, there are a lot more deserving causes in the City than the football club.
The recession, the mismanagement of the club and general apathy will make it a Herculean task to try and raise money for the club. Fair play to those that do, but we don't even know how much we need to raise.
Even if we were to get investment to see us through the current difficulties, anyone with any sense would make this a loan and not a donation. Therefore the money will still have to be paid back at some point.
I would have serious concerns that we would be denied a licence, even if we remain solvent long enough. I'll not go into the detail again, but have a look at the "10 questions for the board" post, as to where I think our difficulties may lie.
I don't get the feeling that there is the appetite amongst the support to get us back to an even keel by raising massive funds to cover the debt. I'll be honest, I've no appetite for it. Why should I contribute to clean up the mistakes of a board, when I disagreed with many of their decisions? As I said during an early disagreement, if our business model means that we have to charge £8 for a friendly, what type of business model is that.
I'm on record here, DerryCitychat.com and elsewhere as disgreeing with many of their decisions. People might claim it is a personality issue, but I had the same questions of the last board as well. The reality is that if we live within our means then we were probably not be competitive in the League of Ireland. Sad, but true. Derry doesn't have the spending power of Cork or Dublin and attempting to enter into an arms race with sides from there will only end in tears.
Personally, I'd wind Wellvan up and apply for the A League. I don't see how we can get ourselves out of the current position. Let us start from scratch, work from the model in the UK and truly organise ourselves as a community club. Don't use it as a cheap soundbite as it currently is, but actually start again from the ground up.
Maybe there will be no desire for a senior club, maybe we will fade away and that will be the end of Derry City. However if there is no desire for a club, then why are we all throwing some much time, energy and money into trying to be one of the top clubs in Ireland. Rovers emerged much stronger from a spell in the First Division, can we not be the same.
People may argue that we have got out of this position before, we can do it again. Maybe we can. However remember a few salient points.
1. The friendlies against United, Celtic and Barcelona cleared that debt
2. The board fronted up with their problems when it became clear how bad it was
3. We were told it would never happen again
Yet nine years since the last crisis, we are back where we started and what have we learned. I don't entirely blame this board, others must take responsibility as well. However I don't care about personalities, I care about the club. The club is a very very story state. The manner in which we have treated Linfield, Dungannon and others makes me ashamed to call myself a Derry fan. Treat people with honesty and decency and it appears that we have failed to do that.
" What is a club anyway? It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city."
I've used that quote from Bobby Robson before, and it rings true. The antics of the club at the minute leave me far from proud at the moment.
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