On the one hand, I can see this point of view. However, it is a bit short-sighted IMO, if they want the club to grow, then they have to start challenging for Europe, and in order to do that in the beginning maybe you have to take on board 2 or 3 loans to improve the quality of the squad to get you there, which once you have qualified for Europe, increased your revenue streams, you can start to buy players of better quality. If you look back at their recent history there have not been in Europe since 2006, and since then have been up and down divisions, just getting back to the top flight in 2021. I would have thought a club would want to improve and progress, and bringing in players on loan initially to get your more success would then allow you to buyer better players going forward.
Agree, but it is probably worrisome to the supporters how exactly this is going to come about. First, you had that funny quote of the disgruntled supporter telling Acun to get the checkbook out. Then you had Acun himself, really knowing very little about what he has purchased or the league that they operate in, calling a press conference, and informing Shelbourne (and a slightly bemused media over there) that he will be disappointed if they are not in Europe next season!!! - sending three lads over from Hull in the short term is not exactly going to make that happen. What is Acun's plan? It has spurred a former Celtic goalkeeper (forget his name) to urge Celtic to do likewise, buy an LOI team, but to use them as a feeder, something Acun has vehemently denied as the intent for Shelbourne. I still think that it is all very odd and maybe its a case of the showman, Acun, being a guy who needs new toys every year simply for amusement.
Like I said I can understand they have some concern, I guess like ourselves when Acun bought us, we were unsure what the future held. However, I think it is a bit unfair to say it is a new toy for Acun to play with, as I for one, after probably making initial mistakes with us, he has learnt quickly, and I am not unhappy how the club is being run at present. Of course Shelbourne are in the similar situation to us a year and a half ago, so I can understand the concern, but from what I have read the club were at a bit of cross road, not going forward and for the last 17 years treading water and some year going backwards. I guess the club was looking for investment to progress, hence why Acun came in. Only TWT how it goes, but they are a relatively small club 4500 capacity ground, so I would have thought loans at present are probably the most cost-effective way of starting to get some progress on the pitch. P.S. From what I have seen and have read, Harry Wood is a step in quality from what they have at present, and Jarvis is likely to be also.
Yes,I read an article on this recently and it was an interview with ex Celtic keeper Pat Bonner,in which he spoke of them(Celtic) investing in a LOI team as a feeder Club. I'm not sure it's strictly necessary though as Dermot Desmond(Celtic's largest shareholder) also has a share in Shamrock Rovers?
There is a very large following of Celtic in Ireland. I was in Killebegs in County Donegal a fishing port on the West Coast and there were several coachs lined up in the main street, all bound for Glasgow to watch Celtic.
I've passed through Glasgow International Airport on numerous occasions on a Saturday morning and the amount of flights coming in and amount of fans pouring out of arrivals would lay testimony to that.
When you think Shelborne is in Dublin, in their top division and getting small crowds, the Irish football wise seem to support the likes of Celtic and Liverpool etc more than their home teams.
Yep, true, you got to remember though that in Ireland, GAA takes precedence over every other sporting code throughout that country - it is ingrained into every parish - so unless you live in one of the old garrison towns of yore, soccer, although very popular everywhere at a leisurely level, comes a very long distance back when "politiking" for state funding - the GAA has it completely wrapped up. The amount of Irish sportspeople who might have made it in soccer would be far greater if the GAA did not exist!!!
Indeed, I know GAA is very popular and a good game to watch, I might say. But it does appear though there is a large interest in Ireland in Football (Soccer), but that interest seems to be outside Ireland. Shamrock Rovers who are probably the top team in Ireland only get 3500/4000 at games.
The difference though is that if you take say Glasgow, you have the old firm with many (am I correct?) people in the rest of the country supporting one or the other along with their own local club. Portugal is similar - you follow your own local club but also choose Sporting, Benfica or Porto. In Dublin, a city of similar size to Glasgow, you have at least half of the clubs in the league based there with village-like local support. Outside of their own local there are no supporters. You enter into a network of GAA clubs. That is my understanding but I am open to be corrected.
