REDS NEWS

JUNE

24.6.00

Mulhollands future in the balance

Cliftonville and Down county gaelic ace players future is in the balance as what ha sbene described as a substantial offer has been tabled by Eircom First Division side Dundalk have offered for his services. THe left sided player with the magical left boot has always been one of the 'VIlles "better players" but his gaelic commitments have often clashed for his club. He has the utmost loyalty for Cliftonville and has resigned his contract but only until August 1st where he will dedice his future to play for the Reds of teh Whites of Co.Louth. Hopefully he will continue his loyalty and a move down south will not be made. His services are upmost definately required at Solitude.

22.6.00

Ards to play at Solitude!

It has been confirmed that the Down club Ards, who have recently neogioated a plan for ground sharing have bene completed, and teh result is that Ards will ground share with Cliftonville for a 12 month period. The former Castlereagh Park team had to lose their homestead for financial reasons, and now share with Cliftonvile giving the Reds a slight income, for the renting of the ground. As the Strollers play on the Solitude turf it will create fixture congestion as regards playing home games for Ards and for Cliftonville an amicable comprimise will have to be made.

18.6.00

Ards at Solitude ??

The possibility of Ards playing at Solitude may become a reality in the next few days as the homeless first division club go in search of a new home for the season. So far only the hallowed turf of Solitude has been offered to the club, who the Reds beat in the relegation/promotion play-off match in the penultimate and final competitive games of the season gone. The sale of Castelreagh Park to finace spiralling debts have caused them to go in search. Cliftonvilles offer should be hardly turned down as their gratitude of this offer cannot go unnoticed. It is evident that "other clubs" have not offered a ground sharing option for next season. A decision will be forthcoming.

17.6.00

Donaghy signed

Former Northern Ireland midfielder and ex-Manchester United and Chealsea player Mal Donaghy hasbeen appointed on the books for Cliftonville. In this coup the 94 times capped player has snubbed moves to Windsor Park and Seaview to become Lawrie Stitts assistant on the Cliftonville bench. His coaching skills, have been sought for a while, and this move is seen as a very positive move towards redevelopment of the playing staff and backround staff at Solitude.
          Meanwhile ex favourite Marty Tabb has become the Youth Development Officer and former Olympic manager Tommy Breslin has become a scouting officer for Cliftonville. On the player front, yutide signing Alan O'Conner has joined Glenavon on a short term basis, and on his return to soccer he subsequently scored against the Croat outfit Slaven Belupo.

14.6.00

C� bhfuil an airgead? (Where is the money as ghaelige)

             With less than a fortnight until the annual Cliftonville AGM, the main question will be raised to to where have the funds gone from injections such as the sale of Michael Ingham to Sunderland for a reported IR�110,000, the revenue generated and the money from the  UEFA Champions League Qualifying matches along with the pay-off cash from teh non played Bass Irish Cup Final against Portadown. An idea that will not be used will be the one that was used in 1987 was borrow money, which nearly brought Solitude to a state of housing estates or a shopping centre, before Hugh McCarten came in and said enough is enough and stopped this policy and Cliftonville from going into extinction. Its plain to see and no mathamaticion is needed to see that 2/3's of the expenditure is going on players wages and this fact should be curtailed by releasing "fringe players". Its more evident to see that you cannot pay for what you cannot afford. The club made a profit last season, but this was on par with the sale of Ingham and the European revenue Cliftonville actually made a loss even though made a visible profit.
             If the top players like Tommy McCallion or the young player of the season Ronan Scannell were sold, a significant cash sum could be generated but hindering the team's  strenght considerably. More money needs to be generated, as it appears the club lotto is generating alot of the incoming revenue. Recently the IFA have generated IR�2million for club development all across the board so hopefully this can be used for ground development. IR�10,000 has been generated by the Health and Safety for toilet and sanitary development in the deficiences at the Solitude stadium.
               The matter between the IFA and Cliftonville regarding the incident in the IFA Youth Cup Final between Cliftonville Strollers and Linfield Rangers has been resolved. Cliftonville Strollers and the players involved have apologised for their unsportsman-like behavious after the presentation of their medals after the defeat in the final in May. Preseason friendlies have been arranged also. Reports of a game against Bohemians are in teh pipieline, but confirmed are matches against non-league teams in the form of Moyola Park and Portstewart and Leicester City and Preston North End of England. It could be the frieldlies that could kick-start a hopefully superb season.

12.6.00

Claims rubbished

Claims over the future of Player of the Year Tommy McCallion have been rubbished by the Cliftonville management. There was speculation which was highly publicised about the possibility of former manager Marty McCann 'raiding' his old club of the top players. The wee Derry man scored 13 goals last season and had numerous superb performances one which included a hat-trick. A new deal has not been signed but hopefuly at least another season can be gained from Cliftonvilles most influential player last season.

5.6.00

Friendlies arranged

Preseason friendlies have been organised against English club teams in the form of Premier League club Leicester City, who have recently departed company with Martin O'Neill who has been tempted to Celtic and the other friendly ha been arranged for newly promorted First Division side Preston North End. A possible return ot the annual Pioneer Cup between Bohemians of the League of Ireland and the Reds may be forthcoming, but a decision has yet to be made.
The dates are as follows:

Cliftonville-V-Leicester City (H) 26/7/00

Cliftonville-V-Preston N.E. (H)  29/7/00