Mid Season Thoughts

Sorry about the blog going missing over the last couple of weeks. Just been a busy few weeks, but as usual I never tire of League of Ireland. The games have come hot and heavy.  Why is it necessary to cram so many matches in the first half of the season, why have a mid season break, why not extend the League?  All of these things jump out at you as you watch the madness unfold.  There is no logical reason for the League fixtures to be arranged in such a manner.  Gates have seen a big improvement this year but supporters cannot afford to go to matches Friday and Monday.  Players cannot give of their best in the same scenario.  The managers consistently complain that the players are too tired to give of their best Friday and Monday which unfortunately affects the pace of the game and the crowds are also noticeably smaller.  No thought appears to go into the making of our fixtures.  This is not only the fault of administrators but also of the clubs.  As Keith Long pointed out having such a long layoff is false economy.  We are also striving for a professional League and if you want to play in it you must be able to pay your players 52 weeks of the year, I know this would put pressure on the smaller clubs but by extending the league I think the average gate would increase and it would end this nonsense of playing on Friday and Monday.

On a brighter note we were able to show Dundalk play Waterford in Keely’s Bar on Monday due to the introduction of a pilot project whereby Dundalk and Cork are streaming 4 matches each which can be seen by people outside of Ireland.  It went off brilliantly and it is the forward looking attitude that we as a league need to adapt.  We will now be able to see Cork, Bohs, Sligo, Dundalk, Finn Harps, Shamrock Rovers and Pats over the next few weeks.  Allowing the public to see the real quality we have in our league can only be beneficial.  It is therefore vital that the players are in the best condition possible to showcase it.  This is not possible playing Friday and Monday.

I must say I was amazed at Stephen Bradley’s comments on the current Shamrock Rovers team.  To say they are a better team than the Michael O’Neill (MON) team that won the League was quite ridiculous.  Maybe they are, time will tell, but the MON team won a league, the true test of a team.  The best team wins the League – FACT- he may well win the league this year and if he does then he will be in a position to compare his team with any other Rovers team.

The current team may be better than many other teams past and present, if judgement was on the standard of football they play - which is outstanding. But playing lovely football is not the sign of a great team; teams are judged by the number of leagues they win. Trying to win a league is not the same as trying to win a beauty contest.  The prettiest team does not always win – the best team wins.

On the Road again with Jim McLaughlin

Sorry about missing the blog – circumstances beyond my control unfortunately.  Since my last blog I have been back to Dundalk, while there I was able to attend the Dundalk v Derry City match with my old mentor Jim McLaughlin, glad to say he is in rude health and is in great form as well.  Every time I see him I remember what a shrewd, clever Manager he was.  We are all biased about our opinions on players that we played for/against.  It is nearly impossible to compare players across generations because football changes over the years.  It is easier to compare Managers.  In my opinion given the players at his disposal in Dundalk and his achievements with them Jim has to go down as the best Manager Dundalk have ever had and right on his coattails of course is Stephen Kenny.

Speaking about all things Dundalk – it was great to attend the game and meet with all my football friends.  I was impressed with Derry they were neat and tidy and well organized.  Dundalk were 2-0 up and coasting. … Then they let Derry back into the game with some poor defending.  But these things happen and Sligo Rovers did everybody else a favour by beating Shamrock Rovers.  Shamrock Rovers are another team that has impressed me this year.  They have strengthened up and for the first time in a couple of years they look the Real Deal.  I think the race for the title will go all the way to the wire this year.

The FAI story is off the front pages at the moment but the work going on behind the scenes is hugely important.  A vacuum has been created and I fear terribly that in the rush to fill the vacuum mistakes will be made.  There is talk of board members who have resigned putting themselves back up for re-election.  This cannot be allowed.  These people either knew what was going on, should have known what was going on and did nothing- allowing it to happen.

Today we read of an E2,000,000 golden handcuff deal for John Delaney, which was passed seemingly without question by the board of the FAI.  When this deal is taken into account his already huge salary of E320,000 plus expenses is raised to over E700,000.  This is a scandal of mammoth proportions.  These people cannot be allowed into positions of power again- ignorance is no excuse.  Brendan Menton former Treasurer of the FAI and vastly experienced, indicated that UEFA could put an outside group in charge to run the FAI until all the issues about governance etc have been settled.  But whatever the outcome we need a completely new structure for the FAI not a rehash of the old one.

A final note – the prize money for the winners of the new competition between the 2 league winners North and South is to be welcomed.  But what genius thought of the name “Unite The Union” – had Nutsy a hand in this?????

Hopefully change will Happen.....

This week I should be talking about League of Ireland football on the pitch.  Dundalk's late winner against Bohs, Derry moving to 2^nd place, Rovers continuing their fantastic run of results. On Monday  UCD beating Cork City and that's without mentioning the first division.  But alas it is not to be.  The shadow of John Delaney hangs over our League and the whole football network.  The board have said they will resign – WHEN? John Delaney says he will “step aside” – NO NOT ENOUGH, he must go.

The Sports Council need to put an experienced Sports Administrator in place now,  to run the association on a daily basis until all the investigation are completed.  These investigations should be carried out by Companies that are independent of the FAI and appointed by an external body probably Sports Ireland.  The terms of reference of these companies should include a root and branch forensic audit of the accounts of the FAI.  We have the situation where at the present moment even their auditors don’t have confidence that the FAI’s books are in order.  This is a book keeping task and while it may be time consuming it is a task any of the accountancy firms are capable of doing.  I think people are looking at this as the main task and expect some juicy headlines/scandals to arise from the investigation.  We will have to wait and see.

Although the forensic audit is important I do not believe that it is the most important strand of this investigation.  We have to understand how a man who came into power on the back of supporting the Genesis Report, a Reformer was allowed to become an autocrat.  The people who allowed this, by their silence, by their constant massaging of the Ex CEO’s ego, by never having the balls to say no, they fed out of the trough. His glory was their glory.  They could get John Delaney to open a pitch, dressing rooms, whatever... and bask in the reflected glory.

 

No this is not just about finances, important though that is.  This is an opportunity to change how Irish football is run.  Removing senior people but not changing the organisational structure will serve no good.  Without reforming the structure the problems will still be there.  Believe me there are many more potential John Delaney’s out there, people who know how the system works and are ready to fill the void that has been created.  This cannot be allowed to happen.  We need to develop an organisational structure that is fit for purpose in the 21^st Century.  We need to consign the present arcane system to the bin.  Parish pump politics, gombeenism has to be done away with. The mantra of “the Leader is great, the Leader is good” has got to end.

We need professional people to run a business in a professional manner.  I do not believe it is the CEO’s job to disperse funds personally.  We have enough ex players in the different areas of the country who would be delighted to do that job

A note of thanks to all our journalists who wouldn’t let this story die.  I am sure I missed some of the coverage here in Lanzarote but  Mark Tighe, Daniel McDonnell, Owen Cowzer and Neil O’Riordan certainly kept all the information up to date and I even got used to twitter lol . if I missed anyone  - apologies!

From someone who loves Irish football please take this opportunity to change the face of Irish Soccer and make me proud.

Will there be Change?

Can someone explain to me why the League of Ireland clubs have to play so many fixtures in April?  It appears nonsensical

That the clubs have to risk life and limb to fulfill a glut of fixtures.  I think there are a couple of options which could happen:

a.     Extend the League by 2/3 weeks.

b.      Do away with the summer break.

The first option is expensive for the smaller clubs in the Premier Division and would also impact on the First Division as regards playoffs etc.

The second option to me is a realistic one.  When we agreed to go for summer football I don’t believe it was ever intended that we take a summer break.  I accept that every couple of years we could have a problem if Ireland qualified for a major tournament.  Surely we can deal with that, if and when the problem arises.

Many managers complain about the problems that arise with the glut of fixtures.  The full time clubs are really being handed a huge advantage with the present fixture list.  I believe it is a problem that could be easily sorted out if there was dialogue between the clubs themselves and the clubs and the FAI

.

The John Delaney saga continues.  He appeared before the Oireachtas Committee – or did He?  He is all Lawyered up.  After a brief monologue about all he has done for Irish football he proceeded to tell us that on legal advice he would not answer question on his time as CEO (14 YEARS) but would answer questions on the job he gave himself  17 DAYS ago – Executive Vice President.  After the “Long Day” of Oireachtas hearings as John Delaney called it, even though he did not answer questions,  suffice to say the fellow members of the cabal did what they do – support their great leader because they know he will be forever grateful.

We had a Treasurer who stated that he knew nothing about the infamous E100,000 loan, he also did not know how many bank accounts the FAI held and indeed he did not feel insulted or undermined in his role when he realised  that he was outside of the Golden Circle of 3 who knew about the loan. 

Indeed how can the board stay in place, when the majority of them did not know about the loan but signed off on the Accounts for 2017.  I believe that this is a breach of company law.  The fact that the Sports Council has stopped grants to the FAI is a serious blow to grassroots football and they are now being punished because of the actions of John Delaney and those close to him.   This is the “family” that John Delaney purports to love.

He has run the FAI as his own personal fiefdom, where he and he alone was responsible for handing out grants and getting as much publicity as possible. Now there are difficult questions to answer and he is passing responsibility to those close to him, who seem ready to fall on their swords to protect him.

Maybe the attitude of the FAI is perfectly summed up by the treatment meted out to Des Casey – a man who has devoted himself to League of Ireland soccer and European soccer and should now be enjoying the fruits of his labour. To withdraw his VIP tickets which meant an 83 year old man with mobility problems would have to make his way to the Upper East Stand is a terrible way to treat such a man. He is now unable to attend to watch his beloved Ireland

It is time for a fresh start, a new beginning. If those people do not resign en masse it is time for the Government to force their hand. Or is our Government represented by the outrageous performance of Jackie Healy Rae.  Are we ready to accept that in the 21^st Century Gombeenism is not only alive and well but is actually flourishing.

I could write so much more but I have to stop myself because as I write I get more and more annoyed.  The FAI claim that an increase in attendance in the League of Ireland is down to them.  No so,  John Delaney fooled our League for many years and any improvement is despite you - NOT because of you and your minions.

Who are the April Fools?

It’s now a couple of weeks into the John Delaney/FAI saga.  We have seen a man resign from the post of CEO and be appointed to the position of Executive Vice President, a new post in an organisation permanently strapped for cash.  An organisation that borrowed €100.000 from its own CEO but did not recognise this loan in their accounts.  Sports Ireland now has reservations about said loan.

We have also witnessed a full on PR operation from the “Grass Roots” of Irish Football, in support of the Ex CEO. His Trojan work in giving out Government money as if it was his own, his ability to press the flesh and consume numerous Chicken dinner is being repaid.  John Delaney refers constantly to the “football family” but obviously some of this family are regarded higher than others.  While the “Grass Roots” are courted by the Ex CEO the League of Ireland has been starved of attention.  John Delaney worked out very early that the “Grass Roots” have enough power to keep him in control.  The League of Ireland however has been left to survive or die with little interest shown by the great man.

To continue with the analogy of the FAI Family we are now in the position of the father moving to a smaller house down the road but he is also going to run the big house he  has left.  He moved from a 3 figure salary to a smaller 3 figure salary, which will enable him to get a further 3 figure salary from UEFA.  Which one of us is the April fool????

The post of Executive Vice President should be withdrawn and no other post offered to him.  His time as father of the family has come to an end.  Let’s get someone in who loves all the family equally.

We are still waiting for the Competitions Director, who announced the “Champions of Ireland” competition in February, and who stated he would have a sponsor in March to give details or maybe he meant March 2020 or 2021or 2022.....  It must have been an early April Fools announcement in February as he announced it BEFORE it was agreed with his Northern counterparts

On a better note the League of Ireland continue to please, good crowds and it looks like 2 competitive divisions.  I thought Dundalk played really well in beating Cork City and Rovers continue to win and look very solid.  It is a huge game for Cork this week against Rovers.  Even this early in the season I think this is a must win game for Cork, while Dundalk will be hoping that Rovers slip up. In the first division things look extremely tight with no team really showing they want to be the boss.

It was great to show the Dundalk /Cork game last Friday and looking forward to Cork and Rovers this week, good following of League of Ireland people into to see the games. Very disappointing that we have been unable to stream games this season.

The Gravy Train Rolls On....

Sorry about missing the Blog for the last 2 weeks.  Cheltenham week and St Patricks Day are huge on the Island of Lanzarote .  We were flat out in the bar and when the work is there you have to take it.  Serving as many pints as possible and not drinking them!!  Unlike some we have to pay rent for the bar and our apartment etc, we do not have someone to pay OUR rent unlike our esteemed CEO (sorry EX CEO) John Delaney.

I have been more than critical of John Delaney and the control that is the FAI for more than 20 years and have commented on it extensively when I had the column in the Irish Sun.  Finally all the Chickens have come home to roost.

I would like to paraphrase the reply of ST. Pats to the ludicrous 5,000 Euro clubs received in 2016.  What prevails in the FAI is an approach where it dictates policy with an occasional PR flurry to try and create a public image that its senior executives are committed to change and improvement.  In fact the FAI abandoned the LOI.  They were allowed to do this by the majority of the clubs.  Let us hope that the PROBLEM CHILD with receive the love and attention needed for it to grow and prosper under the new CEO.

Is this likely to happen?? NO  is the answer because as it stand now nothing has changed.  The new CEO will have to work “very closely with the new Executive Vice President”, a newly created role not publicly advertised in an organisation in receipt of significant public financing.  This new Executive Vice President just happens to be none other that our beloved ex CEO John Delaney.  Plus Changes Plus La meme choses. (excuse my French lol).The more things changes the more they stay the same..... It is time for a complete change, all the nodding dogs that have kept the man in power and are now continuing to try to do so need to go.

John Delaney needs to answer to the public about the financial affairs of the FAI.  Are they in breach of Company Law due to the non declaration of Loans/Benefits to/from Directors of the organisation? For example, how was the loan paid back, was it out of Grant Money?

There is a huge need for transparency in all bodies that receive significant public funds.  There needs to be an end to the reign of John Delaney. A reign where the man himself goes around giving out grants to the Clubs at grassroots level as if it is his own personal cash, not your money and mine.  By keeping the grassroots happy he kept himself in power. In fairness to John Delaney he was good at pressing the flesh like politicians of old, but we do not need a CEO that has a cult following.  Or  where reporters cannot ask questions at an AGM, indeed AGM’s which are basically held in secret.  We need a CEO that runs the business as a business and not a vehicle that enables him in inflate an ego that is already at bursting point.

It is time for John Delaney and his minions to do the right thing for Irish Football and resign en bloc, if they do not do this voluntarily then they should be forced to resign en bloc.  Let the people who want our League to grow and flourish run our League.

Congratulations to Tom Mohan, his staff and the Under 19’s squad on qualifying for the European Championship.  A fantastic achievement to do it with one game to spare.  I hope Mick Neville is passing on all my coaching tips - NOT!!  Also congratulations to Stephen Kenny on his great start, already you can see his style of football coming through after a couple of days.

 Seriously well done to all, you have brightened a cloudy week in Irish Football.

Travelling Band

Despite  my love of all things Dundalk I have to say it is great to see other teams challenging them in the race for this years League title.  Bohs have done fantastically well in the first couple of matches, Keith Long deserves great credit for his work  both last season and this one.  His young team are doing him proud.

Rovers currently on top of the League, though with a match extra played must be giving their fans hope that they can challenge for a League title this year.

Speaking of Rovers what about the decision of the Competitions Director to make Finn Harps travel to Tallaght on a Monday evening after playing at home on the previous Friday.  Finn Harps are a semi-professional team with players having to take time of work for midweek matches.  No consideration was given to this.  It was not Harps fault that Tallaght will not available in May, nor  indeed was it the fault of Rovers.  But Rovers have a full time set up.  Why could the fixture not have been swapped?  Only the Competition Director knows.....   I am sure he will be delighted to explain his decision to us all.  I don’t think so!!

I read with interest the comments of Stuey Byrne during the week and I suppose they are particularly relevant to to-days footballers seeming to have greater power than the Manager.  Stuey wrote that I cured him of that! In fairness to Stuey I don’t think he was challenging the authority of the Manager, he just thought he knew better and he could have been right.  But as a Manager I knew that I had to get results to survive and I always took the view that if I was going to get sacked I would get myself sacked.  This meant that players did as they were told because in the end I was the one going to get the bullet.  For that reason it was my way or the highway.  I do not think this philosophy would survive in this day and age.