PFAI Watch

**nigel-harps1954** · 24/11/2014, 6:17 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Knight signed for Coleraine for a bit, but did he even train with them? My recollection (which is open to correction) tells me they might have flown him over from London for games.

Played with Glentoran too. Think there was some sort of fallout with him over not going to any training and just turning up for matches if memory serves me right.

**pineapple stu** · 25/11/2014, 12:43 PM

His wiki is here. Decent record in the north, but £1,000 a month to fly him in for games? Bloody hell.

Seems he was kicked out of Glentoran for opposing gay marriage (with some pretty stupid comments), and ended up without a club for two years.

Missed the entire 2012/13 season, having set up a charity page where he was going to donate money for every goal he scored that season.

**eitoof** · 07/01/2015, 10:31 AM

The FifPro tournament is on again;

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/s...ss-305554.html

**Mr A** · 07/01/2015, 1:54 PM

I see the poor old PFAI solicitor can't make it this year. He has been appointed to the panel of arbitrators for Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for next 3 years though.

**colonelwest** · 07/01/2015, 2:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

I see the poor old PFAI solicitor can't make it this year. He has been appointed to the panel of arbitrators for Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for next 3 years though.

If only Ched Evans knew!

**Mr A** · 15/04/2015, 1:23 PM

PFAI looking to look at helping players with education for careers after football. http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-31144122.html

**seand** · 16/04/2015, 8:10 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

PFAI looking to look at helping players with education for careers after football. http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-31144122.html

I thought, perhaps, this was going to be a good news story of the PFAI finally pulling their finger out and actually doing something to help young footballers. Instead it's McGuinness saying "we have to take action" without absolutely no hint as to who is going to do what. Would be great to see the PFAI pulling their weight here.
Also his quote about nobody playing LoI to become rich and famous is ******, there's a well established route to high paid professional football that runs through the LoI, any young player with ambition can use it as a stepping stone to the UK, and hundreds of young fellas are getting more money for playing football a few hours a week than they would otherwise be getting on the dole or on minimum wage.

**GCdfc** · 16/04/2015, 11:53 AM

So salaries have decreased....welcome to the real world McGuinness! Mine went down too and I'm nowhere near what some players were on during their peak. If salaries aren't managed then clubs wouldn't exist. We know where that would leave the players he represents.

**vinnie** · 16/04/2015, 12:21 PM

"This year the highest earner in the League of Ireland is on €40,000 per year"

This bit is Bullsh1t, and Lazy journalism

**Longfordian** · 16/04/2015, 12:39 PM

McGuinness is on something like €80k a year himself as full time Chairman.

**Charlie Darwin** · 16/04/2015, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by vinnie

"This year the highest earner in the League of Ireland is on €40,000 per year"

This bit is Bullsh1t, and Lazy journalism

Yeah, everyone knows Fahey is on 20k a week.

**Dodge** · 16/04/2015, 2:08 PM

Well the agency won't know every wage for a start. Not every player is signed up with them

**Mr A** · 08/12/2016, 10:14 AM

Some strange comments from PFAI recently- saying Wexford should not have been allowed in the premier. Absolutely bizarre stuff.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fi...c3da011dcd1bca

Link via twitter just in case: https://twitter.com/YeSecondPost/sta...36258088538112

“But even if there is change, we still want stability. It’s better that clubs pay what they can afford rather than make promises they cannot keep. And yet, the whole structure of how football is run in this country needs to be looked at. Wexford Youths, and teams like that, should not be allowed into the Premier Division. A minimum amount of professionals should be required, and a minimum spend should be in place, before a club is granted entry to the country’s highest league. There should be a minimum standard for teams to aspire to, before they get into the Premier Division. It is ridiculous that there is not a minimum wage for players in place.

**Philosophizer** · 08/12/2016, 10:52 AM

Bonkers stuff. The difference between professionals and part timers in our league is difficult to gauge at the best of times. Wexford had a few lads on pro contracts but id say many of the amateur lads were doing just as much training.

**Philosophizer** · 08/12/2016, 11:20 AM

While it would be nice to have some rules in place like a minimum wage for PD players and a minimum amount of professionals per club etc, i don't think it would really work in our league - at least not at the moment because wages for professionals aren't high enough to warrant a guy with a good job or big career ambitions to quit his job.

Even the club with the biggest budget last season couldn't offer McMillan enough money to give up his architecture job completely. he still does at least 20 hrs a week.

If we reach a stage where each team can afford to have at least 5/6 professionals (only way i could see this happening is if prize money for every position in the league is dramatically increased) it would be a good idea but i don't see that happening soon.

**oldyouth** · 08/12/2016, 7:40 PM

Gob****e makes it sound as if there is slave labour at Wexford Youths. We set our stall out as an amateur club and we pay minimal expenses. Over the last decade this has worked extremely well for the club AND the players who have pulled on our shirt.

I'd say we have the highest turnover of player in LOI and that is NOT because there is anything wrong with the club, it is because we welcome any player, who thinks he is good enough, and provide an opportunity to showcase his talents. We get a season or two from the raw talent and they get a chance at a contact with a big club if they're good enough. Personally, I don't think the club will progress on this basis, but we are providing a window that most other clubs don't to fringe players.

What's the solution? Perhaps kick us out and make it a licencing requirement to have every club put "Storrry Buud" on it's crest

**pineapple stu** · 08/12/2016, 7:50 PM

Still on with the amateur but expenses line?

PFAI comment is daft. The players earn what they're worth - way more than it, in some cases.

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/12/2016, 7:56 PM

Originally Posted by oldyouth

What's the solution? Perhaps kick us out and make it a licencing requirement to have every club put "Storrry Buud" on it's crest

I'd say that's what they're angling for alright.

**GC13** · 10/12/2016, 12:17 AM

So will this include Cabinteely too as they are an amateur club? In all fairness to Wexford their policy has made them sustainable and progressive to a certain extent which should be commended, a number of very good players have come through the club and moved on, the downside of the policy. Look at the players who left over the last few weeks, it should be the club and players choice, they pay their fees to play (money for nothing) and fulfil their fixtures with facilities better than a lot of other clubs!