A face
16/06/2010, 4:16 PM
The questions posed for this Q&A Session can be found here (http://foot.ie/threads/136169-Foot.ie-Q-amp-A-Session-Richard-Sadlier).
Which moment made you feel the most pride - making your international debut, or seeing St. Pats beat Sovetov last year?
They are too entirely different experiences to be honest, so aren’t really comparable with one another. The result in Russia was achieved solely by the management team and players. It would be a bit of a stretch to take credit for any of it because of simply organizing flights and hotels. While I was pleased for everyone involved, it wasn’t in any way down to my input, so in that way it couldn’t be compared to getting a cap.
I was delighted for the people who had been involved with the club for so long though, it was great to share the experience with some of them. My fondest memories of playing for Ireland was that all my family were there throughout.
They called out to the team hotel a couple of times, I met them immediately after the final whistle, and I went for pints with them that night. If I’d known then that I’d get my hip injury three weeks later and never return I’d maybe have soaked it up a bit more. All in all though, the two occasions are up there with my most memorable times in football.
What would you like to see happen with LOI Clubs to enable them to get crowds in?
Nothing needs to happen to clubs. What needs to change is the general apathy felt by most Irish people towards the League. It’s difficult to think what more clubs can do to be honest. The League gets more coverage than it ever has in the media than at any time in the past. That’s a huge help.
Having a one-hour programme in a prime-time slot covering all the action each week is astonishing for a competition which attracts so few people. European results have been remarkable in the last few years also, yet that hasn’t made much of an impact on crowds. Clubs invested hugely (and in some cases recklessly) on wages for players in the hope that would bring the crowds, but it didn’t.
The FAI also do a considerable amount of marketing and promotion of the League. That’s the way to go. People sit around and wait for fantastic facilities to be provided, or a European breakthrough into the group stages, or an All-Ireland League or any number of other fanciful notions which are beyond us at the moment.
The reality is there are a limited number of people who have an interest in the league here, and of those many do not attend games for their own reasons. I fear crowds will actually decrease rather than increase in the next year or two due to the necessary decision by many clubs to revert to a part-time structure, the drop in standard which will arise from that, and the fact that fewer people can afford to attend so many games given how the economy has gone.
Do you think Summer soccer is better for the league in general or should we go back to winter football?
Absolutely no doubt in my mind that winter football would be a step backwards for the League. You only have to look at the European results to see the improvement.
I know there are other factors which contributed to the improvement – increased wages offered, full-time training, improved coaching – but approaching European games fully match-fit and in mid-season rather than in pre-season is a big difference.
I know some clubs would revert to winter football for their own reasons, but the League as a whole has benefited from the move, so it’s a no-brainer for me.
Do you ever plan on getting into management?
No plans whatsoever. Many people believe coaching and management is the next best thing to playing, but it has never interested me in any way. A lot of the roles I’ve taken on since I retired have been ones I would not have expected I’d be interested in doing, but I’d be amazed if I ever had a change of heart on this one.
Do you resent that your playing career was cut short by injury? Does the FAI or any other group provide adequate support structures for players in that sort of situation?
Do I resent it? At the time I thought the world was caving in on me and I didn’t deal with it at all well. I’m a lot more accepting of it now, and to be honest, because it’s probably 8 years since I lasted a full game, it’s not something which ever enters my mind any more.
There is a limited amount of help you can get from anyone such as the FAI/FA or the PFA/PFAI. The only thing you want anyone to do in that situation is to get you back playing, but that’s obviously beyond everyone. I did a degree in university in Surrey which was fully funded by the PFA, Millwall gave me a job at the Academy, but the main help I got was from a sports psychologist who helped me come to terms with retiring.
That was the most beneficial input I’ve had from anyone in my entire life. The tendency for lads in that situation is to feel sorry for yourself, hit the booze, and just whinge about your bad luck. I did that for a while but realized I was screwed if I didn’t snap out of it. It’s only when you reach that point that anyone around you can help in any way. To be honest, I don’t give it any thought anymore.
Would you mind outlining your reasons for leaving Pats? Do you think you will return to football administration, and if so, will it be here in Ireland? There have been some suggestions that you are unhappy with the mindset of the clubs and league, and this may be a good opportunity to set things straight or air your thoughts.
Part 1 - I’ve no current plans to make a return to football admin, but I wouldn’t entirely rule it out some time in the future.
Part 2 - In relation to why I left Pat’s, there were a number of factors. Firstly, the landscape completely changed 6 months after I got the job, and the job became one of constant confrontation with everyone as a result – the players, the management, the staff and the supporters.
And because the team we doing so badly, it became a pain in the arse having to speak to the media and defend some of what was going on, especially when I didn’t fully agree with a lot of it. We took the decision to reduce spending everywhere, so I knew the year last season would be difficult, but the nature of the job and the ever-dwindling resources to do some of the things we wanted made it increasingly difficult and a lot less enjoyable.
Also, there was very little time in my week to do anything other than work, so it wasn’t something I was going to continue to do long-term. Basic things like going to the gym weren’t possible anymore, and given my various aches and pains from my playing days, that meant I was generally in a fair bit of pain all the time.
Part 3 - In relation to the mindset of other clubs, I assume that is a reference to comments I made in my column a while back. One of the frustrating elements of working in the League, is the shortage of people who are prepared to entertain any idea which may benefit the League if it doesn’t benefit their own club.
Anyone with any knowledge or interest in the League knows there needs to be a realization that the fortunes, good or bad, of any club, is taken by the population as a reflection of the overall state of the League. If the general population continue to see us as half-wits who cannot run ourselves in a prudent way, the likelihood of them attending games to support us becomes less likely.
Hearing various club officials express delight at Bohs conceding that late goal against Salzburg, Cork City going bust, Drogheda nearly doing so or Derry City being relegated became very tiresome. I realize there will always be rivalries between all clubs, and that is healthy, but given we were all in the **** together, a sense of the bigger picture from some people wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Which moment made you feel the most pride - making your international debut, or seeing St. Pats beat Sovetov last year?
They are too entirely different experiences to be honest, so aren’t really comparable with one another. The result in Russia was achieved solely by the management team and players. It would be a bit of a stretch to take credit for any of it because of simply organizing flights and hotels. While I was pleased for everyone involved, it wasn’t in any way down to my input, so in that way it couldn’t be compared to getting a cap.
I was delighted for the people who had been involved with the club for so long though, it was great to share the experience with some of them. My fondest memories of playing for Ireland was that all my family were there throughout.
They called out to the team hotel a couple of times, I met them immediately after the final whistle, and I went for pints with them that night. If I’d known then that I’d get my hip injury three weeks later and never return I’d maybe have soaked it up a bit more. All in all though, the two occasions are up there with my most memorable times in football.
What would you like to see happen with LOI Clubs to enable them to get crowds in?
Nothing needs to happen to clubs. What needs to change is the general apathy felt by most Irish people towards the League. It’s difficult to think what more clubs can do to be honest. The League gets more coverage than it ever has in the media than at any time in the past. That’s a huge help.
Having a one-hour programme in a prime-time slot covering all the action each week is astonishing for a competition which attracts so few people. European results have been remarkable in the last few years also, yet that hasn’t made much of an impact on crowds. Clubs invested hugely (and in some cases recklessly) on wages for players in the hope that would bring the crowds, but it didn’t.
The FAI also do a considerable amount of marketing and promotion of the League. That’s the way to go. People sit around and wait for fantastic facilities to be provided, or a European breakthrough into the group stages, or an All-Ireland League or any number of other fanciful notions which are beyond us at the moment.
The reality is there are a limited number of people who have an interest in the league here, and of those many do not attend games for their own reasons. I fear crowds will actually decrease rather than increase in the next year or two due to the necessary decision by many clubs to revert to a part-time structure, the drop in standard which will arise from that, and the fact that fewer people can afford to attend so many games given how the economy has gone.
Do you think Summer soccer is better for the league in general or should we go back to winter football?
Absolutely no doubt in my mind that winter football would be a step backwards for the League. You only have to look at the European results to see the improvement.
I know there are other factors which contributed to the improvement – increased wages offered, full-time training, improved coaching – but approaching European games fully match-fit and in mid-season rather than in pre-season is a big difference.
I know some clubs would revert to winter football for their own reasons, but the League as a whole has benefited from the move, so it’s a no-brainer for me.
Do you ever plan on getting into management?
No plans whatsoever. Many people believe coaching and management is the next best thing to playing, but it has never interested me in any way. A lot of the roles I’ve taken on since I retired have been ones I would not have expected I’d be interested in doing, but I’d be amazed if I ever had a change of heart on this one.
Do you resent that your playing career was cut short by injury? Does the FAI or any other group provide adequate support structures for players in that sort of situation?
Do I resent it? At the time I thought the world was caving in on me and I didn’t deal with it at all well. I’m a lot more accepting of it now, and to be honest, because it’s probably 8 years since I lasted a full game, it’s not something which ever enters my mind any more.
There is a limited amount of help you can get from anyone such as the FAI/FA or the PFA/PFAI. The only thing you want anyone to do in that situation is to get you back playing, but that’s obviously beyond everyone. I did a degree in university in Surrey which was fully funded by the PFA, Millwall gave me a job at the Academy, but the main help I got was from a sports psychologist who helped me come to terms with retiring.
That was the most beneficial input I’ve had from anyone in my entire life. The tendency for lads in that situation is to feel sorry for yourself, hit the booze, and just whinge about your bad luck. I did that for a while but realized I was screwed if I didn’t snap out of it. It’s only when you reach that point that anyone around you can help in any way. To be honest, I don’t give it any thought anymore.
Would you mind outlining your reasons for leaving Pats? Do you think you will return to football administration, and if so, will it be here in Ireland? There have been some suggestions that you are unhappy with the mindset of the clubs and league, and this may be a good opportunity to set things straight or air your thoughts.
Part 1 - I’ve no current plans to make a return to football admin, but I wouldn’t entirely rule it out some time in the future.
Part 2 - In relation to why I left Pat’s, there were a number of factors. Firstly, the landscape completely changed 6 months after I got the job, and the job became one of constant confrontation with everyone as a result – the players, the management, the staff and the supporters.
And because the team we doing so badly, it became a pain in the arse having to speak to the media and defend some of what was going on, especially when I didn’t fully agree with a lot of it. We took the decision to reduce spending everywhere, so I knew the year last season would be difficult, but the nature of the job and the ever-dwindling resources to do some of the things we wanted made it increasingly difficult and a lot less enjoyable.
Also, there was very little time in my week to do anything other than work, so it wasn’t something I was going to continue to do long-term. Basic things like going to the gym weren’t possible anymore, and given my various aches and pains from my playing days, that meant I was generally in a fair bit of pain all the time.
Part 3 - In relation to the mindset of other clubs, I assume that is a reference to comments I made in my column a while back. One of the frustrating elements of working in the League, is the shortage of people who are prepared to entertain any idea which may benefit the League if it doesn’t benefit their own club.
Anyone with any knowledge or interest in the League knows there needs to be a realization that the fortunes, good or bad, of any club, is taken by the population as a reflection of the overall state of the League. If the general population continue to see us as half-wits who cannot run ourselves in a prudent way, the likelihood of them attending games to support us becomes less likely.
Hearing various club officials express delight at Bohs conceding that late goal against Salzburg, Cork City going bust, Drogheda nearly doing so or Derry City being relegated became very tiresome. I realize there will always be rivalries between all clubs, and that is healthy, but given we were all in the **** together, a sense of the bigger picture from some people wouldn’t have gone amiss.