The John Delaney Thread

[DannyInvincible]

Yes, John Delaney is to blame for the Sky generated globalisation of the English Premier League. 'Keeping up' should have been a formality.

The globalisation of the EPL isn't something Delaney can control, certainly, but did Conlon strictly mean that the ultra-rich EPL was direct competition for the FAI and that the FAI should be keeping up with its level?

I got the sense that by "competition", he was more referring to other countries (rather than the EPL itself) who now have a greater number of players playing at higher levels of the game in England at our expense and our apparent or perceived inability to keep up with those countries.* Although maybe that's more or less the same thing ultimately, considering those are now the players who increasingly set the enhanced EPL "benchmark"...

*Critics could point out that the LOI is ranked 39th out of 55 European leagues; a poor rating in the grand scheme of things. Fair enough, we're never going to be in the top five with the likes of Spain, England or Italy, but there's no reason why we shouldn't be aiming for the top 20 - after all, the Cypriot league is ranked 18th, just to use an example - which should in turn help us maintain a higher national standard, help us produce a greater number of higher calibre players and assist the international team in at least providing it with a greater number of options and enhanced strength in depth. In saying that, it's not as if the LOI's ranking has been in recent decline either, we've never been at a level equating to that of the EPL, nor has the standard of the league ever even really "kept up" with the level of our main international competitors' leagues in the past either. The historical disparity between our national team's performance, which has generally tended to be of a second or third-tier rating, and the level or quality of our national league, which would probably be rated around fifth-tier if leagues were seeded into pots or tiers like international teams are, has always been a bit of a European anomaly.


Shoddy Premier League footballers for the most part, as it happens!

It is fair to say that we have fewer and fewer players playing in the top flight as the years pass though. At the same time, I do accept that that would be an inevitable consequence of the EPL's globalisation, as there are just so many more high-calibre options around the world now for EPL clubs from which to choose rather than just having the pick of the best players from the UK and Ireland. It probably is the case that you always had higher-calibre players scattered around the globe, but EPL clubs simply didn't have access to them in the past like they've always had with Irish players or like they do now.


Big deal if he hasn't been in the public eye in the aftermath of the disappointment? Fair enough I can see the argument, but just because he gets involved in the celebrations doesn't mean he's obliged to criticise or defend what happened last Tuesday, what use would it be? He'd be damned if he did, damned if he didn't anyway.

For me (and I'd assume many others who don't have much time for Delaney), complaints about him hiding away from the glare of the public arena in the aftermath of last Tuesday are really just a convenient stick with which to beat a dislikeable scapegoat and I resent you trying to curb our witch-hunt. :p

No, in seriousness, the complaints are more an articulation or "bubbling over" of an enduring frustration over the man's brazen lack of accountability. As I said before, if I had a sense that he'd ever be properly subjected to scrutiny and legitimate questioning by the media or even his own organisation - those who profess to be custodians of the game and of whom the rest of us are (often paying) supporters with a stake in Irish football - his present ghosting wouldn't really bother me as much, but questions aren't even permitted at AGMs and dissent is pretty much non-existent.

Another thing I would note in conclusion is that our senior team is ageing. That and the fact we don't really have creative players coming through is an obvious concern and significant responsibility for that must rest at Delaney's doorstep.

You make good points otherwise though, as ever, that are difficult to refute. Fair enough, it's not exactly an emergency and we're not presently in free-fall, but there is a fear that recent successes paper over cracks. There's an ominous sense of concern that we're riding our "luck" a bit given our poor structural base and planning - we can't and won't get away with it forever - and that we're in for a rude awakening in the near future, the play-off result perhaps being the wake-up call for that. At the very least, we could be ensuring that things look a bit more certain or optimistic for the future, so we could always be doing better in that sense. :)

[tetsujin1979]

The bigger Cypriot teams are bankrolled by rich owners. Only about a third of the squads of the top two teams in their league right now are Cypriot

[Charlie Darwin]

The cost of living is a lot lower there too, which helps. They're also known for not paying players, but presumably the up-front bundles of cash are enough to tempt players in the first place.

[DannyInvincible]

Heh, OK, ignore Cyprus. It was just one example I plucked out of the list of European leagues ranked around 20th. Based on our population and resources, I think we could realistically aim to be at a similar level to leagues like Belarus, Sweden, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Israel, Croatia or Denmark if a proper long-term development plan was put in place. All of those leagues are ranked between 16th and 25th. Obviously, it's very much idealistic given the neglect of the domestic game in this country, but that's the level we should be striving for and possibly could have been at were it not for the decades of neglect.

[DeLorean]

The globalisation of the EPL isn't something Delaney can control, certainly, but did Conlon strictly mean that the ultra-rich EPL was direct competition for the FAI and that the FAI should be keeping up with its level?

No, definitely not, but he seemed to think the FAI should have been able to keep up with the challenge globalisation of the PL presented. Impossible in my opinion, the FA can't even keep up with it.


I got the sense that by "competition", he was more referring to other countries (rather than the EPL itself) who now have a greater number of players playing at higher levels of the game in England at our expense and our apparent or perceived inability to keep up with those countries.* Although maybe that's more or less the same thing ultimately, considering those are now the players who increasingly set the enhanced EPL "benchmark"...

Yes, exactly. So what a ridiculous point he was making. Are we really expected to compete manfully with the talent from Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, etc.? Of course it has butchered our playing numbers at the top clubs and league generally.


*Critics could point out that the LOI is ranked 39th out of 55 European leagues; a poor rating in the grand scheme of things. Fair enough, we're never going to be in the top five with the likes of Spain, England or Italy, but there's no reason why we shouldn't be aiming for the top 20 - after all, the Cypriot league is ranked 18th, just to use an example - which should in turn help us maintain a higher national standard, help us produce a greater number of higher calibre players and assist the international team in at least providing it with a greater number of options and enhanced strength in depth. In saying that, it's not as if the LOI's ranking has been in recent decline either, we've never been at a level equating to that of the EPL, nor has the standard of the league ever even really "kept up" with the level of our main international competitors' leagues in the past either. The historical disparity between our national team's performance, which has generally tended to be of a second or third-tier rating, and the level or quality of our national league, which would probably be rated around fifth-tier if leagues were seeded into pots or tiers like international teams are, has always been a bit of a European anomaly.

I don't know what the realistic expectation should be in terms of where our league should rank. I wouldn't know enough about the other leagues - attendance figures, financial support/sponsorship, etc. Top 20 seems extremely fanciful though, without thinking about it too deeply. Most of the countries you mentioned in post #754 have significantly higher populations than the Republic of Ireland, pretty much double in most cases bar Croatia & Denmark. I know that's slightly crude gauge of where we should or could be at, but it would obviously impact heavily on potential playing figures and attendances.

Despite this, Dundalk and Cork City have beaten the top clubs from three of these leagues over the past couple of years (Belarus, Sweden & Israel), so at least we're competitive in that sense.


For me (and I'd assume many others who don't have much time for Delaney), complaints about him hiding away from the glare of the public arena in the aftermath of last Tuesday are really just a convenient stick with which to beat a dislikeable scapegoat and I resent you trying to curb our witch-hunt. :p

No, in seriousness, the complaints are more an articulation or "bubbling over" of an enduring frustration over the man's brazen lack of accountability. As I said before, if I had a sense that he'd ever be properly subjected to scrutiny and legitimate questioning by the media or even his own organisation - those who profess to be custodians of the game and of whom the rest of us are (often paying) supporters with a stake in Irish football - his present ghosting wouldn't really bother me as much, but questions aren't even permitted at AGMs and dissent is pretty much non-existent.

Like I said, there is plenty that can be thrown at Delaney. Conlon's piece is opportunistic nonsense though, having a dig just for the sake of it because the opportunity presented itself. There's no substance in the article and it's full of holes and hyperbole.


Another thing I would note in conclusion is that our senior team is ageing. That and the fact we don't really have creative players coming through is an obvious concern and significant responsibility for that must rest at Delaney's doorstep.

O'Neill is the one choosing to play the more senior players though, I wouldn't blame Delaney for this either. Hopefully we have some creative players coming through and they just haven't got much of an opportunity yet, Liam Kelly an obvious example but even the likes of Hourihane could reduce the age profile and add an eye for goal. Clearly there are others too and at least we seem to be making inroads at underage level. I think we've enough to work with in the short-term anyway, obviously we're lacking a reliable goalscorer at the moment though.


You make good points otherwise though, as ever, that are difficult to refute. Fair enough, it's not exactly an emergency and we're not presently in free-fall, but there is a fear that recent successes paper over cracks. There's an ominous sense of concern that we're riding our "luck" a bit given our poor structural base and planning - we can't and won't get away with it forever - and that we're in for a rude awakening in the near future, the play-off result perhaps being the wake-up call for that. At the very least, we could be ensuring that things look a bit more certain or optimistic for the future, so we could always be doing better in that sense. :)

I think the cracks are well established. Hopefully better structures have been put in place at this stage. Time will tell I guess.

[OwlsFan]

Heh, OK, ignore Cyprus. It was just one example I plucked out of the list of European leagues ranked around 20th. Based on our population and resources, I think we could realistically aim to be at a similar level to leagues like Belarus, Sweden, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Israel, Croatia or Denmark if a proper long-term development plan was put in place. All of those leagues are ranked between 16th and 25th. Obviously, it's very much idealistic given the neglect of the domestic game in this country, but that's the level we should be striving for and possibly could have been at were it not for the decades of neglect.

How many of these countries have another football creed as their national game, also played in the Summer, and which for decades forbade its members to play soccer? For 6 decades soccer was played and supported primarily by working class people from urban areas. The rest of the country and much of the cities was owned by the GAA and was an integral part of the community. Soccer could not compete and by the time the ban was lifted, the BIG MATCH, MATCH OF THE DAY etc were being broadcast at the exact same time as the League of Ireland games were on. This is not an excuse. It's a fact and club soccer has been playing catch up and always will in this country behind the GAA. There is huge interest ok in soccer but because of expert way the GAA has sown up the country and parish scene, soccer is on a hiding to nothing as far as the clubs are concered. It's just too difficult to break that stranglehold and whether it's John Delaney, Donald Trump, Pope Francis or whoever in charge of the FAI, it is an almost an impossible task to compete with the GAA because that's what it's about.

[backstothewall]

This is a long way from getting anywhere but it seems to be picking up momentum. 8k signatures since this morning.

https://www.change.org/p/football-association-of-ireland-remove-john-delaney-as-head-of-the-fai

[Eminence Grise]

10.5k as of 0830.

[Stuttgart88]

Some ball of sh!te.Well said.

Edit: i looked at the date - I didn't realise it was a year old :) I thought a whole load of stuff on JD had just been written above

[backstothewall]

I'd say it needs to get to 100k to make much difference. If it gets north of 20k the tabloids will maybe pick up on it which would get it going that bit faster.

[Stuttgart88]

How many of these countries have another football creed as their national game, also played in the Summer, and which for decades forbade its members to play soccer? For 6 decades soccer was played and supported primarily by working class people from urban areas. The rest of the country and much of the cities was owned by the GAA and was an integral part of the community. Soccer could not compete and by the time the ban was lifted, the BIG MATCH, MATCH OF THE DAY etc were being broadcast at the exact same time as the League of Ireland games were on. This is not an excuse. It's a fact and club soccer has been playing catch up and always will in this country behind the GAA. There is huge interest ok in soccer but because of expert way the GAA has sown up the country and parish scene, soccer is on a hiding to nothing as far as the clubs are concered. It's just too difficult to break that stranglehold and whether it's John Delaney, Donald Trump, Pope Francis or whoever in charge of the FAI, it is an almost an impossible task to compete with the GAA because that's what it's about.I largely agree. If Liverpool or Man U moved to Dublin for their home games they'd be the best attended sports teams in the country by a long distance. But at the same time I think there's a bit of EPL-weariness creeping in among the Irish. With diminishing numbers of irish stars in the EPL and declining national team performance I think the public is aware that what we do at home will help so there is pent up support of Irish domestic football that an attractive product can tap into. We can argue all day long what constitutes attractive; many will argue that it's already attractive though the sales numbers argue differently. I don't think it's beyond the wit of man to have ten teams in the LOI with nice stadia, a good match day atmosphere and a good standard of football attracting c.5,000 per game each week. Over and above the factors you cited, the GAA does well because its clubs are proper community clubs with joined up underage and senior teams. LOI clubs were really only ever teams, maybe an A team and a B team with little underneath. the schoolboy clubs were the community clubs and the Intermediate teams/clubs were largely different still. Recent changes might make a difference in time. Rovers are becoming a joined-up top-to-bottom club. Bohs are in a JV with Kevins but are strongly community-rooted. Over time this will closely mimic the GAA model.

Obviously if the Pope also got involved we could expect a miracle or two. Donald Trump could Make Irish Football Great Again. #MIFGA

[osarusan]

I'd say it needs to get to 100k to make much difference. If it gets north of 20k the tabloids will maybe pick up on it which would get it going that bit faster.

There's probably a few journos itching to have a go if it gets enough signatures for them to do so.

But he will ride out any storm. He has surrounded himself with people who need him there, so there is no way for him to be ousted.

[Kingdom]

I largely agree. If Liverpool or Man U moved to Dublin for their home games they'd be the best attended sports teams in the country by a long distance. But at the same time I think there's a bit of EPL-weariness creeping in among the Irish. With diminishing numbers of irish stars in the EPL and declining national team performance I think the public is aware that what we do at home will help so there is pent up support of Irish domestic football that an attractive product can tap into. We can argue all day long what constitutes attractive; many will argue that it's already attractive though the sales numbers argue differently. I don't think it's beyond the wit of man to have ten teams in the LOI with nice stadia, a good match day atmosphere and a good standard of football attracting c.5,000 per game each week. Over and above the factors you cited, the GAA does well because its clubs are proper community clubs with joined up underage and senior teams. LOI clubs were really only ever teams, maybe an A team and a B team with little underneath. the schoolboy clubs were the community clubs and the Intermediate teams/clubs were largely different still. Recent changes might make a difference in time. Rovers are becoming a joined-up top-to-bottom club. Bohs are in a JV with Kevins but are strongly community-rooted. Over time this will closely mimic the GAA model.

Obviously if the Pope also got involved we could expect a miracle or two. Donald Trump could Make Irish Football Great Again. #MIFGA

Btw don't forget that the Bohs/kevins venture was a one year only gig.

[Stuttgart88]

Noted :)

[gufct]

https://twitter.com/gufct/status/1066272549313617920?s=21

[pineapple stu]

Lads, when did an internet petition ever change anything?

[bennocelt]

Lads, when did an internet petition ever change anything?

TBF Stu I do wonder if the Kenny appointment wasn't due to all the negative flak Kim Jon is getting on social media. Trying to placate everyone.

[Cathalsmart]

https://twitter.com/gufct/status/1066272549313617920?s=21


Master of making things disappear, arrogance he has to think he will keep us quite for long! Literally a dictator.

[Stuttgart88]

I'd say metaphorically a dictator. Literally a single-minded self-serving CEO who lacks full accountability.

[colonelwest]

He had a mini Kevin Keegan after the main portion of the press conference was over when questioned on his running of the FAI and finances. Had the brass bo***cks to say if anyone wants to ask any questions to come to the annual FAI AGM and ask them there!

He's spooked by Quinn who knows well how to play football politics and JD has his eyes on hanging on until the UEFA elections in 2020. Started listing off all the underage teams and the facilities upgrades going on as if he put his hand in his own pocket for them when it's SDCC paying for Tallaght, DCC paying for Dalyer, Louth CoCo paying for Drogheda, Capital Sports grants paying for Glanmire & Harps. Delaney taking credit without putting the hand in the FAI till for nearly all or any of it at all.

[CraftyToePoke]

He had a mini Kevin Keegan after the main portion of the press conference was over when questioned on his running of the FAI and finances. Had the brass bo***cks to say if anyone wants to ask any questions to come to the annual FAI AGM and ask them there!

He's spooked by Quinn who knows well how to play football politics and JD has his eyes on hanging on until the UEFA elections in 2020. Started listing off all the underage teams and the facilities upgrades going on as if he put his hand in his own pocket for them when it's SDCC paying for Tallaght, DCC paying for Dalyer, Louth CoCo paying for Drogheda, Capital Sports grants paying for Glanmire & Harps. Delaney taking credit without putting the hand in the FAI till for nearly all or any of it at all.

'Centrally involved' in all those, was the phrase he used, from memory. Gas man.

[brine3]

Yep, money is scarce in Irish football. All that cash splashed on Trap, MON and JD over the years could have been better invested.

[geysir]

'Centrally involved' in all those, was the phrase he used, from memory. Gas man.
Definitely centrally involved in Cloneshttps://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2742&stc=1

[gufct]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/tommy-conlon-delusional-delaney-hits-level-of-toxicity-last-reserved-for-bertie-37562335.html Another article in Sunday Times . Petition is gone to 20,000 it’s no good talking on forums any action you can take like ringing your local td or member of pac is better than sitting back and doing nothing.

[gufct]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/power-without-responsibility-at-the-fai-rg0xt7xk2?t=ie

[tetsujin1979]

Be honest gufc - what do you expect to change?
As I've said elsewhere, there's no way John Delaney will not be in charge for the Euro 2020 games at Aviva Stadium. I've said it for a while now that he's playing the long game to be head of UEFA

[gufct]

Just can’t sit back and do nothing. This from yesterday the man has no shame.

https://amp.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/the-best-bits-of-john-delaneys-qa-fai-decided-to-part-ways-with-martin-oneill-before-denmark-defeat-37564718.html?__twitter_impression=true

[geysir]

In itself, an online petition is tame but it can add to the 'optics'. Emmet Malone referred to it in his IT article (https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/martin-o-neill-s-fate-had-been-decided-before-denmark-game-1.3710214)

'Around 20,000 people have now signed the online petition calling for him to go. He might just have won over a few waverers, though, with the way he has played this one.'

[gufct]

https://www.thejournal.ie/john-delaney-oireachtas-committee-4362637-Nov2018/

[jbyrne]

https://www.thejournal.ie/john-delaney-oireachtas-committee-4362637-Nov2018/

id say he is shaking in his boots.
rang rings around them the last time

[DeLorean]

id say he is shaking in his boots.
rang rings around them the last time

He's got Brendan on board now too - https://www.killarneytoday.com/home-turf-keeps-getting-better/


A young TD at the time, Brendan Griffin, described Delaney’s lobbying as a “very dangerous precedent”. Griffin is now the sports minister in Shane Ross’s department and so is ideally placed to get a grip on some of these vexed questions regarding whether the distribution of public money to sporting bodies such as the FAI should permit the government to be more intrusive over governance issues.

So far, now that he is in government, Griffin has shown little appetite to get to grips with some of the long standing governance issues which have arisen during Delaney’s tenure as chief executive.

https://www.killarneytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-03-at-21.20.39-1.png

[Kingdom]

Del you're better placed than me, but I wouldn't believe there would any appetite to remove John Delaney from the Kerry District League? The FAI, or Delaney, has sueted Kerry clubs, and in particular Mounthawk Park quite well, with many clubs in GAA strongholds having fine facilities.
Plus didn't the 15s/16s have a quadrangular tournament down there very recently?

[DeLorean]

Delaney has family in Kerry and is pally with the Secretary of the KDL, John O'Regan, so I suspect you're right.

[tetsujin1979]

Del you're better placed than me, but I wouldn't believe there would any appetite to remove John Delaney from the Kerry District League? The FAI, or Delaney, has sueted Kerry clubs, and in particular Mounthawk Park quite well, with many clubs in GAA strongholds having fine facilities.
Plus didn't the 15s/16s have a quadrangular tournament down there very recently?
The Victory Shield was held in Mounthawk Park: https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/2018-victory-shield-launched-in-kerry

[rebelmusic]

It drives me bonkers...its so fecking obvious where the issues are with the league, the FAI. the overall cronyism

Arghr grumble, mumble, I just think of Delaney for 1 sec and rants like this happen!

Without even digging deep, there's no getting past his salary..it's just disgusting - and we never even consider that his life is basically expensed so he has barely any day to day cost. I've no doubt he added allowances to his salary which would be tax-deductible and not officially his base pay.

_________________________________
__________________________________

Italy Chief : 150k pa (Hugely successful international teams, Successful although haunted by corruption)
Spain Chief 150k pa (National team is immense, probably 2nd biggest league in the world)
UK Chief: 590k pa (National team is...heh, largest league structure in the world)

Delaney: 360k pa (National team on life support for almost 20 years. barely functioning league)
430lk for 8 of his 11 years.
__________________________________
__________________________________

WHY?
He's gotten away with it for years and years, simply because the media doesn't give a monkeys about the FAI outside of International breaks. There's very few who would take him on as well as it could affect their ability to earn. Consider it....who has really spoken out against them over the years? Keano and now Kerr. Quinn finally?


What has he given us?
Eircom Park?
People far too quickly forget about eircom park and the bertie bowl - it's never been investigated but a shower of them pocketed millions from it. Delaney's predecessor squandered the chance to build a FAI only stadium and no-one will ever convince me that he wasn't a screw in the 'Stadium Ireland' swindle, along with Delaney himself. As below...arghr:
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/the-rise-and-fall-of-fais-eircom-park-26092895.html

Who in the name of bejasus spends 200k a month on marketing for a stadium before getting planning permissions for it?

Aviva?
The IRFU gave us the Aviva - the FAI went begging with hat in hand.
Most people don't even realize that the FAI's joint ownership is actually on a lease and eventually the stadium goes back to full IRFU ownership.Delaney negotiated a horrendous deal with the IRFU simply because they had no other choice. I've always believed this was their plan all along.

Euro 2020 Matches
Nah,dont care, it's going to be a round robin approach. I'd be far happier if we waited another four years and had a functioning national league in place or at least in progress. Mainly though, a National Team that can compete there



What about their corruption?

5 million bribe from FIFA. Should have demanded 30 if it was truly spent on debt
Barca/Limerick friendly - still boils my blood
Eircom Park
Expenses - have they ever even been seen?
Subjugation of the LOI - It can't just all be pure incompetence....can it?
Match-fixing scandals - Athlone
Delaney Out poster fascism
10k match-day program reprint - because Delaney screwed up


And that's just what i can think of off the top of my head


ARGHRGHRGRH....

If only a decent hacker got into their emails...i's say it's rife with evidence

[geysir]

FAI poised to overhaul board after Shane Ross directive (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/fai-poised-to-overhaul-board-after-shane-ross-directive-37671628.html)
Some changes are in the offing for the FAI as they have agreed to comply with government directives for best practice re boards which control the various sports.

John Fallon: 'Term limits an ideal reason for FAI blood transfusion' (https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/john-fallon-term-limits-an-ideal-reason-for-fai-blood-transfusion-37671626.html)
I didn't think Shane Ross as minister would have much if any influence on the way the FAI functions structurally, as the government's annual budget for all sports is a paltry Eur40m. To put that figure in some perspective, Reykjavik city council (similar size to Cork city) has an annual net spend of Eur50m on sports.

[osarusan]

I didn't think Shane Ross as minister would have much if any influence on the way the FAI functions structurally, as the government's annual budget for all sports is a paltry Eur40m. To put that figure in some perspective, Reykjavik city council (similar size to Cork city) has an annual net spend of Eur50m on sports.
126 million budgeted for 2019.

But i wonder how much of that goes to GAA.

[jbyrne]

126 million budgeted for 2019.

But i wonder how much of that goes to GAA.

id say the curragh redevelopment is getting a large chunk of that 2019 budget which is madness

[geysir]

126 million budgeted for 2019.

But i wonder how much of that goes to GAA.
Yeah I see it now, out of that total, eur40m is for capital funding, which i presume is sport infrastructure. The question is more, just how much goes to Dublin GAA? Do horses and dogs still count as sport?

[NeverFeltBetter]

Appearing before the Tourism and Sport Oireachtas Committee next month: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fai-chief-delaney-faces-oireachtas-committee-37720805.html

Following TD's are on that committee if anyone wants to suggest some questions to your TD's/Senators: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/32/transport-tourism-and-sport/membership/

[disgruntled]

Appearing before the Tourism and Sport Oireachtas Committee next month: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fai-chief-delaney-faces-oireachtas-committee-37720805.html

Following TD's are on that committee if anyone wants to suggest some questions to your TD's/Senators: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/32/transport-tourism-and-sport/membership/

An easy ride for JD so :o

[NeverFeltBetter]

Appearing before the Tourism and Sport Oireachtas Committee next month: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fai-chief-delaney-faces-oireachtas-committee-37720805.html

Following TD's are on that committee if anyone wants to suggest some questions to your TD's/Senators: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/32/transport-tourism-and-sport/membership/

Postponed to April: https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/john-delaney-postpones-oireachtas-committee-appearance-due-to-uefa-switzerland-trip-37822579.html

[centre mid]

https://twitter.com/JohnBurnsST/status/1107041606450978817?s=19

Breaking Sunday Times News...
John Delaney of FAI fails in bid to injunct us reporting an important story about six-figure payment. Full story in @SunTimesIreland in print tomorrow and online from midnight. Exclusive from @marktigheST

Interesting to see how this plays out

[disgruntled]

Must be his bar bill 🙄

[pineapple stu]

Gave a 100k bridging loan to the FAI to help with cash flow. Loan was repaid two months later. (Didn't see a mention if interest was applied)

So the FAI is technically insolvent, or barely above water. How hum.

[disgruntled]

Our hero John.
Went to court to stop people finding out he's made a balls of running the FAI.
But we already knew that John 😉

[pineapple stu]

That's probably a bit of a jump at present in fairness.

[geysir]

Gave a 100k bridging loan to the FAI to help with cash flow. Loan was repaid two months later. (Didn't see a mention if interest was applied)

So the FAI is technically insolvent, or barely above water. How hum.
Many more questions than answers, it appears.
It could be just a temporary shortage, but then why all the cloak and attempted dagger?
Is that the accepted and verified account - that he gave a bridging loan to the FAI which was repaid?
You'd wonder why could the FAI not get a temporary hike on their overdraft? Is 100k that big a deal?
How did it leak out? And why go to such expensive lengths to suppress the story? That sounds a bit more than a normal JD's pathological affliction for control and secrecy.

Of course the FAI have recently had pay off one of the most expensive manager/assistant manager teams in the history of international football and hire anew.
To offset that to some degree, it was announced last sept that FAI would receive an extra Eur 500k on top of the expected Nations League prize money.

On a related matter, would the fact that MON and Keane got new jobs, have reduced their pay-off from the FAI?

[pineapple stu]

All reasonable questions, for sure.

I think cloak and dagger may just be Delaney's general modus operandi.

This was in April '17, repaid in June (the story goes). Four months later, an obviously failing managerial team were given a new contract before a play-off game which was abjectly lost, costing the FAI millions.

This contract offer looks all the more ill-advised if the FAI was effectively broke when it gave it.

[tetsujin1979]

just a reminder - discuss the facts as they are known, do not post any speculations that could lead to legal action