View Full Version : The John Delaney Thread
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 3:29 PM
The good news here is that surely Sports Ireland funding will remain stopped until there's clear answers? That's the real stick here.
How much can the Government do before FIFA step in?
CraftyToePoke
10/04/2019, 3:37 PM
I really hope the Revenue step in and decide they want to conduct an audit.
How likely is that would you say ?
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 3:38 PM
It's possible anyway.
Not the question you asked but, hey, the FAI started it :p
NeverFeltBetter
10/04/2019, 3:40 PM
A legitimate question, and I'm sure the FAI argument will be that all these bids for underage tournaments - and the joint UK/Ireland World Cup bid, as fanciful as I think that is - will be put in jeopardy by such "interference". FIFA suspended Nigeria and Pakistan recently for fairly direct interference in the changing of FA leadership by government, but I'm not sure indirect interference for the same goal - by cutting off funding until the board is changed - would qualify as the same.
Of course FIFA does nothing about other countries' blatant interference, like China. So who knows.
brine3
10/04/2019, 3:48 PM
I've no interest in going to Qatar anyway.
The good news here is that surely Sports Ireland funding will remain stopped until there's clear answers? That's the real stick here.
Can you explain to me PS what the broad impact of this would be? The FAI has previous on letting these types of actions run their course and are quite happy to point the other way when blame is being apportioned. I can hear it now... "We appeared in front of the joint committee and answered the questions asked of us related to these affairs. Despite this, SI unilaterally decided to suspend our funding for these important initiatives - initiatives that have seen us blah blah blah cure cancer blah blah".
My hunch in this is, and has been, that the Board of the FAI takes the fall on this due to the extremely obvious dereliction of their duties as corporate governors and Delaney - as usual - gets off scot free. The cutest of cute hoors.
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 3:54 PM
Sports Ireland give what - 2.5m a year in funding?
That'd be a big hole in the budget of a company who apparently might be insolvent (though I increasingly don't believe that)
2.5m fewer handouts for Delaney to give to his buddies potentially. Or you could cut the LoI's prize money I guess
That’s what I’m getting at as I think those are the types of things that they would do. Cut funding accordingly to all sorts of programs and then blame SI. For that shower I think it’s a viable tactic at least in the short- to medium-term.
brine3
10/04/2019, 4:04 PM
The obvious question that nobody has asked is, why did the previous finance guy quit?
geysir
10/04/2019, 4:18 PM
What's left over after the LOI affiliation fees and fines are deducted from the (sponsors) prize money?
geysir
10/04/2019, 4:31 PM
Father Ted (Mark) is back, with attitude this time.
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 4:45 PM
What's left over after the LOI affiliation fees and fines are deducted from the (sponsors) prize money?
There are minus numbers don't forget
geysir
10/04/2019, 5:18 PM
There are minus numbers don't forget
The sponsors prize money (and tv fees if any) are plus figures I presume, minus figures are affiliation fees and fines?
osarusan
10/04/2019, 5:21 PM
It used to be "we will answer those questions at the AGM." Then hold the AGM and never answer questions. Then afterwards, say "we already answered all those questions at the AGM."
Replace AGM with PAC and they are good to go.
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 5:28 PM
The sponsors prize money (and tv fees if any) are plus figures I presume, minus figures are affiliation fees and fines?
Sorry; could have been clearer.
I don't know the answer to your immediate question - but an estimate could be 300k affiliation, 50k fines and 500k prize money?
But that doesn't mean prize money can drop as far as 350k (ie a saving of 150k). It could drop to nil
Cathalsmart
10/04/2019, 5:51 PM
Is this continuing tomorrow? I got a great kick out of watching the FAI squirm and would love for more tomorrow!
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 5:53 PM
I saw somewhere (one of the journalist Twitters I think) that the Oireachtas could ask to reconvene tomorrow, but that the FAI could refuse
Cathalsmart
10/04/2019, 5:58 PM
I saw somewhere (one of the journalist Twitters I think) that the Oireachtas could ask to reconvene tomorrow, but that the FAI could refuse
Well based on the impression they left today they would be a real piece of work if they did refuse to show up!
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 5:59 PM
Oh sure.
But do you think Delaney would give a ****?
Cathalsmart
10/04/2019, 6:15 PM
Oh sure.
But do you think Delaney would give a ****?
Ofcourse he won’t, at this point it’s all about riding out the next 15 months or so.
geysir
10/04/2019, 6:17 PM
If there was another oireachtas committee meeting, he could turn up "to abstain in person".
pineapple stu
10/04/2019, 6:21 PM
Sure he's got better things to be doing. Those 2000 clubs won't visit themselves
Cathalsmart
10/04/2019, 6:49 PM
I’m sure he will explain to them exactly why their club no longer has any funding!
geysir
10/04/2019, 8:06 PM
Now I can understand more why Brian Kerr goes from mild to fanatically ballistic in the blink of an eye when asked to comment about anything FAI and journalists like Dan McDonnell who has to witness this perfect disdain, face to face, year in year out.
Seeing that charade live on stream was an education. It will be interesting to see how the 'chips will fall'.
Quite frankly I wouldn't be that concerned, never mind climb on a high horse, about a publicly accountable company having a 100k in and out in a few months and it was forgotten about. It's the extent of the cover up that has turned it into a cesspit of arrogance and condescension.
Delaney made an enormous error of judgement to go to the high court, a gaffe so imprudent as to be incomprehensible and that's taking hindsight into consideration
osarusan
10/04/2019, 9:03 PM
It's the extent of the cover up that has turned it into a cesspit of arrogance and condescension.
This is what I took from it too. They were going to sit there and brazenly stonewall and just not give a f**k about it, just see it through and let it all blow over.
Everybody might know now that they are a bunch of utter spoofers, but so what? Nobody can do anything about it.
Nesta99
10/04/2019, 11:38 PM
This is what I took from it too. They were going to sit there and brazenly stonewall and just not give a f**k about it, just see it through and let it all blow over.
Everybody might know now that they are a bunch of utter spoofers, but so what? Nobody can do anything about it.
This is it exactly, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks". Without the manipulation of using family court, very late of a Friday or Saturday evening is what piqued most interest. If he hadnt bothered it was a byline story. But that is Delaney's M.O. He takes everything down a legal route probably to discourage people of even bothering to do a piece due to the hassle. What is annoying me most is the constant patting himself on the back for doing stuff that is basically his job that he is more than well payed to do. And sure if these cutting the ribbon events end up with a few beers and a singsong sure he'd be in his element anyway!! It was a massive PR disaster today especially, to land in with a statement that wasnt, funnily enough, as per protocol in being provided in advance to the committee. Why he just couldnt have said we took a quick fix option and didnt think it needed reporting to the board and was payed back quickly. Stupid mea culpa and it wont happen again. Now there is a spotlight on the whole organisation, that we all have criticised and believed smelled a bit funky, but without a whole lot of concrete reasons that wasnt much more than hearsay and speculation.
It seems that every decade or so there is something dodgy happens and perpetuates and deepends the mistrust. Coincidence or not its ironic that its been Joe and John that have been in the mix for the financial question marks. He is certainly lucky that there hasnt been more made of his association with the OCI and the Rio Olympic ticket incident...
There were some pretty shockingly rubbish politicians on the go today too! At least Munster, Troy, O'Dowd, O'Ceiligh had something about them, the rest just mumbled and fumbled mostly clueless rubbish.
Cathalsmart
11/04/2019, 8:07 AM
Was mentioned on the coybig forum but I think we should organize a protest outside the FAI sponsers.
geysir
11/04/2019, 8:29 AM
Mouvement des Balles de Tennis
placid casual
11/04/2019, 9:26 AM
As long as people turn up to Ireland games, it gives these chancers the signal that what they're doing is fine with the general public.
BOYCOTT ALL INTERNATIONAL GAMES.
A protest should be planned for the opening game of the U17 championship also. If EUFA get wind of this commotion,Delaney will $hit the bed bigstyle as that's what interests him, ultimately.
Cathalsmart
11/04/2019, 10:11 AM
As long as people turn up to Ireland games, it gives these chancers the signal that what they're doing is fine with the general public.
BOYCOTT ALL INTERNATIONAL GAMES.
A protest should be planned for the opening game of the U17 championship also. If EUFA get wind of this commotion,Delaney will $hit the bed bigstyle as that's what interests him, ultimately.
We should just protest at every televised u17 game and while that goes on start planning a massive one for the final!
brine3
11/04/2019, 10:39 AM
I've been saying for years that matches at Lansdowne Road should be boycotted. Also, don't buy the replica kit. Why would you want it anyway, we're the only country with a sponsor on it.
If enough people boycott the matches at Lansdowne Road, then the FAI will be forced to lower the ticket prices to get bums on seats. It will hit the FAI financially, and that's ultimately all they care about.
ifk101
11/04/2019, 11:20 AM
I’m not getting the FAI’s loyalty to John Delaney. As said earlier, the listing of achievements yesterday was nothing beyond the minimum expected (if that) from the fulfilling of his paid duties, nothing extraordinary and nothing justifying this reverence. He parked the bus and threw everyone under it yesterday but there’s no internal challenge to Delaney’s standing and it is not under any question. How is that possible and how can an association with evident cash flow problems justify the creation of a new and extra and costly management position, a position they didn’t advertise, and allocate that to the person that has brought all this scrutiny and who’s actions have suspended Sports Ireland funding to the association? John Delaney needs to be got rid of asap but there also has be a stop to the structures that fostered and are bound to a John Delaney.
pineapple stu
11/04/2019, 11:43 AM
I thought the Treasurer was most telling. He hadn't a clue. Has the FAI always had a tax cert? Would need to check that. How many bank accounts does the FAI have? Would need to check that. Could you give us a guess? I think it's one. (It's 24)
He struck me as the kind of utterly useless committee type who's only delighted to be on the committee and to be a mover and shaker in football, to sort his mates out for a few tickets. If John goes, who'd sort tickets?
Remember too Delaney can give out grants of up to E5k by himself, with no further approval required - that's presumably a decent whack for a small club. A new set of kit or a new grass machine - whatever. Ignore the fact that the league structure in general seems to be an utter shambles - shrinking leagues, uncompetitive leagues, breakaway leagues, senior and junior/intermediate out of synch. So long as Ballygobackwards FC get a new set of kit out of John, then he's good. And the Ballygobackwards FC Chairman would be only delighted to be honoured with a spot on the FAI Board.
That's what it comes down to I think.
Scrufil
11/04/2019, 12:10 PM
Does John Delaney need to be a member of the FAI to retain his UEFA seat? I can see a situation where he becomes a consultant to the FAI, independent of the board and orgainisation, but retains his UEFA membership. He then charges huge chunks of consultancy fees back to the FAI. All he has to do is ride out this storm.
pineapple stu
11/04/2019, 12:14 PM
To be an employee of it, you mean?
The sideways step seems to be to duck the ****storm while keeping senior enough to allow UEFA hang on to him. Whether that's far as he can go, I've no idea. (I know we all like to bluff our knowledge online, but I think this is one area most of will have to admit to being completely in the dark about! :))
jbyrne
11/04/2019, 12:16 PM
i see the leinster snr lge have emailed all their members seeking their views on the current fai situation. hopefully a move in the right direction that other lges will follow
Scrufil
11/04/2019, 12:19 PM
Oh and I retain the right (of preclusion) to call the FAI an orgainisation, an orgyinisation, an organization or an ordinization - its a mess whichever way you spell it.
NeverFeltBetter
11/04/2019, 12:20 PM
I wonder how big a deal that is. As Stu outlined above, I'd say a lot of the junior clubs would be happy enough with Delaney because of his perceived largess with grants. And of course, no one will want to be the only club calling for his head.
jbyrne
11/04/2019, 12:22 PM
I wonder how big a deal that is. As Stu outlined above, I'd say a lot of the junior clubs would be happy enough with Delaney because of his perceived largess with grants. And of course, no one will want to be the only club calling for his head.
i wonder how many junior adult clubs actually benefit from grants? i was involved with a club for 20 yrs and there was never a sniff of the opportunity to even apply for a grant
Scrufil
11/04/2019, 12:33 PM
Pinapple stu, if Delaney was no longer an employee, as you rightly point out, then as a consultant the FAI would become his client.
disgruntled
11/04/2019, 12:57 PM
This is what I took from it too. They were going to sit there and brazenly stonewall and just not give a f**k about it, just see it through and let it all blow over.
Everybody might know now that they are a bunch of utter spoofers, but so what? Nobody can do anything about it.
Yes they can.
The only way to hurt these people is in the pocket.
If fans refuse to support their events & merchandise then finances will tighten & action will be have to be taken.
Yes it may hurt football in Ireland in the short term but could have untold benefits in the long run.
I thought the Treasurer was most telling. He hadn't a clue. Has the FAI always had a tax cert? Would need to check that. How many bank accounts does the FAI have? Would need to check that. Could you give us a guess? I think it's one. (It's 24)
He struck me as the kind of utterly useless committee type who's only delighted to be on the committee and to be a mover and shaker in football, to sort his mates out for a few tickets. If John goes, who'd sort tickets?
Remember too Delaney can give out grants of up to E5k by himself, with no further approval required - that's presumably a decent whack for a small club. A new set of kit or a new grass machine - whatever. Ignore the fact that the league structure in general seems to be an utter shambles - shrinking leagues, uncompetitive leagues, breakaway leagues, senior and junior/intermediate out of synch. So long as Ballygobackwards FC get a new set of kit out of John, then he's good. And the Ballygobackwards FC Chairman would be only delighted to be honoured with a spot on the FAI Board.
That's what it comes down to I think.
This is the problem not only with the FAI but also the regional associations.
There are to many clueless blazers like Murray who's only interests are the chains of office, the junkets & their association with the semblances of power.
With people like this in office football in this country will never advance beyond what it is at present.
There are a lot of genuine football people in this country who carry the can for these clowns & never get a mention when the goodies are being handed out.
Does John Delaney need to be a member of the FAI to retain his UEFA seat? I can see a situation where he becomes a consultant to the FAI, independent of the board and orgainisation, but retains his UEFA membership. He then charges huge chunks of consultancy fees back to the FAI. All he has to do is ride out this storm.
Yes I understand he does & that is why the position of executive vice president of the FAI was created.
geysir
11/04/2019, 2:48 PM
The 100k is being assumed to be a bridging loan, as if it's a truth, however as Chair remarked near the end, only a scrupulous forensic analysis of the bookkeeping could confirm the FAI story.
A more believable scenario is that it wasn't a loan, but resting out of sight out of mind, therefore only a small clique knew about it, the rush to the high court and the subsequent sealed lips not sinking the FAI ship.
On the other hand, in early 2017 the FAI could have been cash strapped, needed a bridge loan and they have just reacted as per their norm, haughty, arrogant, secretive and with disdain.
NeverFeltBetter
11/04/2019, 2:57 PM
The 100k is being assumed to be a bridging loan, as if it's a truth, however as Chair remarked near the end, only a scrupulous forensic analysis of the bookkeeping could confirm the FAI story.
A more believable scenario is that it wasn't a loan, but resting out of sight out of mind, therefore only a small clique knew about it, the rush to the high court and the subsequent sealed lips not sinking the FAI ship.
On the other hand, in early 2017 the FAI could have been cash strapped, needed a bridge loan and they have just reacted as per their norm, haughty, arrogant, secretive and with disdain.
I would tend to believe that in bold over something all-out nefarious. The FAI's performance yesterday points to an institution completely at ease with shuffling large amounts of money around as they see fit, without ever wondering if they need to tell anyone outside of the organisation about it.
pineapple stu
11/04/2019, 5:47 PM
Sponsors getting antsy - https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/three-ireland-issues-warning-over-fais-corporate-governance-amid-finance-controversy-917203.html
pineapple stu
11/04/2019, 6:09 PM
PFAI too - http://www.pfai.ie/news/statement-pfa-ireland-management-committee
Gathering a bit of steam now
Scrufil
11/04/2019, 7:51 PM
Lots of goalkeepers on that PFAI committee. Out to save the day?
NeverFeltBetter
11/04/2019, 9:43 PM
Will we be seeing a flurry of tennis balls this weekend?
Charlie Darwin
12/04/2019, 1:13 AM
I wonder how big a deal that is. As Stu outlined above, I'd say a lot of the junior clubs would be happy enough with Delaney because of his perceived largess with grants. And of course, no one will want to be the only club calling for his head.
The Leinster Senior League is the biggest amateur league in the country. He can buy off the local leagues - who have disproportionate power compared to the likes of the LSL - by gifting grants to a couple of clubs. The vast majority of LSL clubs have never gotten as much as a bean from the organisation while he's been in charge.
geysir
12/04/2019, 10:32 AM
Callan's Kicks ;)
geysir
12/04/2019, 11:01 AM
Beware of the Ides of March (+April)
A timeline of events from march and april 2017 have been leaked (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/dundalk-faced-delays-after-writing-to-john-delaney-seeking-their-300000-38007872.html) by Dan McDonnell which might well clarify matters. The Dundalk Money.
One of the 25 or so (still counting) FAI bank accounts is called the Uefa account, it's also known as the 'holding' account with about 6 different exits..
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