What could/should the FAI do for the league?

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Assuming that your post is directed my direction - let me clarify that I have made not any comments around being unhappy with Rovers finances or the contentment levels of "members",

I have laughed lots though at the delusion, ignorance or denial around the public availability of accounts - it's not exactly the 3rd secret of Fatima that RH seems to think it is

Oh I knew full well they're available but they cost to see and since I know Rovers fans really couldn't care enough to pay to see another clubs return I guessed other fans would be the same. Clearly a clubs size has more of an impact on their fans interest in other clubs than I thought though.

[EatYerGreens]

How to derail an entire thread. :rolleyes:

Take a bow everyone who's been a side-tracking numpty over the last page or two. And then take your petty spats somewhere else please. Much obliged.

[Kingswood Rover]

playground stuff lads. Just listened to the interviews with John Delaney and Fran Gavin again on the repeat show on news talk. Delaney basically saying stop asking those questions because Fran will give you all the details and timelines. The Fran comes on and all the details are internal workings of the FAI and not for the public domain, as for the timeline sure "i met StepHEn Mc Guiness a few weeks ago" Fran if you are reading this go and the job that we pay you for through our club membership fee's and attendances at matches and stop acting like someone out of the North Korean politburo.

[Philosophizer]

Whatever the FAI could/should do, i know what they should definitely NOT do, and that's take any advice from Gavin Peers ever!

Just came across this article (https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/football-bosses-urged-consider-ireland-11248931) from last year. He wants:

- a revert to a winter league to somehow "progress football" and make it "a bit like the PL in England".
- clubs for each county, and Dublin split into North Dublin, South Dublin and West Dublin
- a Republic and NI league merger with the top division with 20 teams, yet he gives absolutely no details on how 2 associations would be merged into 1 and what would happen the national teams and european spots
- oh and every team should be full time with 52 week contracts - but no explanation where all the money should come from

But the weirdest bit is yet to come... he mentions a game where "it was daytime and we played Shamrock Rovers. it was dark and there was a proper atmosphere". Figure that one out if you can - daytime and dark at the same time...

[marinobohs]

playground stuff lads. Just listened to the interviews with John Delaney and Fran Gavin again on the repeat show on news talk. Delaney basically saying stop asking those questions because Fran will give you all the details and timelines. The Fran comes on and all the details are internal workings of the FAI and not for the public domain, as for the timeline sure "i met StepHEn Mc Guiness a few weeks ago" Fran if you are reading this go and the job that we pay you for through our club membership fee's and attendances at matches and stop acting like someone out of the North Korean politburo.

My own favourite 'you couldn't make it up' moment was Gavin blasting the PFAI for media diplomacy (despite refusing to meet them) at the same time the FAI were going on a solo run announcing the new players wages fund. I honestly doubt he even sees the irony :rolleyes:

[NeverFeltBetter]

Not sure where else to discuss this, but FAI have additional details on their "Last Resort" fund: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/0730/982087-fai-to-finance-entirety-of-last-resort-fund/

Long and short of it:

-Financed by the FAI
-6 point deduction/signing ban if you use it
-Money to be paid back at end of season, if unable, relegated.

[TonyD]

My own favourite 'you couldn't make it up' moment was Gavin blasting the PFAI for media diplomacy (despite refusing to meet them) at the same time the FAI were going on a solo run announcing the new players wages fund. I honestly doubt he even sees the irony :rolleyes:

Fran Gavin is an absolute clown. Was he chairman of the PFAI at one stage ? I'm pretty sure he was heavily involved. Now he's just another yes man wheeled out to cover for his glorious leader.

One of my favourite LOI moments of the last few years was Brian Kerr tearing him a new one on Soccer Republic a couple of years ago. Mind you, Kerr was probably waiting to get someone from the FAI in his sights.

[Philosophizer]

Not sure where else to discuss this, but FAI have additional details on their "Last Resort" fund: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/0730/982087-fai-to-finance-entirety-of-last-resort-fund/

Long and short of it:

-Financed by the FAI
-6 point deduction/signing ban if you use it
-Money to be paid back at end of season, if unable, relegated.

I can see this being abused by clubs at the bottom of the 1st Div.

If Athlone for example can't pay wages, they can just get money from the fund. If they're already adrift at the bottom of the 1st Division they won't really care if there's another points deduction. And if they don't pay it back there's no loss, because they can't be relegated because there's nowhere lower to go.

[Martinho II]

Fran Gavin is an absolute clown. Was he chairman of the PFAI at one stage ? I'm pretty sure he was heavily involved. Now he's just another yes man wheeled out to cover for his glorious leader.

One of my favourite LOI moments of the last few years was Brian Kerr tearing him a new one on Soccer Republic a couple of years ago. Mind you, Kerr was probably waiting to get someone from the FAI in his sights.

yeah gavin was involved as PFAI Chairman. I cant remember how long hes gone but the time I went to the fans forum in Abbottstown in 08 and 09 he was with the FAI as he was there that day so he must be gone well over a decade. unbeliveably he played in the league of ireland in the 80s as i came across an old programme of our match v St Pats Ath in 86 Fai cup and he was still playing. you would think he would understand things from the players side a bit more!

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

He was loved by all when he was playing as well......

[Charlie Darwin]

I can see this being abused by clubs at the bottom of the 1st Div.

If Athlone for example can't pay wages, they can just get money from the fund. If they're already adrift at the bottom of the 1st Division they won't really care if there's another points deduction. And if they don't pay it back there's no loss, because they can't be relegated because there's nowhere lower to go.
Those are just the automatic punishments. If a club doesn't pay the money back and applies for another license the next year, the FAI can say no, which I imagine is what would happen.

[pineapple stu]

When did the FAI last refuse a licence application in fairness?

[Longfordian]

Good question. Tom Coughlan’s Cork maybe?

[sbgawa]

When did the FAI last refuse a licence application in fairness?

difference this time would be that granting a licence would probably mean the FAI would be repeatedly burned going forward by clubs if they were seen to be able to get away with it. I could see the licence being refused this time around.

[Dalymountrower]

Good question. Tom Coughlan’s Cork maybe?
Wasn`t one of the Limericks refused a Licence?

With regard to the fund, it strikes me that PFAI missed a great opportunity to become indispensable to the FAI through their involvement in the fund and in return get formal union recognition as part of SIPTU as the recognised negotiating body for players. But that would mean that both PFAI and the FAI would have to put the megaphones aside and start behaving like adults, and they are both some distance away from doing that.

[sidewayspasser]

Extratime.ie and some others say that FD clubs who don't pay back will face another points deduction the following season. Whether starting the next season on -6 points will be enough to keep the likes of Athlone from exploiting the fund is another question.

[Mr A]

Starting a season with a points deduction is a pretty severe deterrent for any club. Whatever commercial and season ticket sales they'd have, their ability to get players in, not to mention the vital commodity that is the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers would all be affected.

[redobit]

Starting a season with a points deduction is a pretty severe deterrent for any club. Whatever commercial and season ticket sales they'd have, their ability to get players in, not to mention the vital commodity that is the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers would all be affected.

Is it though. It wont make a difference to teams who are going to be in around the bottom/ middle of FD. Some clubs might be all to happy to not pay back as a way of sending two fingers to the FAI.

[Mr A]

Yes, I believe it is. For the reasons outlined above. Running an LOI club in the first division is incredibly difficult. Doing so when any bit of hope and optimism is drained away before the season even starts is harder again.

[pineapple stu]

Possibly a bigger deterrent not yet mentioned is that borrowing money from the FAI and not giving it back would have you in their bad books. And that can't be a healthy place to be.

I can see this being like the FAI saying "Come on; steal our money. I ****ing dare you"

[Charlie Darwin]

When did the FAI last refuse a licence application in fairness?
GUST I think.

[Ashbohs]

Any way enough of the fund nonsense and slightly topic related this article well worth a read in the context of our league
http://www.markpitman1.com/2016/04/06/welsh-premier-league-bypassed-prize-money-controversy/

[GUFCghost]

So is anyone in this thread in favour of the first division existing as is? (i.e a national league with senior teams)

What does the FAI contribute to the league as is?I understand the clubs must pay a registration fee,what is that money used for?