Richard Sadlier

[centre mid]

Report on eleven-a-side that Sadlier is set to join Drogs on an Amatuer Basis - could be swoop of the year if they pull it off

http://www.eleven-a-side.com/premier/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=16980

[wws]

think there could be less than this story than meets the eye.......

[Troy.McClure]

Kind of ironic that they let one of their stars in Meylor go last year BECAUSE he didnt want to go pro and now they want Saddlier as an amature. Still though, if the player doesnt have to get paid then what harm can he do? It will probably rase the clubs profile too. Wasnt he supposed to be going to Rovers at the start of this season though? Youd think he'd go to UCD and get himself a degree too though.

[centre mid]

I think he has a degree in marketing or something already so an added bonus to the drogs, also as he was a sports agent aswell you would think that he may be putting players in the direction of drogheda

[Rochey]

He might not be able to go professional due to the payoff he got from millwall after his career ended. All speculation at the moment. We'll see, if it worked out could be a good move. :)

[pete]

He might not be able to go professional due to the payoff he got from millwall after his career ended. All speculation at the moment. We'll see, if it worked out could be a good move. :)

Could well be possible that he will be fulltime amateur until terms of retirement payments expire. It would not be fair legally to deny someone thier livehood indefinitely.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Well it's insurance for his career ending so technically he just can't play football for cash ever again. It's not like denying them their livelihood as by taking the money it's an acknowledgement that this it isn't possible to make a living in that field any more. That's probably why he's signing as an amateur. I don't think he has a degree, he was working for Fintan Drury for a while and then for Millwall (not coaching related, I think it was some sort of administrative post).

[Macy]

Could be the pay off was in terms of UK League Football. Might not be all football, forever. Think there's players in the Conference who've retired and received pay off's from football league clubs - they can't play at a higher level than that though. Considering how the Irish public view the league, doubt it's higher regarded in England and with the insurance companies....

[bluemovie]

Ye're right. Sadlier's insurance payment from Millwall would prevent him ever going pro again, but he could use the loophole of being a 'full-time amateur'. Mike Marsh (ex-Liverpool) was Kidderminster's star player when they were promoted from the Conference, but he couldn't play in the League because he had accepted an insurance pay out for damaged knees so he had to leave the club. Sadlier had loads of potential and it was a shame for Ireland that he had to retire. If his injury holds up to it, he'd be a huge coup for Drogheda.

[Irish_Praha]

How is he progressing? Last time i heard he was at sunderland, is that correct or did it fall through?

[sullanefc]

Could well be possible that he will be fulltime amateur until terms of retirement payments expire. It would not be fair legally to deny someone thier livehood indefinitely.

If he joins as a fulltime amateur, I think you'll find that Drogheda will probably pay him under the table. Just a hunch.

[joeSoap]

I think theres a very valid point here that people are missing out on- Lower league / Championship footie with Millwall would not be of that much greater a standard than most top-half EL premier games. If he had to retire due to injury that prevented him playing at this level, what makes anybody so sure he'll be able for it physically? I would have my doubts.

[ColinR]

or the fact that it was a non starter of a story from last year....

[Mpndo]

This thread was started in April 2005. You guys, apart from the person who asked "how is he getting on" obviously didn't realise.