Fran Gavin

[Lim till i die]

Is still employed?!

Does anyone have any idea why?

Thanks in advance.

[Bucket]

Can anyone name one positive thing he's done for the League?

[D24Saint]

Is still employed?!

Does anyone have any idea why?

Thanks in advance.

Wouldn’t trust him to sweep the roads , useless individual.

[pateen]

Can anyone name one positive thing he's done for the League?

Not one, one of the Delaney gang

[LOI101]

Can anyone name one positive thing he's done for the League?

Created the atmosphere that enabled rovers and dundalks European runs

[EatYerGreens]

Created the atmosphere that enabled rovers and dundalks European runs

Would that be the same atmosphere that also led to the demise of Sporting Fingal, Dublin City, Kildare County.....?

[LOI101]

Would that be the same atmosphere that also led to the demise of Sporting Fingal, Dublin City, Kildare County.....?

Gavin would blame the clubs for that one. Good things happen. FAI good. Bad things happen. Clubs fault. Fran Gavin's modus operandi

[pateen]

Created the atmosphere that enabled rovers and dundalks European runs

How did he do that, genuine question

[Bucket]

He didn't, but claimed he did in an interview on Soccer Republic and he was super serial

[Martinho II]

Gavin was all talk on loi when he joined the FAI wonder why he grew a beard?. What was peoples opinions on Gavins time when he was with the PFAI?

[Lim till i die]

Still employed?

Amazing man.

[Eminence Grise]

Ah, come on lads. You're all very down on Fran. Don't you remember all the good things he's done for the league, all the times he

um

ah

My bad. Carry on.

[The Lilywhites]

Mark Scanlon is the new LOI Director. A Shamrock Rovers man.

Seems Gavin is staying on at the FAI though.

[oriel]

Created the atmosphere that enabled rovers and dundalks European runs

And brokered the hiring of the Aviva to Dundalk in Aug 2016 at not too cheap rate, to play Warsaw in CL play off.

[disgruntled]

Mark Scanlon is the new LOI Director. A Shamrock Rovers man.

Seems Gavin is staying on at the FAI though.

Doing what exactly ?
The man has proved himself worse than useless.

[oriel]

Mark Scanlon is the new LOI Director. A Shamrock Rovers man.

Seems Gavin is staying on at the FAI though.

This should be interesting, Dundalk have been quite vocal recently on 'admin matters' within the league, now no reason he should not be expected to work impartial, but I`m sure DFC won't be found wanting if they see he is not wearing his league hat, which I'm sure he will of course.

However it can't be first time in football (its not) a senior appointment has gone in not being a fan of one participating club, I think a example might be Rick Parry, Liverpool fan, PL set up era 1992?

[Longfordian]

Unless there's a reason why anyone might think he can't operate impartially I'd say it's a positive if he's a fan of the league.

[Nesta99]

Undoubtedly people will think it no matter how impartial he is, even if he does the old home town ref thing where he is harder on his club to prove impartiality. Hopefully there wont be any polar opposite issues that are for or against SRFC. It should on balance be a good thing in having a fan of the league on board and it not seen by him as some poison chalice or FAI style punishment role.

[Martinho II]

This should be interesting, Dundalk have been quite vocal recently on 'admin matters' within the league, now no reason he should not be expected to work impartial, but I`m sure DFC won't be found wanting if they see he is not wearing his league hat, which I'm sure he will of course.

However it can't be first time in football (its not) a senior appointment has gone in not being a fan of one participating club, I think a example might be Rick Parry, Liverpool fan, PL set up era 1992?

Yeah correct RP is a liverpool fan.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

I don't know what powers people think the league director has that could result in them being able to favour one club over another. They don't deal with anything that impacts clubs on a club by club basis it's all league body as a whole stuff

[placid casual]

Considering dundalk have lodged an appeal to have the whole season scrapped, I'm glad there's now a level headed individual in place at the FAI who will have the ability to assist in getting these bull$hit kite flying exercises thrown out.

[Nesta99]

I don't know what powers people think the league director has that could result in them being able to favour one club over another. They don't deal with anything that impacts clubs on a club by club basis it's all league body as a whole stuff

Well the league suffered en masse for years so yeah the league as a whole. The leader of the cabal certainly made sure that directors stuck to the script and that the league director kept the clubs in line, I doubt that was with a friendly smile and a chirpy chat!! I would seriously doubt that the same position will again be allowed to work as a sabotage mission. I think it would be bit naive to think that any club supporter in a psoition of power wouldnt sway toward their own club at times. I'd kind of expect it if it were a Dundalk fan...

[Nesta99]

Considering dundalk have lodged an appeal to have the whole season scrapped, I'm glad there's now a level headed individual in place at the FAI who will have the ability to assist in getting these bull$hit kite flying exercises thrown out.

Honest question PC! if SRFC had lost a couple of the games that were played would you have accepted the truncated season as it is now?

I get the reasoning for the appeal but I dont really think its the right thing to do under the circumstances. We will be lucky to get through the restarted season at all!!

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Well the league suffered en masse for years so yeah the league as a whole. The leader of the cabal certainly made sure that directors stuck to the script and that the league director kept the clubs in line, I doubt that was with a friendly smile and a chirpy chat!! I would seriously doubt that the same position will again be allowed to work as a sabotage mission. I think it would be bit naive to think that any club supporter in a psoition of power wouldnt sway toward their own club at times. I'd kind of expect it if it were a Dundalk fan...

Again you have said literally less than nothing there about how things could be done to the advantage of specific clubs

[placid casual]

Honest question PC! if SRFC had lost a couple of the games that were played would you have accepted the truncated season as it is now?


If Rovers were 3 points behind dundalk, and had 13 games to win the league, I'd be shocked if you found any Rovers fan who wouldnt accept what's being proposed now. Dundalk hold no fear for Rovers, from what I can see of this current Rovers team. And I'd wager the fans think the same.

[Nesta99]

If Rovers were 3 points behind dundalk, and had 13 games to win the league, I'd be shocked if you found any Rovers fan who wouldnt accept what's being proposed now. Dundalk hold no fear for Rovers, from what I can see of this current Rovers team. And I'd wager the fans think the same.

Well its not really what I asked, I have no fear of Dundalk not leveling the playing field especially with a home game to come and it will be a race of consistancy and first out of the blocks in form. For the record I dont think Dundalk should be appealing the restart format under the circumstances. But if SRFC were 6 points or a couple of losses would you agree with just the 13 games left to play out?

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Well its not really what I asked, I have no fear of Dundalk not leveling the playing field especially with a home game to come and it will be a race of consistancy and first out of the blocks in form. For the record I dont think Dundalk should be appealing the restart format under the circumstances. But if SRFC were 6 points or a couple of losses would you agree with just the 13 games left to play out?

You're saying all this as if Rovers are happy with an 18 game season currently?

[Nesta99]

Again you have said literally less than nothing there about how things could be done to the advantage of specific clubs

Of course not as nothing has ever been done to LoI's advantage by the FAI.

You see what you want to see RH, and you know that clubs in the past have been disadvantaged in a number of ways if they did not tow the line. It was the League Director who cracked the whip as one of the boys. That is unlikely to continue with the changes in the FAI, but there are of course advantages to having ones club represented at the highest levels. Use your imgagination! Its not a criticism or slur at SRFC, its simply common sense, human nature. I also alluded to how in can work against a club if someone goes betond the pale to show that they have no favour.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Of course not as nothing has ever been done to LoI's advantage by the FAI.

You see what you want to see RH, and you know that clubs in the past have been disadvantaged in a number of ways if they did tow the line. It was the League Director who cracked the whip as one of the boys. That is unlikely to continue with the changes in the FAI, but there are of course advantages to having ones club represented at the highest levels. Use your imgagination! Its not a criticism or slur at SRFC, its simply common sense, human nature. I also alluded to how in can work against a club if someone goes betond the pale to show that they have no favour.

This is the third chance you've had to give just one example as to how individual clubs could be treated differently to the rest by the league director and you've yet again failed to do so.

As you said you see what you want and all you've seen is the words "Shamrock Rovers" and that's all it took for you to get worked up and you don't even know what you're getting worked up about

[Nesta99]

You're saying all this as if Rovers are happy with an 18 game season currently?

You can have a go at answering the question asked of PC too if you like. Its easy enough, a yes or no answer.

[Nesta99]

This is the third chance you've had to give just one example as to how individual clubs could be treated differently to the rest by the league director and you've yet again failed to do so.

As you said you see what you want and all you've seen is the words "Shamrock Rovers" and that's all it took for you to get worked up and you don't even know what you're getting worked up about

Eh I think its you getting worked up RH. Did I mention Shamrock Rovers?? Certainly not in a critical way; I did comment on an all league clubs being kept in check, that It can be good or bad to have a supporter at the top table etc. Angry RH must be itching to break out as there is no argument to see here!

[RathfarnhamHoop]

You can have a go at answering the question asked of PC too if you like. Its easy enough, a yes or no answer.

Here's the thing though Shamrock Rovers are not happy with the shortened season and that is a fact, neither are Dundalk and that is a fact, Dundalk have appealed the shortened season again a fact. Shamrock Rovers haven't once more, fact.
The thing is Dundalk want one of 3 things to happen,
1. Restart an 18 game season which excluding the potential legal implications doesn't actually address any of the problems they claim to have with the shortened league.
2. An extra round, financially impossible for the majority of clubs
3. No champions league for the league winners

To me that smacks of desperation.
Now you're not asking if Rovers were in Dundalks position would they appeal, you're asking if Rovers were worse than Dundalks position would they appeal and the answer to that is no. No Rovers wouldn't, nor would I expect them to, I suspect Rovers would have argued more for the clubs preferred solution but no there would not be an appeal because there's nothing really to appeal, Dundalk appealing nothing really because they had already decided that their preferred option wasn't viable before the vote.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Eh I think its you getting worked up RH. Did I mention Shamrock Rovers?? Certainly not in a critical way; I did comment on an all league clubs being kept in check, that It can be good or bad to have a supporter at the top table etc. Angry RH must be itching to break out as there is no argument to see here!

Eh yeah actually you did


Undoubtedly people will think it no matter how impartial he is, even if he does the old home town ref thing where he is harder on his club to prove impartiality. Hopefully there wont be any polar opposite issues that are for or against SRFC . It should on balance be a good thing in having a fan of the league on board and it not seen by him as some poison chalice or FAI style punishment role.

You brought up the possibility of bias towards Shamrock Rovers. Now for something to occur there must be 3 things, means, motive, opportunity. The first two you've covered, being LOI director, and being a Rovers fan, all I'm simply asking is for you to point out where the opportunity might be? Because if there's no opportunity then it's a null point isn't it? And there'd be no point in bringing it up but surely you wouldn't make a point about him being a rovers fan and potentially being biased if you didn't know how he could be? That wouldn't happen now would it?

[RathfarnhamHoop]

I'll give you this Nesta you're quite smart in how you manipulate people with your posts, the whole alluding to something to get it in peoples minds without actually saying it is quite a good tactic and well used in the political world for the very reasons you're using it here. It's very hard to call someone out on something they've said when they've just alluded to it.

The whole planting the seed of thought of bias in peoples head by saying "I hope people won't accuse him of being biased" thus insinuating bias and giving people the thought while simultaneously being able to deny having said it and the planting it in peoples minds that my posts are somehow aggressive by referring to me as "angry RH" in an antagonist way before I've said anything even remotely angry and all I've done is call your bluff is smart and a tactic well used by you before.


And I know you're going to follow this by asking if I've a degree in psychology, probably with a joke about seeing right through your games, etc, couple of laughing emojis thrown in there too but I thought I'd just point these things out for other readers benefits since nobody has called you out on this tactic before.

[The Lilywhites]

What's Scanlon's actual qualification for the job?

His background seems to be a coach/analyst/logistics, which is a strange profile for this role.

He was the only applicant for the job and it was an internal appointment, so he was hired on that alone.

Same old FAI, but obviously Scanlon was happy to accept the job so he should be judged on how he does.

It really should have been opened up to outside applicants.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

He did the same job for schools and colleges and has a degree in sports management

[The Lilywhites]

He did the same job for schools and colleges and has a degree in sports management

Same job? You can't compare schools / third level to what he's taking on here. What exactly did he do for those? Was it not just organising competitions/logistics?

Sports Management degree hardly qualifies him for the role, come on now.

[Nesta99]

Same job? You can't compare schools / third level to what he's taking on here. What exactly did he do for those? Was it not just organising competitions/logistics?

Sports Management degree hardly qualifies him for the role, come on now.

Careful now! You may be alluding to something...

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Same job? You can't compare schools / third level to what he's taking on here. What exactly did he do for those? Was it not just organising competitions/logistics?

Sports Management degree hardly qualifies him for the role, come on now.

So you don't know what his job is, that's okay, that makes two of you, you and Nesta.

You asked what qualifies him and I pointed out he has experience, with very good references may I add, in a similar field and a masters degree (a course that is pretty highly regarded globally) in the area. That makes him as qualified as anyone.

Oh and for future reference it's best not to dismiss something as being incomparable to something else then ask what exactly it was. It just makes you look stupid, as if you've tried to compare two things without knowing what at least one of them actually was, which is impossible so surely you wouldn't have done that now?

[The Lilywhites]

All I know is third level football have a good Twitter page. Maybe he set that up.

You're comparing doing some work in third level football to now being LOI Director. Stop.

Being the only applicant for the job was clearly the reason he got it. Thanks for clarifying he isn't qualified at all for the role.

[WeAreRovers]

Mark Scanlon was NOT the only applicant for the job. He was one of three internal candidates and came through an interview process. Paranoid guff maybe the currency of football forums but it doesn't help any arguments.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/questions-about-process-and-fai-politics-leave-scanlon-with-point-to-prove-to-underwhelmed-clubs-39371441.html

[Nesta99]

RH what I said is what I meant. If a ref, employee, member of an executive, et al is a known supporter of a club it will be drawn attention to by any other club, supporter or whomever, especially if there are conflicting issues. If a decision is made, one way or another then there is the damned if they do, damned if the dont situation eg as mentioned a home town ref 'proving' that they are not biased and getting heat from home fans or of course that the away team sees them as being home town biased. I wasnt focusing on SRFC as much as you would like to think that I was obsessing.

How individual clubs can be affected by someone whos remit is for the whole league? Well in principle that should happen, but not the way things have been in LoI or FAI over the years. I dont think it needs pointing out as you already know the M.O. of the FAI and that clubs feared sticking the head above the parapet. Fran Gavin in his role was the most often the point man rolled out. I dont think any one club was more or less harshly treated - there was a general contempt.

If it helps cool the tubes I will use a Dundalk specific possible example. Enda McGuill was elected president of LoI in the late 80's, probably an equivalent of the league director role today. The RoI senior side at that time usually stayed in the Nuremore Hotel and trained in Oriel Park, i'd be pretty sure that there was a fee for the use of Oriel Park. A number of underage internatials were also hosted. For the record I am not suggesting that Enda McGuill had any influence over this decision, I am saying that it could be insinuated IF someone had an agenda. I am not saying that Scanlon will do anything that could be deemed biased, but that he could face such accusations.

I certainly thought 'this could be interesting' and already it has, so cheers! Not by me alluding anything but by you making the assumption I was! I am a lot less machiavellian than you seem to think RH. I have thoughts on things, like yerself, and will express them, I shall debate opinions to the point of an empasse as you know. But I dont base an opinion on someones credibility, ability, impartiality in a job or judge them in advance based on their favoured football club. If i were to do that or think that everyone was anti 'my club' I'd never get through the day without being angry!

I may be critical one day but I may also be saying good job!!

[RathfarnhamHoop]

All I know is third level football have a good Twitter page. Maybe he set that up.

You're comparing doing some work in third level football to now being LOI Director. Stop.

Being the only applicant for the job was clearly the reason he got it. Thanks for clarifying he isn't qualified at all for the role.

So you're now admitting that you're talking about something you know nothing about, great.

I specifically said similar field as they are not the exact same thing but there are very large and significant areas of crossover. That combined with a masters degree in the area makes him qualified by any stretch of the imagination. He's almost exactly what you'd put on a requirements page for the job.

Knowledge of the league
Degree in sports management or similar
Experience in coordinating large scale sporting competitions

So far you've demonstrated you don't know what job he did, what qualifications he had, what's involved in the new job. Yet you have an opinion on whether or not he's qualified? I've no idea how you've managed that. I wonder what on earth you could be basing that opinion on so considering what we've established you don't know...

[The Lilywhites]

Mark Scanlon was NOT the only applicant for the job. He was one of three internal candidates and came through an interview process. Paranoid guff maybe the currency of football forums but it doesn't help any arguments.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/questions-about-process-and-fai-politics-leave-scanlon-with-point-to-prove-to-underwhelmed-clubs-39371441.html

That's a Premium article. Maybe you could paste the relevant bit here. Another journalist tweeted last week that Scanlon was the only applicant for the job. It depends on who you believe I suppose, and who's trying to spin what.


So you're now admitting that you're talking about something you know nothing about, great.

I don't care very much for third level football, no.


I specifically said similar field as they are not the exact same thing but there are very large and significant areas of crossover. That combined with a masters degree in the area makes him qualified by any stretch of the imagination. He's almost exactly what you'd put on a requirements page for the job.

Knowledge of the league
Degree in sports management or similar
Experience in coordinating large scale sporting competitions

Maybe you'd put him on your page. He wouldn't be on mine.

Large scale competitions? Would you stop. It's third level football / schools v LOI!


So far you've demonstrated you don't know what job he did, what qualifications he had, what's involved in the new job. Yet you have an opinion on whether or not he's qualified? I've no idea how you've managed that. I wonder what on earth you could be basing that opinion on so considering what we've established you don't know...

Again you're comparing third level to LOI. I couldn't care what job he did in third level football to be honest. It's irrelevant.

Whatever way you try to spin it, it was a sham process and sham appointment, but it clearly displays what the FAI continue to think of the LOI.

It should have been opened to outside applicants.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Its amazing how hatred can completely blind people to the facts

[The Lilywhites]

Its amazing how hatred can completely blind people to the facts

I don't know Scanlon so what are you on about now.

We've gone from Niall Quinn being widely mentioned as the new LOI Director to Scanlon, who very few know, being appointed.

Quinn is full of bluff and I wouldn't have much time for him, but at least he'd be at the level you'd be looking at for this role.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

For the record there are 1,500 primary and secondary schools affiliated with the FAI and there are 111 third level teams from 44 institutions . That's as large scale as it gets.

You can continue to dismiss this level competitions but like it or not the organisation of them are very similar to organising the LOI, the base structures are the same

[RathfarnhamHoop]

I don't know Scanlon so what are you on about now.

We've gone from Niall Quinn being widely mentioned as the new LOI Director to Scanlon, who very few know, being appointed.

Quinn is full of bluff and I wouldn't have much time for him, but at least he'd be at the level you'd be looking at for this role.

We've established you haven't a clue what's involved in any of what you're talking about so your opinion is irrelevant. Bye.

[The Lilywhites]

And we've established you're clearly biased because Scanlon is a Rovers man.

Hopefully he's not as biased towards your club in his role.

[Martinho II]

The only Mark Scanlon I know of is the one that cycled in the Tour De France over a decade ago ( the one from Sligo). If his namesake turns out to be as famous as him I will eat my hat!