The John Delaney Discussion thread

[pete]

How could he be worse? This is a man who wants to catapult teams into the Eircom FAI Premier League not on merit, but on some notional geographical based aspirational attendance notion.

Clubs voted for this. Get over it.

:rolleyes:

[Jerry The Saint]

According to current poll standings, Delaney is (marginally) less popular than Staunton - 91.67% vs 90.68% calling for their respective resignations.

As it should be, I think. :)

[DonegalDub]

Does anyone know who would replace Delaney if he did do the honourable thing?

[Student Mullet]

Does anyone know who would replace Delaney if he did do the honourable thing?To me, that's the problem with calling for Delaney's head. The only way he'd go would be for someone within the FAI to organise against him and take the job like Delaney did to Rooney. There's no point in replacing one poor CEO with another.

I'd only like to see Delaney go if someone completly seperate from the FAI was appointed in his place.

[tall chapy]

IMHO, this is the biggest upswelling of public opinion against an Irish Manager & probably close to the worse that the FAI has experienced. They all know their backs are against the wall, but Delaney must be keeping a low profile, because I have not seen him. The trouble is the FAI are not going to sack him, because they appointed the him, so turkeys are not going to vote for christmas.
They are all waiting to see how Wednesday's match pans out first before the bullets start firing... Scenarios..
Czechs win...even Tony O'Donoghue said on Sunday that Stanton's position would be 'untenable' & RTE do not say things like that lightly.The next question is how does he go. If he goes of his own freewill, Delaney is off the hook, 'he jump he was not pushed..'saving the FAI loads of €€€€€€..leaving him free to resolve the mess that he put us in. The only bullet that Delaney may catch is a vote of no confidence by the public, because god know what he could give us as manager.At the moment he must be slightly odds on to go if we lose.But if Stan is pushed this is the time to go for Delaney's jugular 'metaforically speaking....'He will hardly have a leg to stand on, on any front, this is why he wants stan to stay there as long as possible & only the committee will be able to overide Delaney.

A draw - a bad performance draw, may as well be a defeat, a fighting draw where the Czechs scrape a draw it will be in the balance. They can argue they battled well with what we had against a 'top' team.

Ireland win...it is really funny nearly wishing that Ireland lose, so that Stan & Delaney may get the sack..but really I want Ireland to win.In this scenario it will be very hard to see Stan or Delaney losing their positions. Look at it this way if we beat the Czechs, we may as well for fun reverse the results & look at it a different way.We beat Cyprus but lost to the Czechs at home..if you know what I mean:confused: :confused:

They only good thing about all of this is that Delaney's card is well and truly marked..

[sonofstan]

Delaney was interviewed an the sports bit of whatever 5- 7 live is called now (Drivetime?) - slippery as ever, blaming the media for a witchhunt because the football loving people of Ireland wouldn't have known how bad it was if those snakes* weren't telling them. Wouldn't take responsibility for the Staunton appointment and wouldn't give his backing either; the only thing John Delaney cares about is John Delaney, and if Irish football gets in the way, so much the worse for Irish football. Why does nobody have any honour anymore? (possibly too big a question for a football message board, I realise)



* lovely mixed metaphor there - snakes hunting witches...

[Stuttgart88]

What I don't get is how the media doesn't ask him tougher questions. If they wanted to they could make his position untenable.

But Emmet Malone, for example, was almost apologetic for him this morning. I like Emmet Malone but what he wrote in basically one paragraph was so wishy washy I can't believe his editor let him publish it. Something along the lines of ''he may have his downsides but in many ways the FAI is better now than when he came in''. In the current climate that should be a whole article in itself, not just a passing comment.

[sonofstan]

What I don't get is how the media doesn't ask him tougher questions. If they wanted to they could make his position untenable.


that's true - John Kenny laid into David Blood in that interview that went out this morning; by comparison the treatment of Delaney was anodyne

[DonO'Bate]

Delaney's just after being interviewed on BBC Radio Five Live and he confirmed that Stan will be staying on regardless of tomorrow nights result.

BBC reporter mentioned that Stan was unhappy that sections of the Irish media were trying to contact his parents for comments.

[TonyD]

Tom Humphries had an excellent article in yesterdays Times, about the shafting of Kerr and the appointment of Staunton. Hit the nail on the head. Personally I feel a bit sorry for Staunton. He's clearly clueless and, as I'm delighted to see so many people have cottoned on to, the real fault lies with Delaney and his yes men in the FAI who appointed him. Delaney should pay with his job, whether he does or not probably depends on how Staunton goes(I think there's not much of an "if" about it anymore)as someone remarked earlier. If he decides he can't take the pressure anymore and quits then Delaney is probably safe. Safe to appoint the next manager(does anyone trust him with that job ?) I have to say, and I've written this here before, as someone who has genuinely been unable to support the national team since Brian Kerr was gotten rid of I took a lot of satisfaction from Saturdays debacle. I know I'll probably get slagged off for saying that, but it's how I feel. So many people had it coming. Delaney primarily, the media who savaged Kerr, the fans who wanted him out, the spoilt brat players who seemed to decide they were too grand to be managed by Kerr. They all got what they deserved. I know Kerr had a lot of critics, but is anyone seriously suggesting now that he was replaced by a better manager ? He had done a decent job, with a group of mostly average players, and there is no way on earth he would have presided over a shambles like last Saturday. Remember last years trip to Cyprus ?. Another awful performance, but a win. And also a team that actually tightened up defensively in the second half(I know it's relative) and didn't collapse completely. Some of our idiot journalists should be mentioned too (Hi Paul Hyland, Cathal Dervan if you're reading this) Hyland actually concluded in the Herald yesterday that Brian Kerr was partly to blame for Saturday :rolleyes: Breathtakingly stupid logic. And Cathal Dervan, who ran the nastiest most personal campaign against Kerr, was, let's not forget, the main cheerleader when Staunton got the job. He was a tad quiet on the subject last Sunday though. And remember the absolute bulls hit we had to read after the Sweden match ? about how everything in the garden would be rosy now that the nasty man Kerr, with his pesky DVDs and preparation, was gone, and nice cuddly uncle Mick Byrne was back on the scene ? Did the squad watch any DVDs of Cyprus before Saturday I wonder, perhaps one of last years game to see what lessons could be learned ?

Sorry for the rant, and I know I wandered off topic a bit, but the bottom line on Delaney is that he's a snake in the grass who has backstabbed his way to the top of the FAI and he should go. I might be able to support the national team again if he does.

[citizenerased]

If i had to pick a candidate to replace delaney, the person would have to be competent, uncorrupt, cared about the eircom league, and not a total foock up!! so i think they are going to have to look for someone externally

[geysir]

What I heard from Delaney in RTE drivetime interview.
In answer to the Q about Stan's appointment - does he take responsibility for appointing a rookie ? Delaney replied to the effect that he supported the appointment but it was the commitee and then the board who ratified it.
Then he went on to say that he would be judged on the overall FAI progress and that since he came in the FAI is a better organization.

In a nutshell if a decision proves to be poor, it's the board's responsibility and if it's positive then it's because John Delaney's here.

[tetsujin1979]

Heard this morning on 2FM that Delaney said he had provided a world class management team instead of a world class manager. I may have misheard this, so I'm open to correction on it.

[onceahoop]

For years I've been saying that Son Of Joe was unsiutable for this job.
Since he organised the putsch on Rooney he's
1. stabbed Kerr in the back because he didn't get his own man the job.

2. Appointed a complete novice in his place. Then appointed and ageing, albeit experienced and successful manager as an advisor to take the heat off.

3. When said experienced advisor takes seriously ill, CEO fails to show any leadership in replacing him to support HIS APPOINTMENT.

4. Allows inexperienced manager to struggle on when he obviously needs help.

5. Voices support for said manager.

6. Changes tack and says committee appointed manager when he smells the sh1t hitting the fan.

7. Not to mention the fiasco he's made of the EL (THE NATIONAL LEAGUE).

Delaney has no redeeming features and maybe people will now see him for what he is. A self intersted self centred p*i*k. YES JOHN, YOU ARE. YOU KNOW YOU ARE.

Yet tonight there'll be 1,000s of people at Lansdowne calling for Staunton to be sacked. I've a lot of sympathy for Staunton, basically because luck has gone completely against him with Robsons illnes and injuries to a lot of players. But he should never have been appointed in the first place. However Delaney wanted someone who he could manipulate. Aldo would have told him to fcuk off, so he was never going to get it, nor was any other experienced international manager who would see through his posturings.

If we try to bring placards into the ground they'll be whipped off us by the stewards so the only way is to write to the newspapers, go on Joe Duffy, text all the national and local radio stations and more than anything else create a wall of sound for Delaney to go. Failing all that we should just vote with our pockets. A small piece in yesterdays Indo claimed the FAI were going to make suporters block book for the Croke Park games as they were concerned that interested would wane because of the teams poor performances. More screwing the genuine fans. The suits will always be looked after.

[sonofstan]

I have a plan - we should get Bohs legend Conor to walk up to Delaney in his seat tonight and shout his catchphrase 'Fackin' Pwack!' in his face until he goes - and if that doesn't work, there's always Barry.

[onceahoop]

For years I've been saying that Son Of Joe was unsiutable for this job.
Since he organised the putsch on Rooney he's
1. stabbed Kerr in the back because he didn't get his own man the job.

2. Appointed a complete novice in his place. Then appointed and ageing, albeit experienced and successful manager as an advisor to take the heat off.

3. When said experienced manager takes seriously ill, CEO fails to show any leadership in replacing him to support HIS APPOINTMENT.

4. Allows inexperienced manager to struggle on when he obviously needs help.

5. Voices support for said manager.

6. Changes tack and says committee appointed manager when he smells the sh1t hitting the fan.

7. Not to mention the fiasco he's made of the EL (THE NATIONAL LEAGUE).

Delaney has no redeeming features and maybe people will now see him for what he is. A self intersted self centred p*i*k

Yet tonight there'll be 1,000s of people at Lansdowne calling for Staunton to be sacked. I've a lot of sympathy for Staunton, basically because luck has gone completely against him with Robsons illnes and injuries to a lot of players. But he should never have been appointed in the first place. However Delaney wanted someone who he could manipulate. Aldo would have told him to fcuk off, so he was never going to get it, nor was any other experienced international manager who would see through his posturings.

If we try to bring placards into the ground they'll be whipped off us by the stewards so the only way is to write to the newspapers, go on Joe Duffy, text all the national and local radio stations and more than anything else create a wall of sound for Delaney to go. Failing all that we should just vote with our pockets. A small piece in yesterdays Indo claimed the FAI were going to make suporters block book for the Croke Park games as they were concerned that interested would wane because of the teams poor performances. More screwing the genuine fans. The suits will always be looked after.

[ainsie]

I'll know he'll never read it but this is my form of getting it off my chest.
Apologies

I apoligise for the spelling


Letter to Mr Delaney.

As an Irish fan I have travelled the world following this team. from Italia 90 every game through USA 94 up and down I 95 from New York twise, to Sipan and back. Getting up at 6 in the morning while living in California to watch Ireland play Masadonia and the likes.
Why, because I belived in something. I believed that when the team went out there they would give their best and if that was not good enough , fair enough. I believed that they would have prepared in the best way possible and that the product they put out there was worth my investment in them.
And it was or those years.
Yes there were the few blips on the way and there were times when I felt I was not getting value for my investment but never once did I come away thinking that I was robbed.
Mr Delaney, that is what you have done, you have robbed the Irish soccer fan. You have robbed them of their money, their enjoyment, their patriotism, their loyalty.
You have called them stupid by the simple fact that you say this is all down to media hype when all we needed was a set of eyes to see whats going on.
You have removed any sembalance of pride I had in my team.
You promised me a "world class manager" and I got a trainee.
You got a mentor in and when he had a brain clot you were too stupid to see that it was a bit more than a ham string strain and did not have him replaced even though you had months to do so.
You go on about some four year plan and think its acceptable to the Irish fan that we will put up with a second class product until then.

If this was business and I suppose it is , would the share holders (which I consider myself to be) put up with the management running down the company for 2 years in the HOPE that it would all come together in 2 years time. Nope!!! They would be sacked or forced to resign.

Lastly I think you should apolagise to Stan for the position you have put him in. He has gone from hero to zero in one year in the eyes of many soccer fans. I know he is a stubborn ******* that cant seem to see his own failings but it you that has put him here.

There fore Mr Delaney the conclusion have have come to myself without the help of the media and I'm sure its the same conclusion most fans have come to is that you should resign, get out, go away, get lost, fook off, dont darken the doors of Irish soccer again with your self serving arrogant **** for brains attitude.

Yours Not So Respectfully

An Irish Soccer Fan

[Jerry The Saint]

A small piece in yesterdays Indo claimed the FAI were going to make suporters block book for the Croke Park games as they were concerned that interested would wane because of the teams poor performances.

Stable-door. Horse. Bolted.

Kerr was widely criticised for not experimenting enough in friendlies. However, he admitted he was under pressure from the FAI to treat such games with respect, play our best players and encourage a big crowd to keep turning up. The Staunton era has seen us go the other route and friendlies were cancelled either through lack of interest from Staunton or inability to secure opposition by the FAI.

Croke Park offered one of the biggest ever marketing opportunities to Irish soccer - opening up our matches to more fans and sponsors than ever before and creating a new kind of atmosphere with 75,000 supporters looking on. By dropping the ball with this 4-year plan/rebuilding toss and treating the Ireland manager's job as a work experience scheme, the FAI look to have blown this opportunity. With a half-(possibly quarter-) full stadium watching Ireland going through the motions in a meaningless group game vs. Slovakia or Cyprus, the GAA will never want them to go back to Lansdowne!!!

[gspain]

Kerr had to go. That is a red herring. Yes he was a far better manager than Stan but he had lost the dressingroom and we were poor at the end.

I think Delaney has done a good job in running the F.A.I. and apart from one appalling lack of judgement (Stan) will ocntinue to do so. We haven't had a better CEO. I trust the mistake will be rectified and a manager with a proven track record of success will be appointed.

Stan is a very very wealthy man through football and property. Surely he is smart enough to know that he is (and has been) so far out of his depth that it is embarrassing. Football is a funny game but it is not that funny and we will almost certainly lose tonight. He should then do the decent thing and resign. If he hangs around for his payoff then he should be sacked and he should be bloody well made to earn the payoff by the fans and media through abuse.

If Delaney really does think that Stan is capable of managing a football team then I voted the wrong way.

[Billsthoughts]

again I am sprry but what good job has he done?
start listing his acheivements cause I cant see any.

[Dodge]

Or give proff that Kerr lost the dressing room. or give reasons why he should be sacked for that rather than kick the players responsible out...

[pineapple stu]

We haven't had a better CEO.
:eek:

Fran Rooney got a friendly with Brazil. Come back to me when Delaney's combined achievements equal that.

Did you forget to log out and let someone else type for you...?

[eirebhoy]

Wasn't it Rooney that sorted out the EL section at Lansdowne? I thought he was an excellent Chief Exec at the time but I wouldn't know as much as others about his "achievements".

Right, off to the game...

[pineapple stu]

It was, indeed.





























Oh, and Delaney out. Still.

[Donal81]

Machiavellian scheming to rise to the top aside, has his administrative record in the FAI not been half-decent? Surely merging the Eircom League and the FAI is a good thing? The second Genesis report did indicate that the main points of the first report were being implemented. The FAI is making more money than it ever did. It has a stake in Lansdowne Road for the first time. These are concrete achievements, right?

Having said that, his disposal of Rooney was absolutely shameful - there was a bloke who could have run the organisation like a business - and in the event of another coup in the FAI, no one will cry for Delaney, but has he not done a decent job so far, other than the Stan appointment? And I don't call for heads hastily - Stan's team may yet turn around, who the hell knows?

[Kingdom]

Does anyone know who would replace Delaney if he did do the honourable thing?

Kevin Moran. Ex-Pro. Ex-Legend. Ex-LSL Intermediate player. Runs a successful sports management company so would be ideally placed to deal with the business side of the organisation.

[ramondo]

Has anyone sent an email to Delaney? Does it need to go FAO: to a 'generic' address?

I suppose I could find out, but if anyone's done it already please let us know.

Cheers,

Ramondo.

[Macy]

The second Genesis report did indicate that the main points of the first report were being implemented.
For starters, after getting the second lucrative contract they're hardly going to bash the people that continue to employ them. That's if you consider the second report credible, considering some of their research involved taking "data" from foot.ie threads and their suggestions included such innovations as calling the new premier division "The Premiership".

The stake in Lansdowne and the increased money making a result of Rooney I would've said - he was the CEO when all that was done. Lest we forget, it was the increased commercial activity that Delaney used to make his push on Rooney in the first place.

[tall chapy]

I think Delaney has done a good job in running the F.A.I. and apart from one appalling lack of judgement (Stan) will ocntinue to do so. We haven't had a better CEO.
Maybe he got a good sponsorship deal, but then again maybe a better CEO would have got a better deal
After promising to implement the Genesis report, if he did not, he would be out the door. It looks like he has added a few more mortice locks to the door & has a few mates as calvery just in case things get tough.
Pressure should be on him now to publish & implement the Genesis report. O'Donoghue said he would not give more money until the the Genesis report was being addressed.
21/10/04
Efforts by the FAI President Milo Corcoran to persuade Mr O'Donoghue to provide flexibility in appointing a temporary chief executive will cut little ice with the Government.
While there is strong speculation within the FAI that John Delaney, the honorary treasurer, could be persuaded to take the post for 18 months to restore stability, this was not acceptable to the Government.
It is understood that the Government is resolute in its support for Mr O'Donoghue's demand that both the new Chief Executive post and the crucial Financial Director post, recommended by the Genesis Report, be advertised publicly before the end of this year..... Mr Rooney said last night that he was hired by the FAI to implement Genesis in full and remained totally committed to that process. He confirmed he has encountered difficulties in recent weeks.
He supports advertising the posts externally to ensure the association attracts the best possible candidates and pointed out that existing staff would be entitled to apply.
Mr Rooney said he will urge his fellow board members to maintain the focus on implementing the Genesis report and seeing through the reforms they have begun.Last night, a Government spokeswoman said the government's position was very clear and that Sports Minister John O'Donoghue had publicly stated it was fully supportive of the complete implementation of the Genesis report.
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1271501&issue_id=11568

6/11/04
Sports Minister John O'Donoghue publicly questioned how the FAI board could seek taxpayers' funds for soccer while at the same time they were repeatedly depleting their resources in expensive settlements - having lost three chief executives in four years....... Efforts by the FAI President Milo Corcoran to persuade Mr O'Donoghue to provide flexibility in appointing a temporary chief executive will cut little ice with the Government.
While there is strong speculation within the FAI that John Delaney, the honorary treasurer, could be persuaded to take the post for 18 months to restore stability, this was not acceptable to the Government.(Strong government....:rolleyes: )
It is understood that the Government is resolute (Dont make me laugh...)in its support for Mr O'Donoghue's demand that both the new Chief Executive post and the crucial Financial Director post, recommended by the Genesis Report, be advertised publicly before the end of this year. After all of this HOW DID he get the job ????
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1282992&issue_id=11661
7/11/06
Earlier in the week the FAI stated that it did not want to advertise for the posts of replacement chief executive and financial controller.
Mr O'Donoghue said: "The Genesis report . suggested that the way forward was for the FAI to appoint a chief executive and also to appoint four directors including a financial controller, a director of performance, a football operations director and a communications director. Unfortunately in the interim very little of the Genesis report was implemented."
The Minister finished the interview by saying: "It's time for the FAI to grow up."http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/1107/fai.html
12/11/06
The Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, has described as 'discouraging' comments by the FAI President on the appointment of a Chief Executive and Financial Controller to the Association.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr O'Donoghue said Government funding of the FAI remains in doubt unless the FAI advertises the two positions and fills them before the New Year.
Yesterday, the FAI offered the Association's Honorary Treasurer, John Delaney, the post of Chief Executive on an interim basis.
Milo Corcoran said that it was not in the association's plans to advertise the post before 1 January as requested by the Government and gave no indication of the length of Mr Delaney's appointment, should he choose to accept it.
Recommendations on the appointments were included in the Genesis Report which was carried out in the wake of Ireland's troubled World Cup campaign in an attempt to make the FAI more efficient and professional.
Mr O'Donoghue said there was no point in meeting the FAI because its officers were aware of what is required of them.He also said he did not understand why the FAI was not mature enough to implement the recommendations of the Genesis Report when it has accepted those recommendations.http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1112/fai.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4007903.stm
27/11/04 http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2004/11/27/story517652305.asp

"The spirit of the Genesis report must be adhered to," he added.
1/12/04 http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/D/0594/D.0594.200412010014.html
Some archive stuff.. http://foot.ie/archive/index.php/t-19413.html
Government u turn begins..
6/1/05 http://www.aertel.ie/sport/2005/0106/fai.html
4/2/05 http://www.waterford-news.com/news/story.asp?j=16931 - Waterford news paper supporting a waterford man, a good balance piece of journalism..:rolleyes:
11/3/05 http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/index.php3?ca=94&si=69595
23/6/05 http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/pressandpub-news-latest-article.aspx?article=e1446314-3b5b-4d41-a67c-d8531a261dba
18/10/05 http://www.ireland.com/sports/soccer/2005/1018/1127148507683_1129671313155.html
This has the
I want a manager that will bring us success, that's the bottom end of it. We're looking for a top class manager to bring us forward. It's a high profile job, a good job and we are confident of getting that.

[soccerc]

It was, indeed.

Amazing how short peoples memories are :rolleyes:

[Donal81]

For starters, after getting the second lucrative contract they're hardly going to bash the people that continue to employ them. That's if you consider the second report credible, considering some of their research involved taking "data" from foot.ie threads and their suggestions included such innovations as calling the new premier division "The Premiership".

The stake in Lansdowne and the increased money making a result of Rooney I would've said - he was the CEO when all that was done. Lest we forget, it was the increased commercial activity that Delaney used to make his push on Rooney in the first place.

Fair point about Genesis, although I thought they were considered to be a respectable bunch. The first report was quite clear, right?

The Lansdowne Road stake was not the work of Rooney, as far as I remember. The formation of the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company was during Delaney's tenure, no? It was probably coming for a long time so I'm sure Rooney had input into it while he was there but Delaney saw it through, as far as I remember.

I've no agenda here whatsoever and won't cry if Delaney gets axed. But I think his administrative record deserves a cold eye thrown over it before calling for his resignation. It's difficult to associate an FAI CEO with anything other than incompetence, selfishness and stupidity. And he didn't do himself any favours by engineering a move against the first CEO the organisation ever had who had significant business experience.

[clearskies]

I've been reading over the threads and its amazing how quickly the feelings turn from "get the man out!" to "mmmm, well he isn't doing a bad job at it all!"
:confused:

[CollegeTillIDie]

Kevin Moran. Ex-Pro. Ex-Legend. Ex-LSL Intermediate player(Pegasus). Runs a successful sports management company so would be ideally placed to deal with the business side of the organisation.
ex League of Ireland B Player ( UCD) ex League of Ireland player ( 4 League apperances for Bohemians) B Comm Degree (UCD). Great suggestion Kingdom

[Superhoops]

ex League of Ireland B Player ( UCD) ex League of Ireland player ( 4 League apperances for Bohemians) B Comm Degree (UCD). Great suggestion Kingdom

Why would Kevin Moran, or indeed anyone, want to take up the post of CEO at the FAI and have to face moronic comments from the media and 'so called' fans, as evidenced on forums like this.

It is very rare in any business that a CEO gets every decision right. Football is a unique business and it would be rare to have a CEO (or club chairman) who can keep everyone happy all the time.

Whatever else about him, there is no doubt that John Delaney is leading the FAI to becoming a professional organisation. He has surrounded himself with good people and is well liked and respected by the employees of the FAI, all of whom now have proper contracts of employment, job descriptions and clear reporting lines, something that was never in place before when the 'amateurs' were in charge.

Delaney has also put the FAI on a more sound financial footing and has been instrumental in securing significant sponsorships. For the first time under Delaney's leadership, the FAI has credible recognition within the goverment and it is no coincidence that the since he became CEO, the FAI has secured record government funding for football in Ireland.

He is the driving force behind the FAI Development Plan whose main focus is promoting football throughout the country.

Communications have improved and while there is still work to be done on the website, the information is generally fairly up to date. There have been several initiatives to improve communications like the launch of the FAI News. It is also evident that there is regular dialogue with supporters organisations, London RISSC and NLSA having been featured in recent match programmes. Is it just coincidence that these initiatives have emerged during Delaney's tenure, I don't think so!

Before anyone asks, I do not work for the FAI, I am not Delaney's PRO, but I believe it is all too easy to criticise and deliver abuse, without considering the facts.

[soccerc]

Superhoop, there are so many holes on your statment above I almost choked reading it.


You are giving credit where it isn't due, citing facts that are patently untrue for example "the FAI has credible recognition within the goverment".

TBH, If I was handed that as a stand alone piece on paper I would seriuosly question the writers knowledge or consoder it a PR article.

[Superhoops]

Superhoop, there are so many holes on your statment above I almost choked reading it.


You are giving credit where it isn't due, citing facts that are patently untrue for example "the FAI has credible recognition within the goverment".

TBH, If I was handed that as a stand alone piece on paper I would seriuosly question the writers knowledge or consoder it a PR article.
soccerc, we all know you are a Fran Rooney man and I have no problems with that.

It's all very well telling me there are so many holes in my post, but you don't actually challenge or refute any of them.

Regarding the 'credible recognition within the government' consider the words of Government Minister, Brian Cowen at this year's FAI eircom awards night (at which I believe you were present!)

'Through the work of the FAI, soccer has now got more registered players than any other sport in the country. Its spread is truly across every county and the level of participation among our young people is particularly important at a time when we are facing many social, health and lifestyle challenges. I applaud the Association’s work in this regard.

I applaud Packie Bonner and his Technical Development Department of more than 50 coaches and Development Officers who work with clubs and schools all around the country to promote the highest standards.

I applaud John Delaney who with his counterpart in the IRFU, Philip Browne, has done great work on moving forward, with the assistance of my colleague, John O’Donoghue and his officials, the plans for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road. It is important that we bring this fine old stadium up to appropriate standards for today. That done – and I mean underway as opposed to it being completed – we must and will continue to work with the FAI on the redevelopment of other facilities around the country.

That sounds like credible recognition to me.

It is a long way away from the position in November 2004 when John O'Donoghue, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism called Milo Corcoran, Michael Cody and John Delaney to explain what was going on at the FAI following the departure of Fran Rooney. At that meeting O'Donoghue made it clear that the Government was looking to the FAI to become a dependable, effective and efficient organisation capable of accepting and discharging its responsibilities in relation to projects to which the Government has committed substantial support from public funds. He instanced the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium, the development of a sports campus at Abbotstown, funding under the Sports Capital Programme for soccer clubs at national, regional and local levels and the funding provided to the Association by the Irish Sports Council.

At that meeting O'Donoghue announced he was appointing a member of his department, Con Haugh, to the Irish Sports Council's liaision commitee at which the terms of reference for the appointment of the CEO were formulated, a move which created a huge rift within the FAI Council, many of whom felt the goverment had no business getting involved in their affairs.

Two years later, under Delaney's leadership, that rift has been healed, the Minister has not had cause to call in the FAI to explain themselves, the government has continued to support the development of Lansdowne Road and the FAI's role in that development (including John Delaney's position on the board of LRSDC), they have allocated a record amount of funding to soccer projects under the Sports Capital Programme and from the Irish Sports Council.

That also sounds like credible recognition to me!

[pineapple stu]

Amazing how short peoples memories are :rolleyes:
:o

Apologies!!!!!!!!!

Mea culpa. I think I meant that it came into effect under Rooney's tenure and certainly had nothing to do with Delaney.

[tall chapy]

under Delaney's leadership, that rift has been healed, the Minister has not had cause to call in the FAI to explain themselves,
Superhoops, correct me if I am wrong (as I could be), but I not see John Delaney being interviewed on the steps O'Donoghue's building just prior to Wednesday's game..Then again maybe he was not called in, maybe he just to let O'Donoghue know what the scenarios were for after the Czech game.
For all your praise of Delaney, you excluded the logic of Stan's appointment as manager..??

[Donal81]

John Delaney is not the ideal head of a sporting organisation. The FAI is not an ideal sporting organisation. I'd vote to keep him there as who the hell knows who or what would take over in his place? Is he a schemer? Yes. To be trusted? Nope. The best the organisation has at the moment? Unfortunately, yes.

[bennocelt]

It is very rare in any business that a CEO gets every decision right. Football is a unique business and it would be rare to have a CEO (or club chairman) who can keep everyone happy all the time.
!
Before anyone asks, I do not work for the FAI, I am not Delaney's PRO, but I believe it is all too easy to criticise and deliver abuse, without considering the facts.

Delaney's a tit
If football is a business, then what return to you thinkt he FAI will get from missing out in the last 3 tournaments (including 2008), surely all business' demand results

[soccerc]

:o

Apologies!!!!!!!!!

Mea culpa. I think I meant that it came into effect under Rooney's tenure and certainly had nothing to do with Delaney.


On the contrary, John Delaney endorsed the plan before Rooney was even appointed. He was involved in and positive in the initial discussions paving the way and opening the doors for the whole concept to become a reality.

[pineapple stu]

:eek:

So was it him who was responsible for trying to get rid of it, seeing as it doesn't seem to have been a genuine error?

[finnpark]

for appointing a donkey as manager and for not sacking him.

Stephen Kenny for ireland

[A face]

for appointing a donkey as manager and for not sacking him.

Stephen Kenny for ireland

Would you though, if you were Stephen Kenny? Brian Kerr, like it or not was given a very raw deal. Kerr was far better than Stan, and its showing now.

Kenny, is well clued in ..... he'd be looking for an extension for a barge pole the minute he even got a sniff of being offered the job.

[republicofwhite]

No lads, what we need is someone who is World Class...

[The Ref]

No lads, what we need is someone who is World Class...
Like Steve Staunton :D - John Delaney RIP

[republicofwhite]

Thats kind of what I was getting at...We need humour in times like these, maybe I should make mine a bit more tangible...

[bholg]

for appointing a donkey as manager and for not sacking him.

and the rest....
:mad: :mad:

[onenilgameover]

would love to see kenny in there tommorrow...

[Qwerty]

I think the Dunfermline fans wouldn't mind very much tbh.

We need a disciplinarian like Charlton and McCarthy were, I'm sure nobody in that squad respects Stan. Stan is unable to communicate, he is completely inarticulate. He is devoid of original ideas. He parrots slogans. He is not his own man as he keeps insisting. He is a man with no brain.