Suggestions for FAI el fans forum

[finnpark]

As some of you know there is an FAI fans Forum on in abbotstown on saturday
basically 2 fans reps from each el club have been invited(or that's my understanding of it anyway) some of which are members of this board, so I think it'd be a good idea to have a thread of suggestions that the lads might be willing to raise at the meeting.

Suggestions

1. pump some of the 45 million Delany was bragging about today into a proper media campaign promoting the league

2. further pressure on government for funding for clubs, particularly with a view to improving facilities.

3. voice fans displeasure at random ridiculous fining of clubs

1. Waste of money!

2. Very good idea.

3. Don't be silly. Who wants to listen to someone thats attacking them.

Also, surely a full time youth academy for th eleague and country to keep our U-14 to U-18 internationals at home until ready for 1st team action in the UK.

:)

[dcfcsteve]

3. Don't be silly. Who wants to listen to someone thats attacking them.



Military Intelligence...? :D

[finnpark]

Military Intelligence...? :D

Steve Staunton obviously enjoyed it as will Vennanoballs as you know your pay day is close ;)

[amjl]

Also, surely a full time youth academy for th eleague and country to keep our U-14 to U-18 internationals at home until ready for 1st team action in the UK.


That is a good idea. Something more should be done in this area with progressing young players at that age.

[Philly]

Kildare and Shels should be fine anyway. Not to far away from them.

Sent an e-mail to Noel Mooney a while ago offering myself and Steno to attend for KCFC. Alas, after two e-mails, and still no reply, I had assumed that some people had already arranged to attend.

Hope it goes well for those attending tomorrow. Perhaps somebody could draw light to the lack of assistance that D1 clubs get. :ball:

[passerrby]

will someone ask the league director in light of his press statement about kilkenny who he believes are not worthy of membership and is he going to sit and wait for them to go to the wall or will he help them (go to the wall)

[monutdfc]

Yes, please ask that one for me too (I cannot attend, as I am at a wedding).

His quote is:
"Fran Gavin
I have no doubt that other clubs will arrive at the same crossroads as Kilkenny and face the same questions and I hope they answer them as honestly as Kilkenny have."
For the Director of the League to come out with a statement like that is unbelievable. (Thinking it is one thing, saying it is another.)

[Block G Raptor]

Any news on how this went ?

[Raheny Red]

Any news on how this went ?

There's a post on our forum from Fintan.

[pete]

Any news on how this went ?

I think it went well. Fran Gavin, Noel Mooney & Padraig Smith spoke, about 35 fans turned up. FAI offices so far from the road no chance of a Maxi attack again ;)

I supported the FAI running the league last year mainly because it could not be worse than league running itself & seems to be a lot going on in the background.

[Martinho II]

i was at the meeting too. we were brought on a guided tour of the fai hq. we were shown a presentation dvd of last season,rtes presentation for the eircom league bid plus irelands bid for uefa cup final 2001. the three lads are passionate about the eircom league (fran gavin ex pats player, noel mooney(ex shams goalie) and padraig smith(drogs fan).

for the first time ever I am fully 100% behind the lads. they came across very well and had time for everyone that was there. we were told that if you need any assistance in any way, to give the lads a shout or an email.

they explained everything from the particaption aggreement, uefa licence every document rel to the eircom league was explained well.

I can appreciate a lot better how the different depts in the fai are run now.. It looks like this could be one of the first of many forums...

overall I thought it was successful.

[Rovers1]

for the first time ever I am fully 100% behind the lads. they came across very well and had time for everyone that was there. we were told that if you need any assistance in any way, to give the lads a shout or an email.

.

i emailed Noel + FAI about 6 weeks ago and they never got back to me! :mad:

[Martinho II]

I saw Gary kelly and Alan Kearns at it. Its a bit strange as one of our lads wasnt originally invited but he wrote in a letter to the fai with his prosposals for the eircom league and he got a phonecall yesterday and got invited...

[MariborKev]

for the first time ever I am fully 100% behind the lads. they came across very

And all it took was one free T-shirt.........;)

[Martinho II]

in actual fact maribor I have got two...;)

[pete]

Noel Mooney in particular came across as very passionate for the league. Looks like he is doing great job & promotion will be better this year.

Re: 65% Wage Cap.
Even if he is a Drogs fan Smith came across like he has his eye on the ball & have learnt from FA in England & others.
Clubs need to stay below 55% during the league otherwise the league gets involved.
If over 65% on full season can be stripped of prize money & removed from Europe.

Re: TV
RTE pitch for TV rights included lots of clips of the LOI. Whether that opportunism playing to its audience or genuine interest remains to be seen.

It has been clear for some time that the FAI have been scratching the governments back & Abbotstown part of that. It is also paying off in terms of grants etc...

[Terry]

Is it true that the season openers are derby matches again, exact same fixtures except for the change in clubs that got promoted/relegated?

[Conor H]

No it's not.

The Derby theme of last year isn't been continued this year,after speaking to Fran gavin afterwards.The fixtures will be out this week.
Terry i will give a summary of the meeting at our AGM Tuesday week.


Would have to agree 100% that Noel Mooney and Fran Gavin are doing an excellent job.Very committed to the cause.

[sligoman]

Sounds like they're not going to be easing up on fines though:mad:

[deecay]

Sounds like they're not going to be easing up on fines though:mad:
Here here as they say

[ndrog]

Noel Mooney in particular came across as very passionate for the league. Looks like he is doing great job & promotion will be better this year.

Re: 65% Wage Cap.
Even if he is a Drogs fan Smith came across like he has his eye on the ball & have learnt from FA in England & others.
Clubs need to stay below 55% during the league otherwise the league gets involved.
If over 65% on full season can be stripped of prize money & removed from Europe.

Re: TV
RTE pitch for TV rights included lots of clips of the LOI. Whether that opportunism playing to its audience or genuine interest remains to be seen.

It has been clear for some time that the FAI have been scratching the governments back & Abbotstown part of that. It is also paying off in terms of grants etc...

Did smith say he was a drogs fan or what ?

[pete]

Did smith say he was a drogs fan or what ?

Fran Gavin outed him :p

[Martinho II]

wasnt him that said it but fran gavin!!

[Ash]

wasnt him that said it but fran gavin!!

And his tie had flecks of claret and blue :)

[garykelly]

I suppose what is needed from the FAI (EL) is a bombardment of information of which they're can never be enough. Most of the posts here wouldnt be posted if there was enough information about. It was excellent to see/hear everything that went on during Saturday. After reading some posts I'll try give feedback on each based on what was said.

+ Lack of Assistance (in terms of CPOs) to EL Division 1 Clubs

In terms of CPO's some clubs dont have the structures in place to support having one. The FAI want to be sure that a CPO is put in place to just do that job and to not get dragged into other facets of the club which has happened apparently. The long and short of it is that if any club wants a CPO then they must ask for it and the FAI will support it. 15k is paid by FAI with club making up other half. Some clubs dont want to invest 15k in the CPO which is a shame as an effective CPO will bring back more than that.

Government Funding
The EL league has outstanding issues with Revenue. This is being worked on by the FAI and are making significant progress. The Revenue have stated that once they get back what their owed, and effectively improve the leagues credit rating, then talks can begin on introducing incentives for EL clubs.

Kilkenny's Demise
This was the decision of Kilkenny football club and nobody else. The FAI talked over all the options with them but the club said they couldnt commit to the level needed to compete in the EL. The plan is for Kilkenny (if they accept) to play in the U20 league, try to rebuild and apply for re-entry at a later date. A shame as Kilkenny are fantastically run and have a smashing ground there.

Fines

The FAI have nothing to do with the fines. There is an independant body who deal with issuing fines based on the report back from matches. Having an independant body is UEFA/FIFA template. They decide the fines and the FAI dont have a say in it. They agree with that certain issues are a bit non-sensical but the structure in place prevents them overruling any decision. Only 5 fines were actually paid last year - I can only assume the rest were appealed, I dont know. I thought myself that having an independant body is too far detached from the league and they wouldnt understand the EL league but it's a UEFA template so it must be a workable model.

Fixtures
I thought this was straight forward but there are a shocking amount of variables involved, including clubs not wanting to clash home games with local events in the calendar. It seems a tough job as they are trying to keep everyone happy.

FAI Cup
This will be the first time the FAI (EL) run the competition. They are looking to build it up and make the final a real showpiece. The final will be 2 weeks after the EL - i think this will be the same each year. Interesting to note thomond park a possible contender to host the final.

Overall I am 100% behind the new set-up. Noel Mooney and co and top people for the job of improving the league. I would say they should release piles more information as I feel it would help promote their own work and help people be less criticial (which is understandble too given info available; i've always been critical myself) Their resources seemed stretched and they are learning themselves. This is the best model the league has ever had and hopefully we will all back it to success.

Anyway I hope this gives people some more information about whats happening !!

[Block G Raptor]

Sounds like passing the buck IMO
I

The long and short of it is that if any club wants a CPO then they must ask for it and the FAI will support it.

improve the leagues credit rating, then talks can begin on introducing incentives for EL clubs.

Kilkenny's Demise
This was the decision of Kilkenny football club and nobody else.

Fines

The FAI have nothing to do with the fines. .

Fixtures
IIt seems a tough job as they are trying to keep everyone happy.

[Sheridan]

There is an independant body who deal with issuing fines based on the report back from matches.
LOL! Any chance they could reveal who these disciples of Solomon are and then let us judge their independence or otherwise?

[Jerry The Saint]

LOL! Any chance they could reveal who these disciples of Solomon are and then let us judge their independence or otherwise?

Isn't it nice that this independent body will fine anyone who criticises the FAI? How very noble of them, sticking up for the honour of an organisation that they have no connection to whatsoever.


Any reason given for the two week gap to the mid-December cup final:confused: Is it so they can be more like the Super Bowl and give the players a bye week to prepare for the big game?

[MariborKev]

Sounds like passing the buck IMO

Fair enough.

I don't think people who would there saw it that way,

There was acceptance on behalf on Gavin and Mooney that there are things they haven't got right.

[Block G Raptor]

Fair enough.

I don't think people who would there saw it that way,

There was acceptance on behalf on Gavin and Mooney that there are things they haven't got right.

No I'll take word for it, that was just an impression i got from reading the quoted parts of the post

[Schumi]

I'd agree on the fines, it's all very well saying that an independent body does the fines but the FAI must tell them what to fine people for. On the others, they seem to be doing what they can with some difficult situations.

[pineapple stu]

To be honest, this all sounds very similar to what was going on when I was in meetings with the FAI - they'll tell you things, make you feel part of the team (guided tours,sneak previews of some big presentations), but ultimately there's no real information there, and no real indication that things are going to change in response to the queries raised. The buck-passing on issues such as the fines (first blaming the government, then a mysterious independent body) is nonsensical.

I'd like to see some good come out a series of meetings like this, but it doesn't appear a huge amount has changed.

[pete]

Any reason given for the two week gap to the mid-December cup final:confused: Is it so they can be more like the Super Bowl and give the players a bye week to prepare for the big game?

This is to allow for possible league playoffs.

Fines decided by Disciplinary Committee & apparently nothing new there. System is to be revamped though.

I think the overall message was that they are trying to run the league without favouring any clubs. Commercial revenue & promotional expenditure increasing significantly sometimes by leveraging off Internationals. FAI there as a resource for clubs & fans but need to ask.

[John83]

To be honest, this all sounds very similar to what was going on when I was in meetings with the FAI - they'll tell you things, make you feel part of the team (guided tours,sneak previews of some big presentations), but ultimately there's no real information there, and no real indication that things are going to change in response to the queries raised. The buck-passing on issues such as the fines (first blaming the government, then a mysterious independent body) is nonsensical.

I'd like to see some good come out a series of meetings like this, but it doesn't appear a huge amount has changed.
Are you saying that they're wrong on the flares issue? Because that's all they blamed the 'government' for.

They didn't really deal with fines much. It was only raised directly in relation to flares. Fran Gavin said that the only fines he dealt with personally last year were in relation to things like eircom logos not being displayed properly.

Apart from the fines, what specific issues do you think they fudged on?

[sullanefc]

This is to allow for possible league playoffs.

Why not have the league playoffs after the cup final? Why does the Cup have to be played after the league finishes?

Or it could be played the week before the last league game. Give every team bar the cup finalists the penultimate weekend off, and then all the final league games are played a week later.

I'm sure there are other options, but playing the cup final 2 weeks after the league finishes is silly IMO.

[John83]

Why not have the league playoffs after the cup final?
I wouldn't disagree that the final is too late. The week isn't just for the playoffs, it's for unforseen circumstances delaying the league a week in general. If you accept the final should be after the league (and I don't), then that makes sense. Of course, if you don't book the venue in time, that's pointless too.

The argument given for not holding the cup final earlier was something along the lines of that they felt it detracted from it as a big event.

[Schumi]

I think having the cup final after the last league games is better but the play-offs could be played afterwards. The ideal (I think anyway) would be to start the season a few weeks earlier and have the cup final is mid-November at the end of the season but there seems to be an issue of clubs' accounts not being available until the start of February for licencing.

[pineapple stu]

Are you saying that they're wrong on the flares issue? Because that's all they blamed the 'government' for.

They didn't really deal with fines much. It was only raised directly in relation to flares. Fran Gavin said that the only fines he dealt with personally last year were in relation to things like eircom logos not being displayed properly.

Apart from the fines, what specific issues do you think they fudged on?
I can obviously only go on what's here (and in the seven other threads across the forum) as I wasn't at the meeting myself, but it's on here that the fines were decided by an independent board and so the FAI couldn't really comment, which is as much a fudge as appointing a three man board to pick a new manager so you can wash your hands when we lose/draw with Cyprus again.

The general atmosphere queries go beyond flares - banners, fanzines being banned has nothing to do with the government, and neither does this threat to ban standing in seated areas.

Obviously with so many various threads on the issue, it's quite possible I've picked up cross wires on something, but that's my take on it anyway. Remember, I've had many more of these meetings than you, and I started off thinking they were great and ended up realising we were just being pandered to to keep us happy.

[MariborKev]

The general atmosphere queries go beyond flares - banners, fanzines being banned has nothing to do with the government, and neither does this threat to ban standing in seated areas.

To be fair, the only real question asked round atmosphere was flares. There were lots of questions on other matters and to be fair to Mooney and Gavin, they did try and let everyone ask questions, rather than one or two figures dominate proceedings.

I am sure if we asked Mooney to convene another meeting with Joe McGlue to discuss atmosphere issues , this could and would be arranged.

Gavin said himself he thought common sense was missing in some of the fines.

It was a meeting between the fans and the people who run the League. We are never going to see eye to eye on everything, but there were very few questions they didn't answer.

For example one of the Pats lads brought up the rescheduling of the League game after UEFA tie. He was unhappy the game was played on the Sunday, clashing with the Leinster final. Gavin told him that Pats insisted the game was played on that day.

Another point that hasn't been raised her was the new ticketing deal with Ticketmaster. Fran Gavin outlined this to us our group was on the tour. There is a deal so that anyone can buy tickets for any game through ticketmaser. They will install machines for the clubs etc. Some clubs are resisting this:rolleyes:

eircomloi.ie will soon be offering Chinese and Polish versions of the site, and clubs will be able to avail of these services for translated version. The FAI is also working to offer a standardised site template for all clubs(similiar to the Premium TV setup in the UK) if they want it.

[monutdfc]

The FAI is also working to offer a standardised site template for all clubs(similiar to the Premium TV setup in the UK) if they want it.
Excellent!

[micls]

They will install machines for the clubs etc. Some clubs are resisting this:rolleyes:

Why the rolleyes?

Dealing with ticketmaster for every game means paying them a fee for every ticket.

Meaning prices go up. Im quite happy that clubs would oppose this.
We had to pay 8euro per ticket in fees through ticketmaster for the u21 Irish internationals

[Tis-smeee]

eircomloi.ie will soon be offering Chinese and Polish versions of the site, and clubs will be able to avail of these services for translated version.


They would want to get the english version working first

[pineapple stu]

Earth to Marty...!

[Martinho II]

you what pineapple????:D

[pineapple stu]

I'll let Kev break the news to you! :)

[sligoman]

didnt realise maribor you were part of the same tour group as me!! were you seated in the same aisle as kevin mcdaid???Class Marty:D

[Martinho II]

Class Marty:D

damn you sligoman for puttin that quote up!! i have deleted my original post! oh the shame of it all!:(

[Buile Shuibhne]

To be fair, the only real question asked round atmosphere was flares. There were lots of questions on other matters and to be fair to Mooney and Gavin, they did try and let everyone ask questions, rather than one or two figures dominate proceedings.

I am sure if we asked Mooney to convene another meeting with Joe McGlue to discuss atmosphere issues , this could and would be arranged.

Gavin said himself he thought common sense was missing in some of the fines.

It was a meeting between the fans and the people who run the League. We are never going to see eye to eye on everything, but there were very few questions they didn't answer.

For example one of the Pats lads brought up the rescheduling of the League game after UEFA tie. He was unhappy the game was played on the Sunday, clashing with the Leinster final. Gavin told him that Pats insisted the game was played on that day.

Another point that hasn't been raised her was the new ticketing deal with Ticketmaster. Fran Gavin outlined this to us our group was on the tour. There is a deal so that anyone can buy tickets for any game through ticketmaser. They will install machines for the clubs etc. Some clubs are resisting this:rolleyes:

eircomloi.ie will soon be offering Chinese and Polish versions of the site, and clubs will be able to avail of these services for translated version. The FAI is also working to offer a standardised site template for all clubs(similiar to the Premium TV setup in the UK) if they want it.


I think they were anticipating a harder time on the questions, but got off quite lightly as it panned out - they'd prepared their responses on the flares and fines issues.

The buck was most definitely passed to the 'independent' disciplinary cmtee. As shown in one of organisational charts in the presentation, 20 match delegates are part of the FAI eircom League structure. These guys have a long detailed check-list given to them by the League for each game. 90% of the fines dished out - apart from red or yellow cards - result from these check-lists which are returned to the 'independent' disciplinary cmtee. The rest come from the referees for things such as the wrong colour socks.

The 'independent' disciplinary cmtee have their office in the FAI's offices in Abbottstown - as do the PFAI - and I would very much question their independence.

[pete]

Dealing with ticketmaster for every game means paying them a fee for every ticket.

They did not go into specifics but was said that TM would make no money from this over next two years. It will cost 25c per ticket which i would think is the cost of the ticket sheet itself. Can clubs get customised tickets printed for less than 25c?

[micls]

They did not go into specifics but was said that TM would make no money from this over next two years. It will cost 25c per ticket which i would think is the cost of the ticket sheet itself. Can clubs get customised tickets printed for less than 25c?

I dunno tbh.

But are the clubs/FAI committed for just the 2 years or for longer?

Also how will this work with away allocations etc?
For example say our Derry game to win the league, is there something in place to stop thousands of Derry fans from buying tickets when they are only entitled to 10%? e.g. them only being on sale from the city ticketmaster machine or something?