Quote:
From:The Star
Monday, 17th November, 2003
SHELBOURNE chief Ollie Byrne threatened not to fulfil last Friday's televised eircom Premier clash with Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
For the second time in 11 days, the fiery Tolka Park official informed League bosses just hours before the kick-off that Shels would not turn up for a match unless they were paid a significant five figure compensation by the League.
On Friday afternoon Byrne claimed that Shels were entitled to the cash because of the game's live broadcast by RTE and the 20 minute delay in the kick-off time!
But League officers called Byrne's bluff by refusing to bow to his demands.
Refused
Shels received the standard E5,000 payment given to away teams for such live TV broadcasts with Bohs paid E8,000.
Byrne also threatened not to play Bohs at Tolka on November 4 unless he was offered compensation for clashing with the televised Manchester United-Rangers Champions League tie.
Not surprisingly, the League refused to entertain the request and the match went ahead.
Meanwhile, the first shots of next Saturday's crucial FAI national council meeting will be fired this afternoon when the eircom League board meets in Dublin.
The 22 club delegates will elect their representatives to the five committees to be elected at the FAI summit in Citywest.
On Saturday these five committees will then elect chairpersons to sit on the new 10 person FAI board of management.
That board also includes FAI president Milo Corcoran, secretary Kevin Fahy, treasurer John Delaney, eircom League chairman Brendan Dillon and FAI chief executive Fran Rooney.
Copyright Independent Star Ltd.
