Here endeth the debate.
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Here endeth the debate.
A phrase regarding a leopard and its spots comes to mind.
To dismiss a proposal based on the finances being hypothetical when the whole proposal is about getting theoretical support should finances be put in place just shows that you're always fighting a losing battle when it comes to some.
Further evidence of misleading information contained in the Derry City statement. "We have not agreed to jointly examine any new report"
The one thing we can agree on (I hope) is that each Association/League is desperate for more money.
Therefore if Lucid come up with some actual hard cash, you could be damned sure that it would break the logjam.
But as this latest newspaper report shows, he's got nothing to offer except hot air.
A shame (imo), but there you go. If we can get through this virus problem, the IL is still in a reasonably good place to grow and develop - I'll leave it to better-informed LOI fans to assess where their league is at.
Here's the thing though to get money you need the backing of the associations. He's already said that he's got people saying get the associations to back it and we'll make an offer.
Say you're going to sky to get money off them for the TV rights this is how it'll go
"I want to start a new AIL and I'm willing to offer you first dibs on TV rights if you make an offer that helps make the idea viable"
"do you have the backing of the associations?"
"Not yet"
"Get their backing then get back to us we're interested but we can't allocate that kind of money without their backing"
That's how those meetings go. The IFA know that they just aren't interested in it and I think everyone and their mother can hazard a guess as to why that is
"If you can build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door"
In other words, if Lucid's proposal is such a sure-fire hit, then backers will come on board.
And if he has them on board, then the clubs and Associations will follow, since all are desperate for cash.
Time for Lucid to put up or shut up.
(Not misrepresenting the IFA would help him, too)
That mousetrap nonsense just wouldn't work in the face of politics in NI, which seeps into everything - including football.
Let's not forget that when the DUP were literally calling the shots within the UK Government they rejected the greatest economic mousetrap Northern Ireland could ever have - with a foot in both the UK and the EU. It would have created the real possibility of a major economic boom for NI, and probably strengthened its place in the Union too. But the rocket scientists in the DUP still rejected it, and have ended up with something considerably worse from their perspective instead. That's the sort of thinking which dominates pretty much every aspect of life in NI.
So Let's call a spade a spade here. There are some elements/individuals within NI football who want nothing to do with the south. Period. I have no idea what percentage that involves, or how influential those people are. But from fans to administrators and every level in between - it wouldn't matter if the mousetraps were gold feckin' plated. They'd still want nothing to do with them because it includes the south.
Ulster always says no.
There is a rational argument that, for their own narrow benefit, football associations shouldn't support anything which strengthens their clubs. Because stronger clubs means less power and influence for FAs. Everyone's seen what happened in England, where the FA there has been emasculated and effectively left to run everything except the senior club game.
Obviously a football association should want the best for its own clubs, but sadly not everyone thinks that way. Delaney was a machiavellian sh!t, and I have absolutely no doubt that he wanted to stop LOI clubs becoming more powerful as it would only be done at his expense. I've no idea if the IFA heads think like that (though I expect they're not that way minded).
An AIL would arguably strengthen certain clubs, and thereby shift the balance of power away from the blazers.
14th May 2020 DCFC Statement:
"We are informed that the IFA and the FAI have agreed to jointly examine the report." (post #261)
17th May 2020 IFA Statement:
"We have not agreed to jointly examine any report." (post #322)
If it's not Lucid, then someone's telling porkies.
The DUP reflect a certain view of the world amongst nordies. It's why they're the biggest party there.
Are you genuinely claiming that a) All opposition to an AIL in NI is 100% on footballing grounds, and nothing else?, and b) That if Lucid's plan did identify money, that opposition to the proposal would disappear?
Though we go round in circles on the last point, as without buy in there won't be confirmation of any money. #ChickenAndEgg
Now, now Mr. P, we can't have you bringing facts into the debate, can we?
The Blaxnit Cup? - Never happened.
The Setanta Cup? Nope, that neither.
The Celtic Nations Cup? Never heard of it.
The Presidents Cup? Wha?
The Victory Shield? A fiction.
The joint IFA/FAI bid to host the 2023 UEFA U-21 Championships? Fake news!
https://www.irishfa.com/media/20726/u21-joint-bid.jpg
Photoshopped! (It was originally a picture of Delaney presenting a big cheque to his ex-wife, an ex-girlfriend and Emma English)