Denis O'Briens donation

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14/02/2008, 12:58 PM
Noelys Guitar

Aussies payed Hiddink's entire wages from a businessman's donation. Hopefully more money will come into Irish football from those with deep pockets such as O'Brien.
14/02/2008, 1:01 PM
half_full

That doesn't mean faiLURE should have sold out to a corporate money machine.
14/02/2008, 1:05 PM
Drumcondra 69er

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

That doesn't mean faiLURE should have sold out to a corporate money machine.

Your user name is the least apt I've ever seen.
14/02/2008, 1:06 PM
sullanefc

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

That doesn't mean faiLURE should have sold out to a corporate money machine.

How much do you know about modern day football??:rolleyes:
14/02/2008, 1:06 PM
half_full

Sorry but I fail to see any positive in this.
14/02/2008, 1:07 PM
Ireland4ever

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

That doesn't mean faiLURE should have sold out to a corporate money machine.

Surely the FAI part should have been in capitals not the lure? Now where did i put my pedantic cap.....:D:D
14/02/2008, 1:07 PM
NeilMcD

Half Full, if you dont get money from Private business how else are you meant to get it then. If you get it from the state, you are getting tax payers money and that includes people who are not interested in footballing paying towards football. Now if you arguing for a socialist state and if so fair enough. However we live in a neo capitalist state so the only way that that a Sporting agency can survive is a mixture of grants from the government, sponsorship and in this case money put in by private individuals who have made loads of money and are football fans.
14/02/2008, 1:09 PM
OwlsFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

That doesn't mean faiLURE should have sold out to a corporate money machine.

Yep, they should turn their back on Eircom sponsorship, advertising rights in the stadium etc. etc lest they be accused of selling out to a coporate money machine.

Well done to the faiLURE as you call them - by that I assume you mean the FAI have LURE(d) 1 million of money per annum in to the game that otherwise would have stayed in a tax shelter.
14/02/2008, 1:10 PM
NeilMcD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spanner

Clap, clap, clap! No flies on you sir!

Irony is obviously over your head - tip: don't always read text literally! :rolleyes:

This is my last post on this thread. it's like teaching a child how to tie a shoelace on here sometimes :rolleyes:

I think the tip should be for you sir, don't use irony on a internet forum as it very rarely works as Irony is to do with tone etc something that can only be got across in person and not in writing, especially when we don't know each others personalities.
14/02/2008, 1:11 PM
Billsthoughts

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I think the tip should be for you sir, don't use irony on a internet forum as it very rarely works as Irony is to do with tone etc something that can only be got across in person and not in writing, especially when we don't know each others personalities.

Neil is available for parties..........:D
14/02/2008, 1:13 PM
NeilMcD

Bill if you read another thread I through out the invitation to Trap he can stay in my house on a Friday night after a match before he heads over to England. So unfortunately the invitation is only for Trap. :)
14/02/2008, 1:16 PM
half_full

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Half Full, if you dont get money from Private business how else are you meant to get it then. If you get it from the state, you are getting tax payers money and that includes people who are not interested in footballing paying towards football. Now if you arguing for a socialist state and if so fair enough. However we live in a neo capitalist state so the only way that that a Sporting agency can survive is a mixture of grants from the government, sponsorship and in this case money put in by private individuals who have made loads of money and are football fans.

My point is that donations of this kind should not be accepted in sport. No problem with (a bit of) advertising.
14/02/2008, 1:16 PM
Torn-Ado

I think its a great thing getting all these rich fat cats to sorts out problems for us. The FAI should use this method more strategically to their advantage. They should come out publically talking up Denis O Brien as a hero, their knight in shining armour and pour scorn on the other millionaires claiming that they're a disgrace to their country and a shower of mean b***ards because they wouldn't help out the poor lads in the FAI.

All these ultra rich property developers will be embarrassed (and of course they wouldn't be as financially secure as they are if they weren't a bit competitive) and start throwing millions at the FAI and hey presto - New Lansdowne paid for.
14/02/2008, 1:23 PM
NeilMcD

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

My point is that donations of this kind should not be accepted in sport. No problem with (a bit of) advertising.

So If I was a multi millionaire and I wanted to put a million euro into Waterford, you would argue no. Even if it was a no strings donation.
14/02/2008, 1:27 PM
tblade

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

My point is that donations of this kind should not be accepted in sport. No problem with (a bit of) advertising.

There are plenty of us here that think O'Brien is dodgy (myself included) and that it's a PR stunt, but I'm still happy for the FAI to accept his money. It ain't perfect, but I don't think we can afford not to accept it.
My only point on this thread is that it doesn't make him a great Irishman or a hero and he shouldn't be lauded as one. That's not begrudgery it's just an honest opinion. (See my first post for boring reasons why.) There are lots of great Irish heroes in all walks of life from all kinds of different backgrounds and I'll happily cheer any of them but O'Brien ain't one of them.
14/02/2008, 1:35 PM
half_full

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

So If I was a multi millionaire and I wanted to put a million euro into Waterford, you would argue no. Even if it was a no strings donation.

I would have reservations, we do OK financially as it is. We have been almost ruined by business men coming along with money. The Bohs way is the best IMO, 100% supporter ownership.

well said tblade.
14/02/2008, 1:46 PM
OneRedArmy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

I think its a great thing getting all these rich fat cats to sorts out problems for us. The FAI should use this method more strategically to their advantage. They should come out publically talking up Denis O Brien as a hero, their knight in shining armour and pour scorn on the other millionaires claiming that they're a disgrace to their country and a shower of mean b***ards because they wouldn't help out the poor lads in the FAI.

All these ultra rich property developers will be embarrassed (and of course they wouldn't be as financially secure as they are if they weren't a bit competitive) and start throwing millions at the FAI and hey presto - New Lansdowne paid for.

Did you graduate from the Fisher Price School of Philanthrophy?
14/02/2008, 2:12 PM
osarusan

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

well said tblade.

tblade said this, which is exactly the opposite of what you've been saying all along.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tblade

I'm still happy for the FAI to accept his money. It ain't perfect, but I don't think we can afford not to accept it.
14/02/2008, 2:15 PM
Torn-Ado

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Did you graduate from the Fisher Price School of Philanthrophy?

No. I failed miserably in my final year project of seducing Sean Quinn into giving me 10 million euros.
14/02/2008, 2:43 PM
Quickfire

Quote:

Originally Posted by half_full

My point is that donations of this kind should not be accepted in sport. No problem with (a bit of) advertising.

In fairness, Advertising is probably much more insidious than a no strings attached donation. And yes I agree that in a perfect world, all athletes would be able to earn their keep without needing to rely on multimillion donations from various people. Unfortunately, that world doesn't exist, and people like Owen Heary and Eamon Zayed still need to get paid and that money has to come from somewhere.

In my opinion, there are two main problems with the money coming from O'Brien:

1) There is a strong (although admittedly as yet unproven) that the money he earned came in part as a result of bribing politicians, which shouldn't be acceptable anywhere.

2) Tony O'Donohue claimed that O'Brien was getting more regular updates than some members of the board of management. If true, then that should be a serious cause for concern. Surely he should just have said something like "Here lads, money's on the table, give me a bell when you pick someone and I'll sign the cheque." There was no need for him to be kept informed about who was being approached or when. Its unfortunately extremely conceivable that this inside information could have been easily used to more than recoup the cost of his "investment". maybe I'm just a cynical b**tard though.

As for the tax avoidance, I strangely have no problem with that. Given how the country was being run back then, any tax he did pay probably would have been wasted anyway, and I presume he at least paid some tax on it in portugal at least.

Anyway, rant over.
Cheers

Ps My first post. Hi everyone.

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