Asleep at the wheel

**A face** · 02/09/2008, 9:09 AM

Taken from another forum but this is a valid point. Has McGuiness even been to Cork during all of this or has he been asleep at the wheel?

Isn't Steven McGuiness great looking for ways out for players. Not every player is going to get a club only the high profile ones. As any trade union would do in these circumstances would be to have some discussions with the company not drive another nail in the coffin. Get down to Cork sit with the players and the examiner and see is there a way of getting out of this mess.

**Dodge** · 02/09/2008, 9:14 AM

How is it a valid point if you don't know the answer? There's obviously a union rep at the club. Surely he can tell McGuinness all he needs to know. McGuinness has already contacted the FAi about opening the window for cork players. he would not have done this without Cork players requesting him to do so. He was on the radio a couple of times and seemed fairly clued on to whats happening. They've no money to put in, so why would the examiner need to meet him?

**A face** · 02/09/2008, 9:31 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He was on the radio a couple of times

When? What stations? in Cork .... where its actually happening?

**Dodge** · 02/09/2008, 9:37 AM

He was RTE radio. Presume you get that down there?

**A face** · 02/09/2008, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He was RTE radio. Presume you get that down there?

We do, when was that ..... how long ago was that? Would i be right in saying a hell of a lot have gone on in the meantime? But sure yeah, you're probably right, a phone call will do. Companies closing down all over the place and their reps are insisting the companies go to the table but tis all grand in this case.

**Dodge** · 02/09/2008, 10:10 AM

Get a grip a face! You don't even know if he's been there or not, and even if he hasn't been, what can he do in person, that he can't get over the phone?

The PFAI isn't in the top 100 problems your club is facing so maybe focus your energy on that rather than your infatuation with McGuinness

**Macy** · 02/09/2008, 10:15 AM

He was on Morning Ireland the day after the wage cut was announced, correcting the reports that it was a cut and saying it was a deferral. He also said he expected the wages to be honoured and that he wanted the FAI to keep the window open. I also heard him discussing the issue on one of the weekend sports shows, but not sure whether it was RTE or Newstalk, but I think it was last weekend.

As a Union Official his role is to look after the players - either ensuring they have their wages or that they are free to leave the club if someone else comes in. I'm not sure what you'd be expecting him to do? I really don't see a role until after the examiner reports, and that'll most likely require negotiations as he'll probably propose a wage cut for the staff.

Even as a Union man, I'm no great fan of the PFAI, but at the same time it just looks that you're throwing a stone looking to hit someone guilty A Face. It's purely the company that is breaking it's committments - about the only thing extra a union could be doing is taking strike action demanding terms and conditions are honoured!