Eircom end title sponsorship of the league.

**holidaysong** · 17/09/2008, 4:30 PM

Originally Posted by RTÉ

Eircom will continue to sponsor the Republic of Ireland national team until 2010, with a further option to renew at the end of that period.

However the telecomunications group have officially ended their title sponsorship of the League of Ireland, although they will be staying on a communications partner, which is worth about €200,000.

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney revealed that he hopes to announce new sponsorship deals for the domestic league by the end of the year

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0917/eircom.html

**John83** · 17/09/2008, 5:16 PM

Yes! Rename the forum, pronto!

**pineapple stu** · 17/09/2008, 5:18 PM

"League"?

**John83** · 17/09/2008, 5:21 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

"League"?

of...

**Longfordian** · 17/09/2008, 5:22 PM

Pat Grace Famous Fried Chicken is set for a sensational comeback as title sponsor.

**superfrank** · 17/09/2008, 5:25 PM

Well, Irish League is taken...

Maybe "Irish Republican League" is a possibility. It could rope in the Celtic fans.

**pineapple stu** · 17/09/2008, 5:30 PM

What was the deal worth anyway? Did I see a million a year somewhere? (Possibly the last time I asked!). Presumably a new sponsorship deal, in these recessionist times, would be worth less, which I assume would have to come, first of all, out of prize money for the top clubs (given that the bottom clubs get feck all, if any, prize money anyway)

**gspain** · 17/09/2008, 5:52 PM

League of Ireland as it was for all those years.

**niallsparky** · 17/09/2008, 5:54 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

What was the deal worth anyway? Did I see a million a year somewhere? (Possibly the last time I asked!). Presumably a new sponsorship deal, in these recessionist times, would be worth less

When was the previous deal signed? Inflation since then means it's unlikely the new sponsership deal will be of less value. Also, there is no recession. And if there was, I don't think a long term advertising investment project would be affected too much. There hasn't been a huge decrease in consumer spending (yet) so construction sector aside, I doubt many Irish businesses are failing. Ultimately the sponser will have an already planned advertising budget and will likely make a decision on sponsering the league based on the future earning potential the advertising will entail, not on the current "recessionist times".

**Schumi** · 17/09/2008, 6:05 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

What was the deal worth anyway?

400k to the league according to Delaney on the news today.

**Buile Shuibhne** · 17/09/2008, 6:24 PM

Listening to Delaney in a clip there on Newstalk106, he said that the FAI had suggested to eircom that they step back their lead sponsorship of the League of Ireland and he was delighted that they did. He hinted that they wanted and would soon announce a multi-sponsor deal for they League ( i.e. they couldn't get one single bluechip lead sponsor)

He didn't want to say who the new multi sponsors would be, cos he didn't want to steal eircom's thunder (i.e. nobody is lined up yet?)

**Rovers1** · 17/09/2008, 6:30 PM

according to Today FM, Delaney said he "hopes" to have a deal secured for the LOI before the end of the year

In other words, "i dont give a sh!te about the league, im just gonna ignore the problem till it sorts itself out, sure we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"

**A face** · 17/09/2008, 6:49 PM

Originally Posted by Fintan Cassidy

Listening to Delaney in a clip there on Newstalk106, he said that the FAI had suggested to eircom that they step back their lead sponsorship of the League of Ireland and he was delighted that they did. He hinted that they wanted and would soon announce a multi-sponsor deal for they League ( i.e. they couldn't get one single bluechip lead sponsor)

He didn't want to say who the new multi sponsors would be, cos he didn't want to steal eircom's thunder (i.e. nobody is lined up yet?)

Originally Posted by Rovers1

according to Today FM, Delaney said he "hopes" to have a deal secured for the LOI before the end of the year

In other words, "i dont give a sh!te about the league, im just gonna ignore the problem till it sorts itself out, sure we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"

I dunno, i wont so fast to cast judgement. Getting sponsors to sign up to any six figure sum will always be a long and protracted period of time. From what i have heard from Delaney so far he has committed to a certain period of time i.e. next four months, and he more than anyone else knows you cannot say anything if there is a remote possibility that it will come back to bite you later on. Sounds to me as if nothing is 100% yet but its all going well.

I think the medias slant on the league really rubs off on people here.

**Buile Shuibhne** · 17/09/2008, 7:06 PM

Originally Posted by A face

I think the medias slant on the league really rubs off on people here.

I'm old enough, have been involved in politics, and have used the media myself, to know how they work.

I make up my own mind.

I also know a bull****ter when I hear one.

I have no confidence in Mr Delaney & Co's stewardship of the League of Ireland.

**A face** · 17/09/2008, 7:19 PM

Originally Posted by Fintan Cassidy

I have no confidence in Mr Delaney & Co's stewardship of the League of Ireland.

He is getting more done than anyone before him and i include everything before the 80's in there too. Dont get me wrong, i am far from pro-Delaney and i think most people on here will confirm that for ya but i do know that it takes a long time to get these things signed off. Companies simply will not part with their money unless they get a good deal, especially when its a six figure deal.

The FAI are slowly getting there, probably up to 40% of what they should be doing (and getting right) in the league, and thats a big lift from 30% since they took over. We have to give them credit for that 10%.

**Buile Shuibhne** · 17/09/2008, 7:36 PM

Can you list his achievements and advances with the league.

How do you calculate the 30% and 40% bits ?

**A face** · 18/09/2008, 8:06 AM

eircom and FAI extend sponsorship agreement

eircom and the FAI today announced a continuation of their partnership in a new deal which will see the relationship extended through 2010 with an option to renew further. This new contract sees eircom continue as the primary sponsor of the FAI and primary sponsor of all Republic of Ireland International teams. Separately, eircom will become the Official Communications Partner of the League of Ireland, extending eircom’s relationship with the League of Ireland under the newly restructured commercial partnership agreements.

Speaking at the announcement, Managing Director of eircom Retail, Cathal Magee said: “eircom is delighted to extend its strong links with Irish soccer and renew our sponsorship of the International teams. Our new agreement to become Official Communications Partner of the League of Ireland allows us to retain our involvement in the domestic game and we look forward to working with the FAI in this new capacity.

Read more at www.fai.ie

**GuisaSaigon** · 18/09/2008, 9:09 AM

Originally Posted by A face

eircom and FAI extend sponsorship agreement

Separately, eircom will become the Official Communications Partner of the League of Ireland

Read more at www.fai.ie

What does that mean? No phone bills?

**gael353** · 18/09/2008, 11:30 AM

as you can see there is a massive responce to this on this LOI forum. The press release yesterday was spin, with devil in the detail party where der not supporting the Loi anymore. What all the spin means is that for a further two years extension we, the supporters will still be the only nationallity in the world which cannot buy its own national jersey without a commercial sponsor on it.