John Delaney

[OneRedArmy]

It was a stupid comment to make, and no one can disagree with that.

I disagree.

Lots of others on this thread, many of them LOI supporters, also disagree.

[monkey9]

Yeah, he did say. But i would tend to go along with JC_GUFC's post.

[jo84]

What John Delaney said is 100 per cent true, this was much bigger than an LOI game, there were millions watching all over the world, and a place at the world cup was at stake. This was bigger than any league game, in any country, where the losing side could at least try make up for it in their next match.

[Alf Honn]

So, he's says that Fingal or Sligo can't claim a replay on a wrong referee decision tomorrow? What's the profile of the game got to do with justice being served!

This man has belittled the league - his own league.

[fbtn]

Like many others, I would also have used my own League as an example.

He was merely pointing out that each and every game that has such an incident doesn't fall into the same category as losing a place at most important football tournament there is.

There is plenty of other ammo out there to have a go at him for instead of this non-story.

[TonyD]

If I had been in his position I would have used a LOI example as well. Why? Because I spend most of my time thinking about the LOI.

So as A Derry City fan do you think games that your club play in are unimportant ? Delaney, as someone else here has pointed out, deliberately used the example of a game between two LOI sides as something that wasn't important. The problem is that this illustrates exactly where the LOI stands in his estimation. And as for the point that if he used two english teams we would complain, well I couldn't give a toss if he had. The point is, he would never have used two English teams as an example of a trivial, unimportant game, particularly not his beloved ManU.

[SwanVsDalton]

This is simple. In making his point, he was trying to establish a clear contrast between something that is vitally important, on one side, and, on the other, something that everyone would recognise as deeply unimportant. .

How does anyone get that? The only contrast is between something which is much more important than something else - there's no indication he considers the league 'deeply unimportant.'

[MariborKev]

So as A Derry City fan do you think games that your club play in are unimportant ?

Exactly where did I say that?

[blue til i die]

do we know maybe he was talking about local club waterford bohemianss v waterford united, in waterford?

[irishultra]

so it wasnt the manner in which henry cheated thats the problem its what was at stake. very well then.

but

[Riddickcule]

Pointless thread imo.

[thischarmingman]

Pointless thread imo.

...and so the close season begins....

[mr.untitled]

I've been reading this forum for a number of years primarily to keep an eye on the Sligo Rovers forum but also the Ireland forum.

Prior to this I have not been moved to post a reply to a thread but this thread, for me, typifies the idiotic [MOD EDIT - NOT ON FOOT.IE] that is spouted by alot of League of Ireland fans, of which I am one.

Let's make this clear, Delaneys point was a simple one: this was not a case of cheating in a League of Ireland game where the exposure to such cheating would be confined at most to supporters of both of the clubs. On the contrary, Henry's act of cheating (if you wish to call it that) was carried out on the world stage and therefore the damaging effect to football as a whole was maximised.

And he's 100% correct. Its a valid point - there isn't a soccer fan in the world that hasn't seen the handball incident in the match the other night and it is incredibly damaging to the sport to be seen to allow such things to happen without reprimand or sanction.

Just on Delaney, I've been supporting the League of Ireland since the first Sligo Rovers game I attended in the 1985-86 season against Longford. I was smitten and the League won me over over the following two weeks when we played Bohs and Derry. The latter brought an incredible crowd with them that, to a young fella, seemed to fill the showgrounds. Anyway, the league and the FAI as I've been growing up has been run like a circus. Since Delaney took over I've seen a marked improvement in the administrative structures of the association and he has overseen the implementation of a regulatory structure over the League of Ireland. Sure there have been some fudges but that is inevitable when you are trying to effect change in a political organisation such as the FAI and League of Ireland. But it is my view that if Delaney gets to finish the job he started the league will be a better place. The League this year was fantastic and the most interesting it has been in years.

Delaney has proven commercial experience which I must stress is of paramount importance if you want to run a large organisation such as the FAI. Prior to his appointment we had, for example, sales reps running the show. No offence to all who may get offended but that is a recipe for disaster and it is the reason we had the circus we had for so many years.

So give him a break. He is doing a fairly good job and to be honest lads, he's one of the few people within the game in thsi country with the intellect and desire to run the FAI.
.

good post!
there is alot Delaney has done that I disagree with, but on the whole I think he has done a good job and seems to be doing better and better. I heard the interview on Matt Cooper and my initial reaction was the fact that he mentioned our league and not the epl means that it is at the forefront of his mind. In order to think that he did our league a disservice, you would have to take his comments out of context and complaining about it here just adds to the paranoia among an element of LoI supporters.

[Dodge]

Pointless thread imo.

As opposed to 15 threads under 5/6 usernames on the same subject?

[bennocelt]

As head of the FAI wonder was Delaney at the FAI cup game, his name wasn't read out anyway. Disgraceful if he wasn't there IMHO

[prince20]

As head of the FAI wonder was Delaney at the FAI cup game, his name wasn't read out anyway. Disgraceful if he wasn't there IMHO

Yes he was at the game but why would his name be called out?

[Straightstory]

He is NOT right on the button. He could have said - and maybe even meant to say - ''this is not a 5-a-side kickabout after work were talking about, its a world cup playoff..."

but no, without being prompted, the man with ultimate responsibility for stopping this league being a laughing stock further undermines it with a stupid throwaway remark.

Quite right. As an 'example' of an unimportant, meaningless game he chose a fixture from the league he's supposed to be promoting! I agree that the World Cup game was huge, and, obviously, for the vast amount of people in this country of much more significance than Bohs Waterford. But the point is: he could have contrasted it with more or less ANYTHING to illustrate it's importance. The fact that he chose Bohs Waterford (twice apparently!) is very, very telling indeed. It absolutely diminishes the league. It was just a stupid thing to do. People are quite right to be angry.

[Macy]

It was a stupid comment to make/ example to use, and the whole "replay" nonsense is going to create a rod for the FAI's back - their too short sighted and busy playing the populist card to see it. Long term it's going to be football in this country that suffers as we won't be too long waiting for a club to call for replay citing the FAI calls as justification.

Delaney only has the interests of one stakeholder in mind when he does anything...

[Dunny]

As head of the FAI wonder was Delaney at the FAI cup game, his name wasn't read out anyway. Disgraceful if he wasn't there IMHO

He was there, RTE showed him txtin on his phone.

[bennocelt]

Yes he was at the game but why would his name be called out?

God I dunno - maybe as CEO of the Football Association of Ireland

or maybe more likely he didnt want his name to be booed