Linfield pull out of Setanta Cup

**brendy_éire** · 05/01/2010, 8:30 AM

It's all our fault, it seems.

Originally Posted by Belfast Telegraph

One match that Kerr won’t be working to organise is the Blues’ scheduled Setanta Sports Cup return date with Derry City.

The cross-border competition is due to resume next month, with Linfield facing the Candystripes at the Brandywell on Saturday February 27, but Kerr will refuse to take his club to the north-west.

Derry are currently in liquidation, they owe money to players who weren’t paid full wages since August as well as both Linfield and Dungannon Swifts and Kerr won’t face a re-formed club.

“We won’t be playing Derry City in the Setanta Cup,” said Kerr. “The Derry City that qualified for the competition has ceased to exist and they have gone into liquidation owing money to ourselves and Dungannon Swifts — although I have been told that we’ll get all the money. If a new Derry City comes into operation, which looks likely as they are signing players, they still don’t have a right to play in the Setanta Cup.”

The initial shine of the Setanta Cup, which got off to a blistering start in its first season when Linfield won the trophy, has vanished.

The scheduling of the competition, with the league seasons north and south of the border not running in parallel, has been a problem and the financial straits of the sponsors have seen prize money cut.

After being a success in the early stages, the Setanta Cup has been in intensive care for sometime and the Blues are now ready to cut off its life-support.

“As far as I am concerned the competition is now dead in the water,” said Kerr.

“We were told that money would be paid up-front, we received a portion of that and referee’s expenses were then deducted from the second payment.

“The prize money, which has been reduced from the original figure, is in doubt and it’s now going to cost clubs money to play in it.”

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...#ixzz0bjE0wtQl

I think they've missed the point that it's an invitational tournament, so Setanta could invite whoever they wanted.

**tiktok** · 05/01/2010, 8:38 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

I think they've missed the point that it's an invitational tournament, so Setanta could invite whoever they wanted.

They're dead right, 'New' Derry City shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the competition.

**brendy_éire** · 05/01/2010, 8:46 AM

Originally Posted by tiktok

They're dead right, 'New' Derry City shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the competition.

We shouldn't really, but it's for Setanta to decide who gets to play, not Linfield. Setanta are the ones paying for it.

**tiktok** · 05/01/2010, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

We shouldn't really, but it's for Setanta to decide who gets to play, not Linfield. Setanta are the ones paying for it.

Why go through the farce that it's based on league positions and cup wins so, if it's purely invitational. Anyway, the invitees were decided on last year, to parachute a new entity in when one goes bust is ridiculous, they may as well have dropped Finn Harps in there.

**Mr A** · 05/01/2010, 9:01 AM

Fair play to Linfield , this is the only stance that makes sense and it's incredible that it had to come from them rather than the organisers.

**brendy_éire** · 05/01/2010, 9:03 AM

Originally Posted by tiktok

Anyway, the invitees were decided on last year, to parachute a new entity in when one goes bust is ridiculous, they may as well have dropped Finn Harps in there.

I'm not saying it's ideal, but what would you suggest they do?
Could maybe invite the next highest league finishers in 2008? That would be enough, IMO.

**CMcC** · 05/01/2010, 9:05 AM

Are Linfield pulling out of the competition or just refusing to fulfill the Derry fixture?

**Not Brazil** · 05/01/2010, 9:40 AM

Originally Posted by tiktok

They're dead right, 'New' Derry City shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the competition.

Given the fiasco over payment for tickets by the "old" Derry City for the game at Windsor Park, I'm not in the least surprised at this decision.

**tiktok** · 05/01/2010, 9:58 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

I'm not saying it's ideal, but what would you suggest they do?
Could maybe invite the next highest league finishers in 2008? That would be enough, IMO.

Let existing results stand [both Pats and Linfield have drawn 1-1 with Derry].
Award Linfield and St.Pats 1-0 wins each for the remaining Derry fixtures.
It leaves Linfield and St.Pats, who haven't played each other yet, with identical records.
They play their two matches [already scheduled] as a two-legged play-off to top the group.

If the awarded win means Pat's or Linfield ends up as best runner up in the end, so be it.

**Derry** · 05/01/2010, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Given the fiasco over payment for tickets by the "old" Derry City for the game at Windsor Park, I'm not in the least surprised at this decision.

Tell us again why Linfield didn't play Derry City in the 1st game last season. This is the second time they've pulled out of playing Derry City in this years competition. The last time it had to cost Derry City the best part of £50000. linfield have done nothing but try to undermine Satanta since it started. Every year they had a different complaint. It works for them with the IFA, but others should tell them were to get off.

**marinobohs** · 05/01/2010, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by tiktok

Let existing results stand [both Pats and Linfield have drawn 1-1 with Derry].
Award Linfield and St.Pats 1-0 wins each for the remaining Derry fixtures.
It leaves Linfield and St.Pats, who haven't played each other yet, with identical records.
They play their two matches as a two-legged play-off to top the group.

If the awarded win means Pat's or Linfield ends up as best runner up in the end, so be it.

+ 1. seems the logical way to deal with the situation. Cannot see how the "new" Derry would play in it but even more ridiculous is the idea of inviting another team in half way through the competition (right so, its an invite

). Much the same as if a club folded or was expelled, results stand and walkovers given in respect of games not yet played.
I have no idea if the SETANTA Cup rules cover this scenario so the above is (in my view) just common sense.

**Mr_Parker** · 05/01/2010, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

It's all our fault, it seems.

I think they've missed the point that it's an invitational tournament, so Setanta could invite whoever they wanted.

The point you are missing is that we are midway in the competition and you can't just invite a new team in mid stream!

**Dodge** · 05/01/2010, 11:09 AM

We all know its not a new club lads. New owners maybe, but thats it. Stupid pedantic point scoring as usual from the Northern clubs

I guess Setanta won't bother with another competition, as its clearly more hassle than its worth to some

**Not Brazil** · 05/01/2010, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Derry

Tell us again why Linfield didn't play Derry City in the 1st game last season. This is the second time they've pulled out of playing Derry City in this years competition. The last time it had to cost Derry City the best part of £50000. linfield have done nothing but try to undermine Satanta since it started. Every year they had a different complaint. It works for them with the IFA, but others should tell them were to get off.

What fixture did Linfield FC not fulfil against Derry City in last years competition?

What fixture against Derry City did they pull out of earlier in this years competition?

I think you'll find that Linfield FC won the inaugural Setanta Cup, reached another final, and only failed to reach the last four on one occassion (last year) - hardly undermining it.

PS. Have you paid the money you stole from us yet?

**Sam_Heggy** · 05/01/2010, 11:21 AM

There's still a Setanta Cup?

**brendy_éire** · 05/01/2010, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

The point you are missing is that we are midway in the competition and you can't just invite a new team in mid stream!

But they can. Setanta could invite the Danish national team along if they wanted.

Tiktok idea could work, but is it in the rules? (can't seem to find them anywhere) Granted, Setanta can change them to make it work.

The point is, Linfield have been dying to get out the Setanta since it started.
First they complained that they had to play mid-week matches, so games were switched to the weekend. Then they complained that weekend games affected their IL games. Seriously, what they want us to do?

And let's not forgot about the whole shenanigans with switching the first match of the current competition to Windsor from the Brandy, using the excuse of some minor Orange parade in Castlerock. It meant we didn't get our massive gate, which mightn't have helped much in the big picture, but could have at least paid the players a little bit.
If Linfield don't play this match it'll cost us the guts of £50k.

**micls** · 05/01/2010, 11:31 AM

They're dead right.

Why would they agree to play a reformed club that stole money off them in the same competition?

**Mr_Parker** · 05/01/2010, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

We all know its not a new club lads. New owners maybe, but thats it. Stupid pedantic point scoring as usual from the Northern clubs

When did Wellvan sell "Derry City" to the new company?

Originally Posted by Dodge

I guess Setanta won't bother with another competition, as its clearly more hassle than its worth to some

It is not the northern clubs that have brought this all to a head. Derry owe clubs money and then this happens.

http://foot.ie/forums/showthread.php?t=129865

Hardly inspiring confidence in the competition is it when the FAI do this is it?

**Mr_Parker** · 05/01/2010, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

But they can. Setanta could invite the Danish national team along if they wanted.

Tiktok idea could work, but is it in the rules? (can't seem to find them anywhere) Granted, Setanta can change them to make it work.

Sorry to blow your theory out of the water but Setanta don't run the competition.