What the FAI thinks of progressive clubs:

**Lim till i die** · 23/01/2011, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by mrtndvn

Nope, they were clear.

This is a lie regardless of how much whinging you get on with in the rest of your post.

If they were clear why all the blather from Fran and John at the time.

If you have proof of this clarity show us. If not stop telling lies.

**osarusan** · 23/01/2011, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by mrtndvn

The conditions of the league were pretty clear when they signed up.

Originally Posted by mrtndvn

Nope, they were clear. Limrick fans will believe what they want to believe.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...270599758.html

The association has told Limerick the game cannot go ahead on the basis that it is prohibited under the terms of a contract it has with an agent from granting permission for games that might attract a crowd of more than 15,000 spectators.

Speaking yesterday, however, the association�s communications director, Peter Sherrard, confirmed the clubs had never actually been told of any such restriction. Rather, they are simply obliged to accept the association has a power of veto thanks to the sweeping nature of the licensing agreement which all clubs are forced to sign if they want to take part in the league.

**shantykelly** · 23/01/2011, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by mrtndvn

Wish Limrick would just drop this. The FAI bend over backwards to help clubs and this is all the thanks they get.

The conditions of the league were pretty clear when they signed up, they will simply embarrass themselves and the league in public.

disagree. from what i can gather, the fai had the power to veto an event that wasn't in the interest of the association or its member clubs. this friendly was obviously in the best interests of limerick, and i dont think any other fai club would begrudge them it. rather, most, if not all, would have been slightly green with envy.

as for bending over backwards to help clubs? balls. they help out clubs from large population centres, or those they view as important to any sort of strategic development of the league, and let the rest twist in the wind. an inability to properly enforce THEIR OWN RULES has led to the common asterisk becoming a common sight on our league tables, and fudge becoming a staple part of a LoI supporter's diet. Yes the clubs aren't perfect, but quite a few are definitely trying and are moving in the right direction, only to see their efforts spat on.

**peadar1987** · 24/01/2011, 12:16 AM

And wasn't the original reason given that the match couldn't take part on the same day as a competitive match in Longford, or something? Until it was pointed out that the Shams - Madrid game, among others had happened at the same time as league games. And didn't Limerick offer to reduce the capacity of Thomond for the game, after which the FAI promptly revised the limit? And didn't someone connected with a club explicitly state that there was nothing in the participation agreement Limerick signed along the lines of what the FAI were claiming.

Doesn't sound clear to me.

**SkStu** · 24/01/2011, 4:01 AM

i wish Limerick nothing but the best on this. They were shafted unmercifully by the FAI, particpation agreement or not. Tough situation for a club and its fans to find itself in. Whether it achieves anything or not remains to be seen i suppose.

I take objection however to claims by some limerick fan here that the FAI has bailed Bohs out.

**bennocelt** · 24/01/2011, 7:04 AM

Originally Posted by mrtndvn

Nope, they were clear. Limrick fans will believe what they want to believe.

It will be just another victory for the FAI against a loi club. At this stage you'd think they'd realise that they aren't going to get one over on the football association just by raging some media war.

Investment in the league has massively increased since the fai took over, this unfortunately has to be paid for.

Doh, thats what they are there for - ii is the Football Ass of Ireland

And how much do they squander on the joke of a natioanl team?

**Mr A** · 24/01/2011, 8:18 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Doh, thats what they are there for - ii is the Football Ass of Ireland

And how much do they squander on the joke of a natioanl team?

You mean the national team that provides the vast majority of their revenue?

**peadar1987** · 24/01/2011, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mr A

You mean the national team that provides the vast majority of their revenue?

Although the LOI could provide a significant chunk more revenue if it were properly managed and promoted.

**marinobohs** · 24/01/2011, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by peadar1987

Although the LOI could provide a significant chunk more revenue if it were properly managed and promoted.

Not sure I would ever be promoting the LOI as possible money earner for the FAI

(not inthe short/medium term at least) but the national Assosiation does have a responsibility to promote the LOI which they have often negleted. having said that as we all know clubs have often been their own worst enemy so FAI not quite the "bogeymen" portrayed on here.
The treatment of Limerick FC by the FAI was abysmal, the fact no club was told of a contract that governed their business is shocking and they are right to feel aggrieved. I am unsure however if taking the legal route is the way to go, even if they win compensation (surely their best outcome) one suspects that JD & Co will be waiting in the long grass and with any LOI club never more than a heartbeat from the next disaster.......

**bennocelt** · 24/01/2011, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

You mean the national team that provides the vast majority of their revenue?

Are you getting value for money? Doubt it
Witout grassroots football their is no national team.

**gael353** · 24/01/2011, 2:11 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

You mean the national team that provides the vast majority of their revenue?

and the same national team which only exists due to there being a semi pro league in that country.

**John83** · 24/01/2011, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by gael353

and the same national team which only exists due to there being a semi pro league in that country.

His point was that the national team is a massive cash cow. The claim that loads of money is squandered on it - which is what he was replying to - is, frankly, a bit silly.

**osarusan** · 24/01/2011, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by John83

His point was that the national team is a massive cash cow. The claim that loads of money is squandered on it - which is what he was replying to - is, frankly, a bit silly.

The two things can be true though. It would still be a massive cash cow even if less was spent on it. There's necessary spending, and there's squandering. How much of the latter is being done? I have no idea myself (and don't really think it's relevant to this thread).

**bluewhitearmy** · 24/01/2011, 3:39 PM

[QUOTE=SkStu;1443941]i wish Limerick nothing but the best on this. They were shafted unmercifully by the FAI, particpation agreement or not. Tough situation for a club and its fans to find itself in. Whether it achieves anything or not remains to be seen i suppose.

I take objection however to claims by some limerick fan here that the FAI has bailed Bohs out.[/QUOTE]

Apologies for that

**bennocelt** · 24/01/2011, 3:53 PM

Originally Posted by John83

His point was that the national team is a massive cash cow. The claim that loads of money is squandered on it - which is what he was replying to - is, frankly, a bit silly.

No its not, how much is Trap and all the gang on? How much does Delaney get? Jesus even Stapleton and Givens were on the pay role for a good while

**John83** · 25/01/2011, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

No its not, how much is Trap and all the gang on? How much does Delaney get? Jesus even Stapleton and Givens were on the pay role for a good while

What does Delaney's wages have to do with the NT? Absolutely nothing.

Trap gets, what, €2m a year from the FAI? (Half his wages come directly from Denis O'Brien.) One sell-out home game in Lansdowne brings in something like that kind of money, and that's before you consider TV money and sponsorship. The TV money was compromised to put on Monday Night Soccer (indicated at this fans forum), Eircom pulled out of the league sponsorship before the national team. The money taken in from the national team utterly dwarves the expenditure, and whether you think Trap was a good investment or not, the extra money expended on him is very likely recouped in terms of the impact of the increased viability of the team on the various revenue streams.

I don't see what your point was, beyond a petty swipe at the FAI.

**passerrby** · 25/01/2011, 1:43 PM

[QUOTE=John83;1444436I don't see what your point was, beyond a petty swipe at the FAI.[/QUOTE]

there ya go again knocking our hobbies

**bennocelt** · 25/01/2011, 3:29 PM

Originally Posted by John83

What does Delaney's wages have to do with the NT? Absolutely nothing.

Trap gets, what, �2m a year from the FAI? (Half his wages come directly from Denis O'Brien.) One sell-out home game in Lansdowne brings in something like that kind of money, and that's before you consider TV money and sponsorship. The TV money was compromised to put on Monday Night Soccer pulled out of the league sponsorship before the national team. The money taken in from the national team utterly dwarves the expenditure, and whether you think Trap was a good investment or not, the extra money expended on him is very likely recouped in terms of the impact of the increased viability of the team on the various revenue streams.

I don't see what your point was, beyond a petty swipe at the FAI.

My point is that the FAI SHOULD be investing in the LOI.
Delaney gets more in a salary that nearly the whole of the prize money on offer in the LOI - not bad for a useless get.
How many times have the national team filled the new stadia yet? Will be very interesting to see the crowds at the upcoming games?

**pineapple stu** · 25/01/2011, 3:43 PM

I don't think any of those paragraphs actually related to each other.

If I were the FAI, I wouldn't invest much in the LoI until the clubs copped the hell on to themselves. (Though you could even argue that the FAI are investing in Bohs...). And as John83 pointed out, MNS is a tangible investment in the league.

How many times have the LoI filled the new ground? The Man Utd game doesn't count obviously.

**bennocelt** · 25/01/2011, 4:48 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I don't think any of those paragraphs actually related to each other.

If I were the FAI, I wouldn't invest much in the LoI until the clubs copped the hell on to themselves. (Though you could even argue that the FAI are investing in Bohs...). And as John83 pointed out, MNS is a tangible investment in the league.

How many times have the LoI filled the new ground? The Man Utd game doesn't count obviously.

Thats all fair, but the attitude is that the FAI when it helps the LOI we should all be thankful. Its their job to progress football in this country, its what they should be doing and we shouldn't applaud them for that. The LOI is the sick man of Irish football, while the national team get all the press and money despite not doing anything of note on a long while.