Airtricity League clubs vote unanimously in favour of FAI stewardship

**Mr A** · 31/05/2010, 11:16 AM

Linky for full article.

The Football Association of Ireland today (May 31) announced that all 22 Airtricity League clubs have now completed a vote on whether they wish to renew the merger agreement with the FAI when it expires post 2011.

The vote, which was carried unanimously by all participating clubs, was in favour of remaining under the stewardship of the FAI. The unanimous yes vote is a strong endorsement from clubs of the improvements in standards, governance and funding that have occurred since the FAI took over the running of the Airtricity League in 2007.

Not unexpected.

**Mr A** · 31/05/2010, 11:23 AM

One of the interesting bits from the story:

Successful implementation of the 65% salary cost protocol

....is listed as an achievement. Does anybody believe that Cork City or Derry City under their previous regimes were under the 65% limit? Derry were kicked out specifically for measures designed to avoid it and I'm pretty sure that under Coughlan Cork were well over the limit. OK, it's probably been a good thing in general and I appreciate these press releases must be made to sound positive, but I'd like to see more progress in implementing the rule evenly and effectively across all clubs and some recognition that there is a way to go.

**pineapple stu** · 31/05/2010, 11:30 AM

It's easy to get drawn in to slagging what the FAI will say about themselves. They mention a E5m annual investment plus a national highlights show, which I'm pretty sure is double counting.

**Macy** · 31/05/2010, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

It's easy to get drawn in to slagging what the FAI will say about themselves. They mention a E5m annual investment plus a national highlights show, which I'm pretty sure is double counting.

Well yes, it is very easy when they publish such rubbish as "The unanimous yes vote is a strong endorsement from clubs of the improvements in standards, governance and funding that have occurred since the FAI took over the running of the Airtricity League in 2007".

**osarusan** · 31/05/2010, 11:56 AM

In fairness, what else would you (plural) expect in a statement from any organisation in this position (not just the FAI)? The statement is going to be full of positives which may not stand up to the scrutiny of those who know the situation well, but will be nice reading for those who don't.

No surprise it was a unanimous vote, and not bad news either. If the FAI really are concerned about improving the league, there are plenty of mistakes (their own and others) from which they can learn.

**MariborKev** · 31/05/2010, 11:57 AM

Whilst the clubs may have approved it, there is a detailed list of points that the clubs want "clarification" and/or discussions on.

**Buile Shuibhne** · 31/05/2010, 11:59 AM

Limerick also gave the FAI the vote of confidence.

**Buile Shuibhne** · 31/05/2010, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by MariborKev

Whilst the clubs may have approved it, there is a detailed list of points that the clubs want "clarification" and/or discussions on.

Is this list available / published?

**MariborKev** · 31/05/2010, 12:02 PM

Not that I know of.

**pineapple stu** · 31/05/2010, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

In fairness, what else would you (plural) expect in a statement from any organisation in this position (not just the FAI)? The statement is going to be full of positives which may not stand up to the scrutiny of those who know the situation well, but will be nice reading for those who don't.

Yeah, I know. It's just so damned easy our way...

**Macy** · 31/05/2010, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by osarusan

In fairness, what else would you (plural) expect in a statement from any organisation in this position (not just the FAI)? The statement is going to be full of positives which may not stand up to the scrutiny of those who know the situation well, but will be nice reading for those who don't.

I don't disagree, but it's our responsibility to highlight the bull, for the uninformed and/or the lazy journalists who might visit here for a story.

**Lim till i die** · 31/05/2010, 1:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Does anybody believe that Cork City or Derry City under their previous regimes were under the 65% limit?

Does anybody believe that there aren't clubs this minute, over the 65% limit??

Originally Posted by FAI

The Football Association of Ireland today (May 31) announced that all 22 Airtricity League clubs have now completed a vote on whether they wish to renew the merger agreement with the FAI when it expires post 2011.
The vote, which was carried unanimously by all participating clubs,

Originally Posted by Buile Shuibhne

Limerick also gave the FAI the vote of confidence.

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/05/2010, 4:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

One of the interesting bits from the story:

....is listed as an achievement. Does anybody believe that Cork City or Derry City under their previous regimes were under the 65% limit? Derry were kicked out specifically for measures designed to avoid it and I'm pretty sure that under Coughlan Cork were well over the limit. OK, it's probably been a good thing in general and I appreciate these press releases must be made to sound positive, but I'd like to see more progress in implementing the rule evenly and effectively across all clubs and some recognition that there is a way to go.

Surely the fact they were relegated for violating the rule counts as successful implementation?

This isn't really a surprise. The clubs are all financially savvy enough to know the FAI is their best bet at the moment. Good to see they're seeking clarification on important issues - poor communication (emanating mainly from the FAI) seems to be the root of a lot of current problems and it will be no harm to force more transparency from them.

**osarusan** · 31/05/2010, 4:15 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Surely the fact they were relegated for violating the rule counts as successful implementation?

I'm open to correction on this but as far as I recall - Derry were kicked out for financial irregularities - that Derry is now defunct and the club in division 1 is a different Derry (technically at least) who bought the name from the old company. Cork City Foras are a new club set up after Cork City failed to get a licence from the independent licencing board.

There's no doubt that the FAI played a role in the demise of both clubs, but neither were actually relegated.

**pineapple stu** · 31/05/2010, 4:39 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Surely the fact they were relegated for violating the rule counts as successful implementation?

The point of the 65% rule isn't to punish clubs who have spent too much, it's to stop clubs from killing themselves from spending too much. So the damage was done by the time the FAI stepped in (Derry were broke), which defeats the point.

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/05/2010, 4:59 PM

You're both right - I got confused by the original point. However, Derry were expelled for committing fraud in order to circumvent the 65% cap, so the club were punished as a direct result of their attempt to breach the rules. Derry would have gone under anyway because they'd adopted a kamikaze financial model but the league took the correct course of action. Cork is obviously different - I shouldn't have conflated the two.

**OneRedArmy** · 31/05/2010, 5:06 PM

Originally Posted by MariborKev

Whilst the clubs may have approved it, there is a detailed list of points that the clubs want "clarification" and/or discussions on.

Who signs a contract and then asks for clarification?!

**gufcfan** · 31/05/2010, 5:39 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Who signs a contract and then asks for clarification?!

Someone with no other offer on the table.

**Spudulika** · 31/05/2010, 8:17 PM

I'm surprised and not surprised by this. The FAI have made sure they're the only game in town. They got their buddies in the media to destroy P1, they went all out to play to the fans by doing what they had to do to get everyone onside. More importantly clubs are desperate for money and as a result they have to sign up. The "clarification" stuff seems like nonsense. Just a way for clubs to pretend they're flexing flab!

**Riddickcule** · 31/05/2010, 8:29 PM

Not happy about this, E5million is nowhere near enough money to stimulate a professional league. The Fai have too much on their plate. Looks like the LOI will continue and always will be a jokeshop. sigh.