Eligibility Rules, Okay

**ArdeeBhoy** · 05/09/2011, 7:50 PM

It wasn't recently, was under Taggart's 'blog' a few months back, maybe even last year?
Will try to find a link...

Turns out he doesn't mention it specifically but I'm sure some of the replies to his posts made passing reference to it, but small beer compared to the standards of OWB, The BT comments section or even here...

**ifk101** · 09/09/2011, 7:50 AM

In full flow, Shiels spoke of his dismay at numerous players opting to snub Northern Ireland and play for the Republic instead, insisting had he still been working at the IFA, it would not have happened.

He said: �Northern Ireland has a population of 1.5m people, but their target is 1m because, unfortunately, the way things have developed half a million people now want to play for the Republic of Ireland.

�When I was there that didn�t happen and it wouldn�t have happened.

�I had Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy and Daniel Kearns in my squad and there�s no way that they would have left to play for the Republic if I was still there. No way: they still phone me.

�But they�ve gone because they�ve brought in too many English staff. Worthington brought this whole entourage from England � his assistant Glynn Snodin, goalkeeping coach Fred Barber and all the rest.�

Shiels continued: �The kids don't have any affinity with the staff. As well as that they also introduced English kids � from 16-19 � right through the system.

�It became clogged with English youngsters who weren�t any better than the Northern Ireland lads.

�The Irish boys are being brought through to the age of 16 and being replaced by average English players because they play at youth level for Coventry or Norwich or Watford.

�They�re no better than what we had, but young locals were pushed aside so there is resentment there straight away. That shouldn�t have been allowed to happen.

�Mal Donaghy and I left � and got sacked � because we wouldn�t work under those conditions and it�s just gone downhill from there.�

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...-16047204.html

**ifk101** · 14/09/2011, 10:43 AM

"...... and the Republic have come and asked me to come and join them."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14914219.stm

**BonnieShels** · 14/09/2011, 11:47 AM

Another Northern Ireland native. Give me patience.

**geysir** · 14/09/2011, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by ifk101

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...-16047204.html

Wasn't Kenny Shiels the youth coach when Gibson switched? Is Kenny trying to revise history, put a martyr's halo on his head in order to have enough appeal to join the knife wielding mob out baying for poor Nigel's blood.

**Predator** · 14/09/2011, 3:45 PM

Is Trapattoni in such desperate need for wingers that he's asking League 2 players to declare? I wonder who asked him.

**SwanVsDalton** · 14/09/2011, 5:40 PM

Apparently James McClean was flown over for the Slovakia games as a guest of the FAI's. Whatever about any underhandedness that might be going on, the FAI certainly do make an effort for these guys.

**Mr_Parker** · 18/09/2011, 8:13 PM

So the IFA have appointed Gerry Armstrong as the great ambassador to stop players slipping from their grasp. Obviously he has not been briefed very well nor familiarised himself with as demonstrated by this nonsense he penned for today's Sunday Life

**Sullivinho** · 18/09/2011, 9:28 PM

'Naughty'. 'Capturing'. 'Far off fields'. 'Good Friday Agreement'. 'Country of his birth'.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 19/09/2011, 12:07 AM

The point is though, as a close relation pointed out (she was from Doire;but not the usual suspect), "Why wouldn't an Irishman want to play for Ireland??"

**co. down green** · 19/09/2011, 9:32 AM

Keep up the good work Gerry 'mainland' 'country of his birth' 'morally wrong' Armstrong.

**BonnieShels** · 19/09/2011, 10:17 AM

Argh! That hurt.

**Predator** · 19/09/2011, 11:14 AM

I've heard Gerry has been attempting to poach some current underage internationals of ours to add to O'Connor, Kane, Gorman, Brobbel and Bruce. However, is that column really written by him? It sounds like something straight from the OWC forum.

**Closed Account** · 19/09/2011, 11:15 AM

I've thought for some time and I still hold the view that the predator that is the FAI is simply taking players for the sake of it and at the same time knowing they are depriving Northern Ireland. They know the opportunity is there so they are going for it.
They may be within their rights because of the Good Friday Agreement, but they know what they are doing is morally wrong.

OMG, and I hate saying OMG, but OMG. So much wrong with all of it. DI would have a field day.

**boovidge** · 19/09/2011, 11:28 AM

I almost feel sorry for them. Everyone in the IFA seems to be as about as competent as Don Givens.

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/09/2011, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by boovidge

I almost feel sorry for them. Everyone in the IFA seems to be as about as competent as Don Givens.

My God... do you think they'd poach Givens too? Do we dare to dream?

**geysir** · 19/09/2011, 5:14 PM

It's well known that nationalists in the 6 counties are a feckless lot and can't be trusted.
The OWC are pressurising the IFA to require all kids from a nationalist background, currently playing football at some formal level, school or club, to declare full allegiance to the IFA and undergo some form of denationalising program (yet to be set up) to ensure lifelong loyalty. Those kids who decline will have the letter N tattooed onto their forehead so they can easily be detected and excluded from all IFA recognized football activities.

**Not Brazil** · 19/09/2011, 5:16 PM

(FIFA) "ignoring their own rules" - Gerry Armstrong.

Word of advice to Gerry:

If you are going to write pieces in the paper about eligibility matters, please do your homework first - reading, and digesting, the content of the recent CAS ruling might be a good starting place.

Otherwise, you come across as a, ill informed, plank.

**CraftyToePoke** · 19/09/2011, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Otherwise, you come across as a, ill informed, plank.

This is it exactly, its just one blow after another in credibility terms every time someone from the IFA opens their mouth on this at present. And the assumption the lad is being foolish in declaring for us as he is unlikely to feature for our senior side just puts the other foot in it, its his country as he and his community sees it, and good luck to him surely, all a bit embarassing really.