Rooney Resigns

[paudie]

the FAI must be stood down entirely and rebuilt from the ground up! I don't wish to sound like some jaded trade union leader here but we need government intervention. Stand it down and start it again, it's the only way this miserable, pest-ridden farce of an organisation can work.

While there may to merit to this suggestion FIFA take a VERY dim view of Government intervention in the workings of National associations.

There have been a number of times when countries (mostly African) have been thrown out of competitions including World Cup qualifiers because the Government has forcibly tried to reform a National Association.

I agree though, the FAI are a complete farce at this stage.

[Donal81]

Good point and I didn't know that but, in fairness, I don't see how they could intervene to save the 'integrity' of the FAI. Then again, FIFA and UEFA aren't exactly the height of efficiency or good sense either. I don't see what grounds FIFA would have to intervene although, like I said, I didn't know that. The FAI makes its money from three sources - advertising/sponsorship, grants and punters. As we provide money for the grants and pay for matches, jerseys etc, that makes it in the public interest. This is more than just some ropey organisation. This is a ropey PUBLIC organisation that is mismanaging a great sport down the tubes in this country. I sincerely believe that no figure can come in there and whip it into shape. I would compare the Rooney escapade to a big hitter from the business world taking over a rural post office. He tries to implement certain things but, in the end, he's forced out by self-serving people who are there for reasons that no one can really remember. Who is Milo Corcoran? Who is John Delaney? Who was Brendan Menton? Who in God's name are these people and how can they be allowed to have such an influence on what is OUR game and not the FAI's? To hell with them, I can't stick these disgusting incompetent morons anymore and what they've done to football in this country.

[Cowboy]

at least delaney wants to implement genesis...

u sure about that, his actions say otherwise

[Cowboy]

While there may to merit to this suggestion FIFA take a VERY dim view of Government intervention in the workings of National associations.

There have been a number of times when countries (mostly African) have been thrown out of competitions including World Cup qualifiers because the Government has forcibly tried to reform a National Association.

Very true Paudie, any action must not land us in trouble with FIFA

[resovoirdub]

What have the FAI EVER DONE FOR US?

[patsh]

While there may to merit to this suggestion FIFA take a VERY dim view of Government intervention in the workings of National associations.

So?
It might be a good thing if FIFA f*cked us out of some competition. The outcry in the country might actually achieve something.

TO fix the problem, I believe the following should happen:
1. The Sports Council/Government withdraws ALL funding from the FAI immediately.
2. The Sports Council/Minister should set up an alternative association, run by professional people, who have been given the job after an open competition.
3. All eL clubs should be encouraged to "resign" from the eL/FAI, and join with the new organisation, as well as schoolboys/ladies/junior etc. leagues.
Funding for all those various leagues should be decided by this new body, who will be independant of all clubs and leagues.
Each eL club to be given access to or control over a Fás scheme, to help young -players to stay here, or help them when they are released by cross-channel clubs.
Also, Government gives a guaranteed level of funding for a fixed number of years.
€10 million a year for 3 to 5 years is not an unreasonable amount.
4. FIFA & UEFA should be approached and the situation explained to them, that the FAI does not have the support or funding of the Dáil or the people of the country.

FIFA will go along with a proper organisation which has the support and backing of the majority.

It would probably need a Minister committed to promoting soccer in this country to make this work, but someone with energy and committment could do it, and bring an end, once and for all, to the running joke that is the FAI.

[Bondvillain]

So?
It might be a good thing if FIFA f*cked us out of some competition. The outcry in the country might actually achieve something.

I think, unfortunately, the only outcry that government intervention leading to sanctions would provoke is howls of anger from all those "Tottenham united" supporters who would have nowhere to go on match days once the corporate tickets dried up.

We are a lazy nation who, when it comes down to it, do bugger all about what bothers us really, except muttering under our breath about how it should be done. No doubt The Hardcore fan would protest a while, The everyday fan would blame the government for intervening, the corporate fan would go back to inbreeding after the rugger with the rest of his inbred friends. And life would go on, and the Irish would go back to planning revolutions in the pub. (which incidentally, thanks to Ireland's brave ability to challenge authority, shuts at 11.30. And you cant smoke......)

[eirebhoy]

Looks like there's plenty of the media reading this forum:

Supporters threatened to boycott Irish international matches and urged the red-carding of the FAI board after claiming Mr Rooney was forced out.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/story.asp...&n=65157629&x=

[monutdfc]

I was waiting for that fraud Hunter to turn up...
...when will the lazy journalists in this country recognise him for the fraud he is and stop quoting him as the spokesperson of Irish football fans.

[Cowboy]

Interesting story. Does anyone know what size of memership Mr. Hunters organisation has, I'm wondering why there is another supporters club other than the ROISSC and what size of mandate he has to speak on these matters?

Just curious I've no axe to grind on this

Looks like there's plenty of the media reading this forum:


http://www.breakingnews.ie/story.asp...&n=65157629&x=

[Schumi]

Interesting story. Does anyone know what size of memership Mr. Hunters organisation has, I'm wondering why there is another supporters club other than the ROISSC and what size of mandate he has to speak on these matters?

Just curious I've no axe to grind on this

One I'd imagine, unless he's developed schizophrenia recently.

[thejollyrodger]

The only thing the FAI will listen too is a militant supporters group. A protest has to be made to highlight the sham FAI to the media. A few interviews to Sky Sports news and a demo at the next friendly would start to address this.

[drummerboy]

So?
TO fix the problem, I believe the following should happen:
1. The Sports Council/Government withdraws ALL funding from the FAI immediately.
2. The Sports Council/Minister should set up an alternative association, run by professional people, who have been given the job after an open competition.
3. All eL clubs should be encouraged to "resign" from the eL/FAI, and join with the new organisation, as well as schoolboys/ladies/junior etc. leagues.
Funding for all those various leagues should be decided by this new body, who will be independant of all clubs and leagues.
Each eL club to be given access to or control over a Fás scheme, to help young -players to stay here, or help them when they are released by cross-channel clubs.
Also, Government gives a guaranteed level of funding for a fixed number of years.
€10 million a year for 3 to 5 years is not an unreasonable amount.
4. FIFA & UEFA should be approached and the situation explained to them, that the FAI does not have the support or funding of the Dáil or the people of the country.

FIFA will go along with a proper organisation which has the support and backing of the majority.

It would probably need a Minister committed to promoting soccer in this country to make this work, but someone with energy and committment could do it, and bring an end, once and for all, to the running joke that is the FAI.

Plenty of good points there but be real. What will ACTUALLY happen now is that a stooge of the FAI will make a statement about the Genesis project being dead in the water. This will be followed with the announcement of an “inquiry/commission/feasability study” on the future of Irish football. In the meantime nothing will be done.

[monutdfc]

Interesting story. Does anyone know what size of memership Mr. Hunters organisation has, I'm wondering why there is another supporters club other than the ROISSC and what size of mandate he has to speak on these matters?

Just curious I've no axe to grind on this

Actually he's got over 50,000 members - which just happen to be the same as the Concorde Travel mailing list! The ROISSC is sham organisation invented by Hunter to give himself credibility. What's the betting he's on Question and Answers or Prime Time next week, complete with leprechaun hat, acting as spokesperson for the Irish soccer (sic) fan, because RTE will never see through him

[dahamsta]

I have to say that I find it very, very hard to believe that the massive progress and growth that has happened in the Eircom League in the past couple of years had nothing to do with Rooney. It would be a very large coincidence indeed if it happened completely without his vision and hard work.

I'd also like to state for the record that I'm very, very annoyed with the use of this forum as a method to attack Rooney, and furthermore that if I ever have an opportunity to prove a connection between posts on our site and people in the FAI, I will release the details in full to the media.

I posted an enquiry on this subject in the Moderators forum the other day, I will be moving it to a public forum shortly.

I will NOT allow Foot.ie to be used as a political handbag.

adam

[Cowboy]

Actually he's got over 50,000 members - which just happen to be the same as the Concorde Travel mailing list! The ROISSC is sham organisation invented by Hunter to give himself credibility. What's the betting he's on Question and Answers or Prime Time next week, complete with leprechaun hat, acting as spokesperson for the Irish soccer (sic) fan, because RTE will never see through him

Dont mean to be rude and please correct me if I'm wrong but is'nt Mr. Hunters organisation the "Irish Football Supporters’ Association" and not the ROISSC ?

[Superhoops]

The ROISSC is sham organisation invented by Hunter to give himself credibility

Hunter has nothing to do with the ROISSC which is based in Dublin, was established in the early eighties and is recognised by the FAI. There are several other branches including London, Luton and Birmingham.

Hunter's organisation is the Irish Football Supporters’ Association who he claims has 20000/30000/50000 depending on when he opens his gob. I have never met anyone who claims to be belong to this IFSA, yet the media, and especially RTE give this guy airtime and credibility. They obviously have not done any research or else they would find out he is a Walter Mitty.

[aka Dus]

You know what the funniest thing is? That I've heard Bernard O'Byrne is being lined up to take charge of the 'full implementation' of the Genesis report.

[monutdfc]

Dont mean to be rude and please correct me if I'm wrong but is'nt Mr. Hunters organisation the "Irish Football Supporters’ Association" and not the ROISSC ?

Yes, you are of course correct. My mistake and apologies to the ROISSC

[monutdfc]

I have to say that I find it very, very hard to believe that the massive progress and growth that has happened in the Eircom League in the past couple of years had nothing to do with Rooney. It would be a very large coincidence indeed if it happened completely without his vision and hard work.

He's only been in the job 18 months. What improvements have been made that might be down to him? If you can offer more than conjecture then I can be persuaded that he has been a factor in the modest - not massive - growth that the eircom League has seen in the last 18 months. But without hard facts, or even soft facts, it's hard to make this assertion.

I'd say the biggest factors in the improvement in the eL in the past 2-3+ years are the brave decisions by Shelbourne and Bohemians to go full-time, the strides made by others - mainly Cork City and Drogheda, and Pats until their financial difficulties caught up with them - to keep up with the standards the first 2 mentioned have set, and the collapse of ITV Digital which forced the lower league clubs in England to thin down their squads thus encouraging/forcing good players to come home to play in the league. Rooney had nothing to do with any of these factors that I can see.

I have nothing to do with the FAI.