AT the top of the first flight of stairs inside the FAI's HQ in Merrion Square is the hub of the association's club licensing system.
Beyond the white door is a narrow office where four people somehow manage to successfully compete with filing cabinets and desks for enough space to work in.
Over the past few weeks in this cramped space they've been steadily burning the midnight oil in preparation for this weekend's meeting of the First Instance Committee.
The 22 Eircom League clubs had until December 17 to submit their licence applications showing how they measured up to the five key criteria of infrastructure, personnel & administrative, legal, financial and sporting.
When the applications arrived in Merrion Square they were broken into their five constituent parts and handed to five experts for analysis. FAI Technical Director Packie Bonner examined the sporting criteria and an accountancy firm went through the financial criteria. Those looking at the infrastructure requirements have visited all 20 league grounds (two clubs are ground-sharing) over the past month to check clubs have done what they say they have.
The detailed reports of all the experts have now been submitted and when the seven members of the Committee gather at a Dublin hotel on Friday they will be presented with 22 reports and recommendations from Bob Breen, the FAI's Club Licensing Manager.
Nonetheless, they'll go through each licence application with a fine toothcomb and decide what type of licence, if any, each club should receive. Any club which fails to get a licence will not be able to play in the Eircom League this year.
Last season the First Instance Committee refused to award club licences to Shamrock Rovers and Limerick because neither had a suitable ground to play their games in at the time but both successfully appealed that decision.
With the introduction of the Club Infrastructure Plan the spotlight has now switched and it will be financial criteria where clubs could be in trouble.
"Providing we get all of the information that the clubs are required to submit, every club has the opportunity to cross the line. But there will be a more intensive examination this year of financial criteria," explains Breen.
"Clubs looking for a licence will need to have their financial affairs in order because no grants will be given to them by the Government if they don't have a club licence."
Recent discussions between the FAI and the Government has resulted in a strategy for finally drawing down the £3million which was allocated in December 2003 to help clubs meet their infrastructural requirements.
The Government have been given copies of each club's stadium certificate report and club infrastructure development plan and work that needs to be done has been prioritised. The 20 clubs with grounds of their own will benefit, with priority being given to the four clubs who have qualified for Europe this season.
Two years into licensing, Breen believes that the benefits are now beginning to accrue, not only to the clubs and the Eircom League but to the association and football in general.
The Department has compiled a massive database of information that can handle queries ranging from those of a schoolboy club in Kerry wanting to know where to buy corner flags from a reputable supplier in their area to a request from international boss Brian Kerr to know next November what the size the pitches will be at the 2006 World Cup finals.
Before Christmas FAI Interim chief executive John Delaney admitted that mistakes had been made in the licensing process but there is certainly a determination on behalf of the association to make sure that credibility is restored.
Positive proof of that could arrive in the coming week when UEFA will announce if the FAI has complied with its exacting standards. Two audits of the association's licensing department were carried out in May and November of last year by external auditors.
The thumbs up from UEFA would have tangible benefits for the FAI. By becoming a certified association, it would be entitled to have the running of its licensing system funded by the governing body, something guaranteed to put a smile on the face of the association's moneymen.
It's a further indication of UEFA's commitment to licensing and next week we'll find out just how serious the Eircom League clubs are about it.
Gerry McDermott
Bootroom
© http://www.unison.ie/
save the sheep shaggers bring back beheadings for waherford
It says that this year they will concentrate more on the financial criteria. Does anyone know what exactly this means?
I'm not having a go at any club, but last season Rovers had no ground, but still managed to get a licence. It's common knowledge that they are financially up sh*t creek, SPA could be in trouble, so could Bohs, but is there any real danger that these clubs will be refused a licence?
Hell no.
The Eircome League is like a school class where nobody is allowed to be given bad marks.
I predict a good few A Licenses, with the rump of the league on b's. No failures, and certainly no attempt to do what the rules say should happen to any clubs who do fail - i.e. not be able to join the rest of the class next term.
Ifthe rule is that wages can only be a certain percentage of turnover (and I forget whether that was true and haven't time to re-read the document), most clubs in the league will be struggling to make it.Originally Posted by patsh
No one will be refused a licence though - they'll find a fudge somewhere....
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
the problem from the start has been the fai and league not the clubs - the clubs were promised the quid pro quo - get ure plan in place and we'll fund it - it was all BS - they never funded anything and left the licensing committee look like fools
Cork will struggle to gain one, with no ground of their own and a wage bill as large as dolans waistline
and the obssession goes on and on and on and on and........
Hmmmm......
Rovers - no ground, financially f*cked : got a licence
SPA - Stadium of Utter Sh*te, a disgraceful hole, financially in trouble - got a licence
City - Have put huge sums into the upgrade of the Cross so thats its probably the best ground in the country, financially sound club
So much for what passes for your "argument".....
Last edited by patsh; 19/01/2005 at 11:06 AM. Reason: spelling
....or maybe its too close to the bone for you to bear, put your head in the sand, you may as well, theres eff all to see in the trophy cabinet - maybe you can frame a few press cuttings listing all the excuses - they must run in to the 100's now
Now, Now little boy, your obssession is becoming embarassing. Have a look at your own f*cked up little club and try to get over your jealousy of Cork City.....or maybe its too close to the bone for you to bear, put your head in the sand, you may as well, theres eff all to see in the trophy cabinet - maybe you can frame a few press cuttings listing all the excuses - they must run in to the 100's now
This is largely a cork city type forum and so you're going to get a lot of people all slapping each other on the back and agreeing with each other - it takes on a sort of agreed skewed version of reality - if I spoil the cosy concensus by pointing out that you haven't won anything under the manager - who is constantly moaning to the media - its just pointing out hard fact. If it gets up the noses of patsh and his crew - so what? Thats not obssession - its more community service - helping people here get some perspective.
To be fair WWS, what has any of this got to do with licensing...?
nothing, its a reply to the above two posters
Yes, thats why youse were first to get it last year isn't it..........
Have to agree with WWS here, of course there is probably a majority of Cork City fans amongst the eL fans round here but some of you do get delusion at times. See the post regarding the think that Jet2 decided to launch the Cork Belfast route in order to capitalise on the Rebel Army
well getting back to licensing its not a level playing pitch for all clubs - if the euro qualifiers are favoured in infrastructure grants well than how the hell can the other clubs be judged on the same stringent criteria - its inherently unfair and a ridiculous imposition - of course it will be fudged - and so it should be.
Our clubs cannot raise capital costs and operate as well - therefore most of the government graants are pretty much lying idle
we need to unlock these funds by doing away with requirements to provide matching funds from the clubs own resources and we need to spread them evenly instead of unfairly favouring certain clubs and those who moan loudest
Surely it makes sense to aid Euro qualifiers first since they have to comply with even more stringent UEFA ground criteria. it wouldn't reflect on the league as a whole if there was only 1 ground in the country was capable of holding a UEFA cup game.
Once the Euro qualifiers are up to scratch for UEFA the rest of the money can be distributed to other clubs.
I don't think there's any hope of doing away with the requirement for clubs to match grants. As far as I know this applies to all Department of Sport and Lottery grants, not just EL grants.
In an earlier post you said the fact that Cork City rent their ground should be a negative factor in getting a licence. Are you kidding!! As far as I know all Italian and most German clubs rent their grounds from the local council.
Why should a club be penalised for having a perfectly legal and straightforward rental agreement in place? Derry rent their ground as well.
I'm what? I'm ants at a picnic?
WHat a ridiculous comment! I presume you're either very young or don't know your LoI history, as if you did you'd know that even avoiding the issue of trophies won, the crowds come and go with most clubs over the years.
For example, I'm sure some Derry fans thought the same way in the mid-late 80's when we filled every ground up and down the country. Needless to say it didn't last. And we even won a few trophies.
Getting back to the licensing, I would say infrastructure shouldn't be a problem for Cork, but I've no idea on how they or any other teams stand re the financials or admin requirements. It all depends how detailed the testing of the financials is by the FAi's financial consultants.
I'm sure there'll be some sort of fudge to keep everybody happy again though.
ever heard of a sense of humour? you hardly think that was serious?Yes, thats why youse were first to get it last year isn't it..........
Have to agree with WWS here, of course there is probably a majority of Cork City fans amongst the eL fans round here but some of you do get delusion at times. See the post regarding the think that Jet2 decided to launch the Cork Belfast route in order to capitalise on the Rebel Army
Here s a little community service for you: go see a doctor. It might help you.
You managed to turn an thread about club licencing into yet another attack on Dolan, his weight and Cork City. Get a life and cop yourself on....
That example may be a hyperbole but there are countless others, some of the Cork fans posting on the IL forums has me in stitches
See the "no other club will ever be as big as Cork City" within this thread as further evidence of the burgeoning over importance which unfortunately has become prevalent amongst some(and there are loads of exceptions) of the "Rebel Army"
Take it easy!
Supporters of all clubs are bound to make out that their club is the biggest, the best etc.
Do supporters of Derry say their club is sh*te, going nowhere etc?
Some people are a bit ott in their claims for their club, but there are some who are positively ridiculous in their attempts to have a go at some clubs. Witness the ludicrous comment on Cork City, Pat Dolan and his weight. What has that got to do with licencing. It would be humourous, if it was not yet another of a string of endless posts in the same vein.
I love the way some posters love to think they are winding people up, yet when a few things are posted back at them, they get all offended....
It's a forum, people slag, wind up other posters, slag off other clubs and exagerate about their own clubs. We wouldn't have a lot to post about otherwise would we?
and anyway I think you should stay in your own country, and stop posting in ours.
What country are we posting in, the Free State or the People's Republic of Cork?
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