Keely urges Setanta expansion

**A face** · 22/04/2006, 12:59 AM

Keely urges Setanta expansion

Dublin City manager Dermot Keely believes the organisers of the Setanta Sports Cup should consider inviting teams from the Scottish Premier League to take part in a bid to increase the competitions’ prestige.

Drogheda United and Cork City, respectively the leaders and defending champions of the eircom League, meet in the 2006 decider at Tolka Park tomorrow night (Saturday).

But Keely feels that the presence of Scottish top flight clubs could add significantly to the attraction of the tournament.

In his column in Friday’s Irish Sun, Keely said: “We do need to try to invigorate the competition with another dimension and I think the inclusion of Scottish clubs would do that.

“Celtic and Rangers are obviously not going to have any interest in entering and, given their recent growth, the same probably goes for Hearts."

“Beyond that you could see SPL sides interested in taking part. The prize money which is so big by our standards might not be as enticing for them, but it would be bigger if they took part.”

Taken from www.eleven-a-side.com

**A face** · 22/04/2006, 1:00 AM

I am sorry now but Keely is a clown !!

He is not even in the competition, its in its second year and the guy is coming out with this stuff ..... why are people listening to him? OBVIOUSLY Celtic, Rangers and Heart wouldn't dream of enter .... i mean how could they ??? How does he comes out with this stuff ??

A question .... whats in it for us (IL and LOI) .... nothing, he is saying extra money to attract them ?? Come off the stage like, why would Setanta dream of offering more money with (and lets be honest) only Hibs enter the comp ??

Keely deserves a bullet, not because what he did at Derry ..... because of everything he has ever done in the league ... come out with complete B�llsh�t !!

**sligoman** · 22/04/2006, 1:02 AM

Keely probably also thinks Dublin City would make a great addidtion to it too

.

**Dazzy** · 22/04/2006, 1:02 AM

People wonder why we hate him so much!!

**pete** · 22/04/2006, 9:19 AM

Would the addition of motherwell increase interest and prize money?

**CollegeTillIDie** · 22/04/2006, 9:24 AM

Celtic and Rangers might be tempted to field their reserve teams or fringe first team squad players. Sure thousands of clowns on this island would pack stadia in both jurisdictions on this island to see them.

**CharlesThompson** · 22/04/2006, 11:30 AM

I don't think this is a bad idea at all.

**Poor Student** · 22/04/2006, 1:49 PM

I don't like the idea. It would cheapen the competition and our domestic game to accept taking less than the best from Scotland and the best are too good. It's a non starter for me. I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of League of Wales clubs though.

**Speranza** · 22/04/2006, 1:51 PM

Originally Posted by Face

Keely deserves a bullet, not because what he did at Derry ..... because of everything he has ever done in the league ... come out with complete B�llsh�t !!

Couldn't agree more. Keely's tenure in charge of us was low-key but his attitude and actions were absolutely unbelievable. Along with Alan Matthews he is dragging the standard of football down. The top teams are playing some superb football which could attract barstoolers but Keely and Matthews insist on hoofball and it is sickening.

**thejollyrodger** · 22/04/2006, 2:56 PM

i back scottish and welsh invovlement providing that the clubs entering are not the top 3 or maybe 4 in the scottish league and of course the prize money is increased.

**Risteard** · 22/04/2006, 3:43 PM

Richardson was saying this aswell lately. It obviously sounds good but so would inviting teams from England or France.
Personally i feel keeping it to the island is the whole point of it, not necessarily as a precursor to the All-Ireland League(though I support that) but to give some link between the leagues that can promote their mutual development.

**A face** · 22/04/2006, 4:54 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Personally i feel keeping it to the island is the whole point of it, not necessarily as a precursor to the All-Ireland League(though I support that) but to give some link between the leagues that can promote their mutual development.

Exactly .... can we not sort ourselves out first, god knows there alot to be done. Why are people in such a rush to expand this?

**thejollyrodger** · 22/04/2006, 7:21 PM

of course an ideal situation would be an all ireland league and then a setanta cup with teams from Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

**hamish** · 22/04/2006, 10:09 PM

Milo Corcoran was interviewed on Setanta after the final and mentioned this too. Thought it might happen about 7 or 8 years down the line and he mentioned Scottish, Welsh and English Championship (old second division) clubs being in.
Just passing this on btw - don't shoot the messenger - I know there are not too many Corcoran fans in Foot.ie.

Wonder have Setanta have this in mind too given their entry into the UK market including bidding for two sections of the Premiership TV rights? Part of their long term strategy??

Can't imagine the likes of Watford, Dundee United and TNS being of much interest to Irish fans - or their fans either.

**Dazzy** · 22/04/2006, 10:12 PM

Would only like to see the teams there on merit, not just because someone finshed behind the Old Firm and Hearts, that would just degrade the competition imo!

Shooting the messenger does sound tempting :P

**hamish** · 22/04/2006, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Dazzy

Shooting the messenger does sound tempting

LOL

- keeping head down so.......

**Risteard** · 22/04/2006, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by sirhamish

Milo Corcoran was interviewed on Setanta after the final and mentioned this too. Thought it might happen about 7 or 8 years down the line and he mentioned Scottish, Welsh and English Championship (old second division) clubs being in. :

Hamish you absolute ****. How's that meant to improve the Setanta?
You West of Ireland sack of crap.

BANG!!!!!!!!!!

**hamish** · 22/04/2006, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Hamish you absolute ****. How's that meant to improve the Setanta?
You West of Ireland sack of crap.

BANG!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, you horrible thing you

BTW I'm more Midlands really. LOL

Seriously, was Corcoran, given his role on the Setanta organising committee, echoing the thoughts of Setanta plc - y'know, are they testing the water here for future years to see what the reaction might be??

**Risteard** · 23/04/2006, 12:22 AM

Maybe but it doesn't really go with what Delaneys said about trying to constantly improve links with the two leagues.

**hamish** · 23/04/2006, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by Risteard

Maybe but it doesn't really go with what Delaneys said about trying to constantly improve links with the two leagues.

Yeah, I kinda figured that Setanta would think it would improve their profile in the UK if they don't get the two Premiership package they've bid for. BTW, if they win those packages, they're hoping the Sky set up will carry it as an extra Setanta Premiership channel.
Here's the full story - read it in yesterday's Media Guardian
http://media.guardian.co.uk/

Just musing out loud here - would those up North who might not favour a United Ireland League be more disposed to it if we had a Setanta Cup with all these UK countries involved plus ourselves??? Dammit, haven't put that very well but you might have an idea where I'm coming from.

I'm kinda thinking along the same lines as Eamon de Valera (Galway TD not the famous one

) said a few years back that we should consider rejoining the Commonwealth to create better relations with our Unionist neighbours and maybe speed up a united Ireland of sorts.

Not saying I agree with any of the above, mind, just trying to figure out why all this stuff from Keely, Corcoran and co. has come out now and what's the reason for it.

I guess this has Setanta marketing all over it.

IMHO, better to develop the cross border competition as it is for a few years - even Corcoran said that today, TBF to him.