Top flight make-up to be decided by committee

**A face** · 03/07/2006, 2:27 PM

Top flight make-up to be decided by committee

The make-up of the 2007 eircom League Premiership will be decided by an Independent Assessment Group on a once-off basis after the 22 eircom League clubs accepted proposals on a merger with the FAI from next season.

The FAI will take over the running of the eircom League, which will be changed into a four-tier league topped by the Premiership.

Read more at www.eleven-a-side.com

**Anto McC** · 03/07/2006, 5:05 PM

Originally Posted by breakingnews.ie

The Independent Assessment Group will be chaired by Dundalk native and Uefa Life Member Des Casey and will include an administrative expert in the shape of former Dublin City Manager John Fitzgerald, former Irish international Niall Quinn and former Chairman of the Irish Sports Council Pat O’Neill, with the committee to meet for the first time in July.

The same Naill Quinn who......

Originally Posted by breakingnews.ie

Niall Quinn’s consortium today confirmed they have reached an agreement on a �10m (€14.41m) cash offer for Sunderland.

The Drumaville company, shared by the former Irish international striker, are seeking a 90% ownership of the club, meaning they need to buy a significant number of shares on top of the 56.8% owned by former chairman Bob Murray to complete a takeover.

“I am personally delighted on behalf of my consortium company Drumaville to be in a position to present this offer to the shareholders and fans of SAFC,” said Quinn.

“We believe this heralds a new beginning for Sunderland, but it is only going to happen if everything comes together in a joint effort.”

Quinn, who announced that season ticket prices will be frozen, will technically not take over as chairman until 21 days have elapsed, but Murray has allowed him to start work early.

His first task will be to appoint a new manager, although he admitted that despite thinking long and hard about it, that process will only begin in earnest today.

He said: “The journey starts today, and although we are in a 21-day period where I’m not in total power, Bob Murray had kindly agreed that I can set about the task of getting a manager, so that task starts straight away.”

After much speculation as to the identities of Quinn’s backers, the offer document revealed that they are Patrick Beirne, Patsy Byrne, Charlie Chawke, Louis Fitzgerald, John Hays, Paddy Kelly and Jack Tierney.

Myself and Endai were discussing this today and to be quite honest i'm shocked that a man who is willing to plough money into another league while totally ignoring our own,is getting a say on who qualifies for what league.Does anyone else agree?

**Student Mullet** · 03/07/2006, 5:09 PM

I don't actually. As far as I'm concerned he's an outside expert the same as the man from the corpo or the sports council. I'd prefer that to someone involved with the FAI or a club here.

**dcfcsteve** · 03/07/2006, 5:18 PM

Originally Posted by Student Mullet

I don't actually. As far as I'm concerned he's an outside expert the same as the man from the corpo or the sports council. I'd prefer that to someone involved with the FAI or a club here.

Agreed. It's his money, and he's free to do with it as he likes.

Yes - I'd ratehr he put it into an Irish club, but no - I can't blame him financially for chosing not to do so. That doesn't impact his ability to fulfill a role on the selection committee - though I'd be curious to know why he was put there in the first place. Apart from being a high-profile and well-respected Irish ex-footballer, why is he deemed worthy of inclusion ?

**A face** · 03/07/2006, 5:28 PM

Originally Posted by Student Mullet

As far as I'm concerned he's an outside expert the same as the man from the corpo or the sports council. I'd prefer that to someone involved with the FAI or a club here.

How exactly is he expert? You'd expect it to be in footballing terms but the guy never played here and couldn't name five players in the league.

Its a complete sham ..... is it a sign of what is to come ??

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

That doesn't impact his ability to fulfill a role on the selection committee - though I'd be curious to know why he was put there in the first place. Apart from being a high-profile and well-respected Irish ex-footballer, why is he deemed worthy of inclusion ?

Selection committee maybe ... but what about investment into the new league, given the fact he is looking for investment for his own pet project.

**Schumi** · 03/07/2006, 5:34 PM

Originally Posted by A face

but what about investment into the new league, given the fact he is looking for investment for his own pet project.

What about it? He's just deciding that UCD and CHF get relegated and replaced with Rovers and Galway, nothing to do with investment.

**Student Mullet** · 03/07/2006, 5:34 PM

Originally Posted by A face

How exactly is he expert? You'd expect it to be in footballing terms but the guy never played here and couldn't name five players in the league.

Its a complete sham ..... is it a sign of what is to come ??

But naming five players in the league is not necessary for this job. Can the corpo manager name players, or the man from the sports council? He ownes a foreign club and has some experience in running football.

The fact that he used to play for Ireland is irrelavant, he's someone brought in from a foreign league to do a job here. Nothing more, nothing less.

**Jerry The Saint** · 03/07/2006, 5:37 PM

Conflict of interest?

Niall Quinn's main concern is what's best for his investment at Sunderland, and good luck to him I say, of course it's his money to do whatever he wants with it. Sunderland have several young Irish players, he would surely like to see more promsing youngsters going to his club instead of staying in Ireland.

[conspiracy theory]What if Quinn's new manager expressed an interest in some of UCD's underage internationals

Forcible relegation would make it easier for him to pick them up on the cheap...

[/conspiracy theory]

**Anto McC** · 03/07/2006, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Apart from being a high-profile and well-respected Irish ex-footballer, why is he deemed worthy of inclusion ?

As far as i can see,it's a PR stunt,as A Face already said he'd struggle to name 5 players from the league,is it the case that the FAI are already more concerned about image than a well run and structured league?
We all know what the FAI are (in)capable of,what they intend to do and what they actually do will be different things i suspect but i suppose only time will tell!

Also,is it the case that he will be getting paid for this work?
Which,if he is,it's more than likely that,that money will go towards his purchase of Sunderland!!

**A face** · 03/07/2006, 6:03 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

What about it? He's just deciding that UCD and CHF get relegated and replaced with Rovers and Galway, nothing to do with investment.

Actually i take that back ... the 6.01 news tonight said that he only has 21 day to find the remainder of the money so it might not impact now.

I do question his ability to fulfill a role though.

Originally Posted by Student Mullet

He ownes a foreign club and has some experience in running football.

The fact that he used to play for Ireland is irrelavant, he's someone brought in from a foreign league to do a job here. Nothing more, nothing less.

What experience has he? and is it even enough to warrant a place on this committee?

Its a PR stunt ........ And it looks very shoddy to be honest, it doesn't encourage much faith in the new committee/league if the only credentials you need to have is that you are nicknamed the 'green giant'.

**Student Mullet** · 03/07/2006, 6:18 PM

Originally Posted by A face

What experience has he? and is it even enough to warrant a place on this committee?

Its a PR stunt ........ And it looks very shoddy to be honest, it doesn't encourage much faith in the new committee/league if the only credentials you need to have is that you are nicknamed the 'green giant'.

Did he not just buy Sunderland? In any case, I agree with you that he's there for the PR and that there are more qualified people who could do the job, though I don't see what particular qualifications are needed to add up the points sheet that the FAI gives you. I don't agree that his position is compromised by his investment in a foreign club.

**A face** · 03/07/2006, 7:09 PM

Originally Posted by Student Mullet

Did he not just buy Sunderland?

He still have to buy remaining shares i think although he can sit at the top of the table now.

**Roverstillidie** · 03/07/2006, 9:52 PM

while i think NQ has a conflict of interest that should preclude him from this, i have no problem with a committee of 'outsiders' teasing all this out in a neutral manner.

are people suggesting that EL insiders/blazers are the people to sort all this out?

**sonofstan** · 03/07/2006, 9:57 PM

What does Niall Quinn know about make- up? top flight or otherwise?

**Poor Student** · 03/07/2006, 10:03 PM

Isn't Niall Quinn's point to fulfill the role of an outsider with football knowledge and people are complaining that he is an outsider? Far be it from me to back the process, but I don't see this as much of an issue in itself.

**Roverstillidie** · 03/07/2006, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Isn't Niall Quinn's point to fulfill the role of an outsider with football knowledge and people are complaining that he is an outsider? Far be it from me to back the process, but I don't see this as much of an issue in itself.

i think the complaint is he owns a football team overseas so may have a conflict of interest

**Poor Student** · 03/07/2006, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Roverstillidie

i think the complaint is he owns a football team overseas so may have a conflict of interest

That point seems only to have been raised latterly. I'm not saying it isn't valid, but I think it's only a minor aspect of a much larger problem.

**A face** · 04/07/2006, 12:57 AM

PS, you might have a point ..... it could actually be an underlying nagging thought at the back of my mind that keeps pointing out to my sub consciousness that the Niall Quinn has never given anything of note back to Irish football, and definitely nothing where he wasn't in receipt of some sort of payment anyway.

Somewhere deep at the back of my mind is a little conundrum which plays out like this. The guy was given the opportunity to put himself in the shop window by playing for his national team, the highest level of football in this country and when he has the opportunity to given something back at the grassroots of the game, he turns and parades about with the GAA. That smacks as a huge kick in the teeth for Irish football and our league and not only is it a huge lack of faith in the Irish game but it broadcasts it to the nation as such aswell, you might think I am wrong here but you must remember …. Its my little conundrum, not yours !!

Poor Student and Roverstillidie, you make good points ..... but i'm still not happy.

**BohDiddley** · 04/07/2006, 9:45 AM

Originally Posted by A face

The guy was given the opportunity to put himself in the shop window by playing for his national team, the highest level of football in this country and when he has the opportunity to given something back at the grassroots of the game, he turns and parades about with the GAA. That smacks as a huge kick in the teeth for Irish football and our league and not only is it a huge lack of faith in the Irish game but it broadcasts it to the nation as such aswell,

Spot on A Face. Niall Quinn personifies the perverted nature of Irish attitudes towards football. His interests lie in English Premiership and in GAA, to the exclusion so far of Irish soccer. He has no demonstrated interest in the welfare of the domestic game.
The FAI has no business giving such an individual a critical role in the future of the sport.

**Macy** · 04/07/2006, 9:56 AM

Originally Posted by Student Mullet

Did he not just buy Sunderland?

He hasn't even taken control yet, so again, what experience does he have of football administration in any country? At the moment his entire career in football administration amounts to sweet talking a few investors.