This weeks Champion 7-02-07

**red bellied** · 08/02/2007, 6:58 PM

SLIGO Rovers officials have said the club is pursuing a bid to secure a place in the Setanta Cup, claiming that the Showgrounds outfit and not St. Patrick�s Athletic should have been given entry to the competition following the decision of league champions, Shelbourne, to withdraw.

�We are certainly disappointed that we were not even consulted before this decision was taken. It seems to have been done very hastily and we have written to the authorities to press our case,� said Rovers Chairman, Michael Toolan.

Rovers believe that the rules of the Setanta Cup state that should a club win the Premier Division and the F.A.I. Cup double, the runners-up in the Cup will go into the competition.

However, there are other eligibility criteria which state that a club failing to meet the required criteria, or meeting two or more of these entry requirements, the place should go to the next highest placed team in the league.

Derry City have fulfilled a number of the criteria requirements, having won the F.A.I. Cup, the League Cup and finishing runners-up in the league.

�We are not happy at the way this has transpired. At least we should have been contacted. We are awaiting development.

�It seems that in the event of a club winning the double of league and cup, the runners up in the cup go into the Setanta Cup, otherwise it is the highest placed finish.

�We finished higher than St. Pat�s,� said the Chairman.

The Setanta Cup begins on February 27th next, with St. Pat�s included in Group 2 with Cork City, Portadown and Dungannon.

**sligoman** · 08/02/2007, 7:00 PM

Good to hear but cant see Setanta changing their mind now.

**SligoBrewer** · 08/02/2007, 7:00 PM

i saw that..

nice to see the club is taking action on what is right fully ours

**red bellied** · 08/02/2007, 7:04 PM

Rovers werent on the ball on this one. They should of seen this coming weeks ago as the writing was on the wall for Shels, probably too late now.

**Bravo** · 08/02/2007, 7:27 PM

Will we have any chance of a European place? No point fighting for it after its been delegated!!

**soccerc** · 08/02/2007, 7:39 PM

Originally Posted by Bravo

Will we have any chance of a European place?

In a word No

**Bravo** · 08/02/2007, 7:44 PM

Any particular reason??

**Rovers1** · 08/02/2007, 7:55 PM

who makes the final decision? is it a joint decision between IFA and FAI??

**sligored** · 08/02/2007, 9:18 PM

i think we would be better off not in the setanta cup at the moment. we have no team and i am very worried about the lack of signings and the quality of players brought in to date. i hope i am wrong but it looks like being a very poor season unless there are some very good signings in the next two weeks. i am worried , very worried.
we cant afford to lose the complete spine of our team ie goalie , two centre halfs , one if not two central midfielders and our two centre forwards and replace them with raf , alcala , julien and a polish trialist.
i think the manager has some serious questions to answer.

**SeaniesRedArmy** · 08/02/2007, 9:56 PM

they will never reverse the decision now

**Rovers1** · 08/02/2007, 10:21 PM

wats a WUM??? and is it true there was 2 polish lads and one is gone?

**Dodge** · 08/02/2007, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by red bellied

�We are certainly disappointed that we were not even consulted before this decision was taken. It seems to have been done very hastily and we have written to the authorities to press our case,� said Rovers Chairman, Michael Toolan

Pats weren't consulted either. Invitational competition. No case for Setanta to answer.

**Midgit** · 09/02/2007, 8:10 AM

Originally Posted by Rovers1

wats a WUM??? and is it true there was 2 polish lads and one is gone?

Yes its true!
One was a central defender and he is gone!
The other is an attacking midfielder (bobic) and he is staying on for another week!

**Only1Rovers** · 09/02/2007, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by sligored

i think we would be better off not in the setanta cup at the moment. we have no team and i am very worried about the lack of signings and the quality of players brought in to date. i hope i am wrong but it looks like being a very poor season unless there are some very good signings in the next two weeks. i am worried , very worried.
we cant afford to lose the complete spine of our team ie goalie , two centre halfs , one if not two central midfielders and our two centre forwards and replace them with raf , alcala , julien and a polish trialist.
i think the manager has some serious questions to answer.

Some will tell me to change the record but, I have to agree with sligored, we were told weeks and weeks ago that players were to sign imenently, I was under the impression that the club knew which players were on their way to the club. We were told at the meeting that players who were about to sign could not be unveiled because they wanted to ensure everything was sorted out with sponcers.

I couldn't make the game in Swinford but despite the score line I'm led to believe the make-shift team that was on display didn't look to hot. If the club did get to play in Setanta Cup what sort of team would we put out? What could we expect to gain from it? Injuries, and increase the depletion squad I like everyone else cant wait for the football to start again but I think we need to look at the bigger picture. Lets try and get our stall set out before we start selling our wares.

I'm glad to see the club questioning the decision about Pats getting 'invited' to play ahead of us, but I dont think we're ready.

What is the point in setting out regulations for qualification for a competition if its invitational? Thats rubbish Dodge.

**Dodge** · 09/02/2007, 10:55 AM

Have you read anything, anywhere that didn't say Pats have been invited to the Setanta Cup? No, so stop ****ing moaning about it. We're in, you're not and bitching about it will do nobody any good with either Setanta Sports or the FAI

**gustavo** · 09/02/2007, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Only1Rovers

Some will tell me to change the record but, I have to agree with sligored, we were told weeks and weeks ago that players were to sign imenently, I was under the impression that the club knew which players were on their way to the club. We were told at the meeting that players who were about to sign could not be unveiled .

According to the latest article on the official site , new signings are imminent in the next few days.

**Only1Rovers** · 09/02/2007, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Have you read anything, anywhere that didn't say Pats have been invited to the Setanta Cup? No, so stop ****ing moaning about it. We're in, you're not and bitching about it will do nobody any good with either Setanta Sports or the FAI

Hay mate I dont think you read my last post I aint moaning about it. And Best of luck to ya.

What a nice chap....