Delaney at it again.
From today’s Sunday Times
Delaney challenges writers’ spin
By Paul Rowan
The fallout from the recent Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland dinner is far greater than the IFA’s unhappiness at calls to national unity by the minister for Foreign Affairs. A row has now broken out over a highly contentious speech delivered by the association’s president, Neil O'Riordan, in which he took the FAI to task over the Shelbourne fiasco and made a light-hearted reference that the situation was enough to drive some officials at the dinner to drink.
Among O’Riordan’s pointed comments were: ‘Last year, your average person was familiar with the name of Sean Hargan not because he scored the winning goal against a club which had twice won the Uefa Cup but because of the league’s failure to properly deal with a suspension which he was due to serve which ultimately could have decided the title race. As it was, it was difficult for anyone to take any satisfaction from Shelbourne being crowned champions.’
O’Riordan was sitting at the top table next to the chief executive, John Delaney, and they didn’t speak to each other afterwards. Delaney has since been spending much of his time – too much, some feel, for somebody being paid €400,000 a year – drafting his reply, which he has sent to all 70-odd members of the Soccer Writers; Association.
“While the FAI is well used to receiving criticism, and fully accepts it when justified, it is still highly unusual to be so publicly berated at an event where three of our officials are sitting at the top table as the guests of honour.
“Reading out the list of players who have exercised their right to move clubs and leagues could have been counter-balanced with the observation that none of the SWAI monthly award winners or the top six nominees for the PFAI’s Player of the Year, or the three nominees for the FAI Eircom League Player of the Year have left the League of Ireland.
“I particularly took grave exception to your specific remarks about the League of Ireland Director Fran Gavin and the Senior International team manager Stephen Staunton.”
There is much of Delaney’s particular style of spin in the remarks. O’Riordan said nothing derogatory about Staunton and the reference to Gavin and alcohol was clearly light-hearted. The chief executive is also making much of the fact that nothing was done to commemorate the death of former FAI official and football writer Brendan McKenna, which was an unfortunate oversight. Delaney has his backers within the Soccer Writers’ Association and a crisis meeting of its members is called for Tuesday could see the heads of O’Riordan and the other officers on a plate.
Typical Delaney bullying.
Something truthful and accurate was said, but because it was negative about him (note - his reasponsibility) he now goes into throwing-weight-around over-drive.
Sooner or later someone will stand up to Delaney and he will find himself in trouble. He is storing-up a lot of enemies for himself here. We had a real chance for that somebody to be the fans, but the NLSA constantly folded like an envelope before FAI pressure and finally dissolved into obscurity.
If only you knew the truth.Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
KOH
Do share, and then I will.....!
Quite simply they refuse to listen to the fans. Absolutely nothing to do with pressure. The FAI is not run by football people and until it is all the bleating in the world is in vain.
KOH
This is not the right thread for this - but the concept behind a representative/pressure group is to represent and apply pressure.
The FAI has more pressure points that a cyber-sex suit ffs ! How can you not identify an appropriate one and then squeeze a little to get what you want........?
Well aware of that but I'm not a pervert
KOH
Well - failing to take advantage of the FAI's numerous weak spots to advance the cause of domestic soccer fans is fairly perverse, if you ask me...Well aware of that but I'm not a pervert
KOH
Nobody is.
KOH
As Pat Scully found out last season, the FAI can't handle the truth and just throw a wobbly when someone talks openly and honestly - instead of actually doing something about their own incompetent organisation.
Delaney earns 400,000 a year??? For what??? For holding press conferences, releasing press statements, going on junkets and talking endless RUBBISH???
Handy money if you can get it.
major disappointment - I thought this might be a thread about Delaney castigating the press for their negative spin on a league that is genuinely progressing well. fat chance!
Foot.ie's entire existence is predicated on the average idiot's inability to ignore other idiots
How can someone this thin-skinned be taken seriously? Has he got nothing better to do?
I've been wondering the same thing.
One of the points raised in the said speech was that of club licensing and how it has failed to be implemented properly. The fact that onne club folded mid-way through the season and another went on to win the league but was unable to pay their players is proof that this is a FACT. Maybe if Delaney tried tackling such issues instead of trying to quash anyone who dares to criticise him or his association, he wouldn't receive such criticism in the future.
You would think that. But when this was pointed out to them they said that any criticism was "bringing the game into disrepute". The mind boggles. The reason why our manager wont be on TV3's late night parody this season.
KOH
A man of very few words on this NY.
Care to enlighten us all then ? Is there really soemone or something taking advantage of the FAI's weak spots to force them to listen to and accept the fan's perspective? That's what you're implying here anyway.
Surely the idea of an imperfect God is nonsensical?
Here's the "contentious" speech in question:
On behalf of the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland, I would like to welcome you all to our Annual Banquet in the Park Inn Dundalk
First of all, I thank you for making the effort to attend our evening. In particular, I would like to welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, representatives from UEFA Rene Eberle and Ernest Walker, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney and President David Blood, IFA Chief Executive Howard Wells and President Jim Boyce, PFAI Acting General Secretary Stephen McGuinness, Michael Kennedy and Pádraig Corkery from eircom and our guest speaker Ronnie Whelan. I would like to welcome a friend from across the water, Chris Davies, who has covered more Ireland games than many of us.
I would also like to thank our sponsors. We have had a strong and enduring relationship with eircom whom have given us unstinting support - both financial and otherwise - for a number of years. Without them, this night would not be possible. I would also like to thank Carlsberg for sponsoring our drinks reception. I thank Owen Cowzer for organising the night as I know what a time-consuming task it can be and our Master of Ceremonies John Kenny.
This is only the second time that the event has been held outside Dublin. Having been in Cork two years ago, it was only right that we chose somewhere north of the capital this time around. We are also glad that its location has enabled many of our northern friends to attend. For the first time, we have invited managers, captains and officials of the Irish League clubs participating in the Setanta Sports Cup to this event and I am delighted to see representatives from Linfield and Glentoran here. I think anyone who wishes to see the game to progress on this island will acknowledge the importance of closer cross-border co-operation.
In another way, Dundalk was an obvious choice given the town’s rich soccer tradition. While they may not have won the right to be in the new-look Premier Division next season, they remain the most successful provincial club in Ireland. Furthermore, our current national team manager hails from here of course. It’s a pity he cannot be with us tonight but, on his 38th birthday, I would like to wish him many happy returns.
It is fair to say that 2006 has been a steep learning curve for Steve Staunton. He has experienced the high of a thrilling 3-0 win over Sweden in his first game in charge an the low of a 5-2 defeat in Cyprus. I am sure everyone in this room will hope there are better times ahead in 2007. While he may not believe it, the members of our association want a successful international team just as much as he does. Believe me, our lives are a lot easier when we are writing about success rather than failure.
But, much like players, club football is our bread and butter and perhaps of more importance than a successful international team is a vibrant league. 2006 saw the merger of the eircom League and the FAI and it is to be hoped that this will be the catalyst for the further development of domestic football. Let there be no mistake that the League is at a crossroads. Last year, your average person was familiar with the name Sean Hargan not because he scored the winning goal against a club which had twice won the UEFA Cup but because of the league’s failure to properly deal with a suspension which he was due to serve which ultimately could have decided the title race. As it was, it was difficult for anyone to take any great satisfaction from Shelbourne being crowned champions.
The licensing system and the new-look League are part of a drive for better standards off the pitch. While undoubtedly well-intentioned, their credibility has been somewhat undermined by the fact that one licensed club went out of business mid-season while another went on to win the league title but was unable to pay its players. To the players and backroom staff at Shels, I extend my congratulations – as I do to the other winners of silverware Drogheda United, Derry City and Shamrock Rovers – for their success in extremely trying circumstances. But that a club can be crowned champions when they cannot fulfil the basic requirement of paying their employees is deeply worrying. Shels, of course, have not been the only offenders in this regard but the extent of the problems at Tolka Park was simply shocking.
The instability of clubs goes some way to help explain why David Forde, Danny Murphy, George O’Callaghan, Stephen Ward, Pat Kavanagh, Paul Keegan, Trevor Molloy, Sean Dillon, Bobby Ryan and Jason Byrne - not to mention manager Stephen Kenny - all chose to leave these shores to ply their trade abroad. It has yet to be proven that full-time football is sustainable in this country. In fact, an objective assessment at this juncture would probably conclude that it is not. That is not to say that we should not have the ambition to have a fully professional league in this country but it is imperative that we proceed with caution and prudence because, as has been painfully experienced by players at Shelbourne, livelihoods are at stake.
A wage cap of 65 per cent of a club’s turnover, once it is properly enforced, is to be welcomed. It may well result in more players may opting for the route chosen by those I just mentioned. If that happens so be it. Better that they leave for higher wages than because they are not being paid at all.
But I would like to end on an upbeat note before the eircom League’s new Director Fran Gavin hits the bottle, wondering what he has let himself in for. It’s not all doom and gloom. For the first time ever, all of our teams which competed in Europe progressed through at least one round in. Our ranking is now 35th in Europe. That not might sound very good but it is the highest yet. And, when you look at the winners, the nominees for our two awards tonight and indeed around the room, you realise that there are both managers and players of real talent operating within our League who, if nurtured in the correct manager, can achieve great things. To you and to all of our guests, I raise a toast and hope that you enjoy the night.
Last edited by LukeO; 29/01/2007 at 10:26 PM.
A fairly balanced & factual account.
Delaney`s pathetic "shoot the messenger" approach is a sign of someone who is way out of his depth, something he has in common with most of the rest of the shower in Merrion Square.
Rather than wasting his (& by extension, our) time through vain attempts to claim papal infallibility, he`d be better off putting his effort into addressing some of the points raised.
I`d suggest starting with a proper enforcement of Licensing & the consequent relegation & ejection from Europe of Shels.
Less words more action (more in hope than expectation).
It is fair to say that 2006 has been a steep learning curve for Steve Staunton. He has experienced the high of a thrilling 3-0 win over Sweden in his first game in charge an the low of a 5-2 defeat in Cyprus. I am sure everyone in this room will hope there are better times ahead in 2007. While he may not believe it, the members of our association want a successful international team just as much as he does. Believe me, our lives are a lot easier when we are writing about success rather than failure.
This is Delaney's idea of harsh comments about Staunton
The chance of a progressive football person or any half competent person running the FAI are nil. This is the organisation of Kilcoyne and Phil the Greek
Mick D. for Ireland!
While I dont have a lot time for O'Riordan (a self confessed liverpool "supporter") what is wrong with that speech?
"A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her".
KOH
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