Denis O'Briens donation

[NeilMcD]

Lads have you not copped that the fact he contribued towards Trappatonis wages that it frees up money for the grassroots of Irish football that otherwise would have been used to pay Trappatonis wages, so in effect the money he gives will help the grassroots of Irish football.

[Ireland4ever]

Can't believe what I'm reading here, I guess that's the modern Irish fair-play-to-the-cute-hoor, money-cures-all ethos. For a start, this money isn't going into Irish football, it's going on a speculative appointment to the management staff of a Britsh-based team for short-term gain (which in itself is unlikely to accrue.) I can think of a million and one better uses for this money within domestic football. Secondly, unless you're hopelessly naive or your moral compass is wildly askew you couldn't say with hand on heart that Denis O'Brien or his money are entirely lillywhite.

So what do you want the Irish manager to work for free?? . Really, some people are never happy.

[Hibernian]

I am far from an admirer of O Brien but I have to say fair play to him. Most these top names go to the big British clubs to give there dough but he has given it back to his own country so fair play for this one.

[eekers]

I wonder will Denis O'Brien be giving a press conference from his jail cell,....... he is in jail i presume for robbing this money???

same jail cell as roman abramovich. havent you heard people with money dont go to jail no matter what they do.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Lads have you not copped that the fact he contribued towards Trappatonis wages that it frees up money for the grassroots of Irish football that otherwise would have been used to pay Trappatonis wages, so in effect the money he gives will help the grassroots of Irish football.

Does it really though? The FAI are loaded as it is.

By the way, I think Delaney was right to accept the offer.

[NeilMcD]

Well without looking in to their accounts. I am sure they dont just sit on the money and invest it in Generale Societie or something like that.

[keenanboy]

The glass seems to be always half empty with some people on this site I find it hilarious. Picking holes in everything, its a great day for Irish soccer and all some can do is whinge about Denis O'Brien.

We are a nation of begrudgers and have an inferiority complex about one of our own making something of themselves. If I was O'Brien I would have kept my money in the bank instead of wasting it on a bunch of moaners and whingers which the celtic tiger has spawned in their thousands.

[finnpark]

All this talk of DOB giving a donation to help fund the appointment of is making me sick. What clubs has this guy helped out financially? Where was Mr.O'Brien when Kilkenny City had to close up shop? How is money going to help league of Ireland clubs finance their day to day activities as they try to keep their heads above water.

I agree totally. He is happy to be the big man and line some knob's pockets but he won't hand it out (and most other on our richest list) to help Irish clubs make the breakthrough in European competition which is much more important to Irish soccer.

[Ireland4ever]

I agree totally. He is happy to be the big man and line some knob's pockets but he won't hand it out (and most other on our richest list) to help Irish clubs make the breakthrough in European competition which is much more important to Irish soccer.

Its his money he can do with it what he likes, he has no oblligation to help anyone out - that includes some LOI fans with an over inflated sense of their own importance - i for one am gladhe has decided to help the senior team out.

[bellavistaman]

Fair play to him, fantastic to see it being done.

[Bingo]

Lads, I dont post here often but I feel compelled to make a few points to the so called sceptics and bleeding hearts moaning about the fact that this guy gave money to fund the appointment of a top class manager, rather than invest in "grassroots" or eircom league.

As someone involved in both grassroots now and as eircom league or old loi as a player in the past, I really couldnt give a fiddlers fcuk that he has donated this money. It was a great move imo. Fair play to him.

Im sick that all the press are concerned about is "denis o'brien this", "irregular payment". I cannot figure out Tony O'Donoghue, obviously someone told him to kop on between his first bulletin on six one news and his talk with Razor Houghton. As for "Sharon the gaelgoir" trying to question Delaney in an embarrassing manner, I just thought it was bordering on embarrassing.

What people forget is that a successful national team has a knock on effect to the grassroots. I'm not saying that this success is guaranteed, but for ffs give it a try.

At the time of Euro 88, I was a young "grassroots" player and I'll tell you this, it gave me and my footie mad mates some boost to actually hear people in the media talking about "OUR TEAM" for a change. That had a knock on effect imo for kids to start playing. We need success at international level to help out grassroots just as much as we need to support grassroots to be successful at international level. It goes hand in hand.

As regards the old chestnut of putting the money into loi, as far as I can see and from personal experience, from a pure maths point of view, even if a €1m was stuck into loi, it wouldnt make a long term difference. It would merely delay the inevitable, which is, that loi clubs balance sheets do not add up. Too much goin out, not enough comin in.

When I played, I used to get the excuse that "Cant pay ye this week, as the disco was cancelled etc". Whilst the standard of Loi has undoubtably improved, the simple truth is that unless clubs are either, 1) all amateur or 2) getting gates of 20,000 each week, it aint going to happen. Maybe some of the bleeding hearts should get their buddies out of the pub on match day to support the local loi team week in week out, and not just for "big" games.

I hope I havent gone off on a mad one too much, and no doubt people will try to pick holes in what I have to say........

But at the moment as a supporter of all things Irish football, I feel quite subdued on a day I should be delighted. Methinks the influence of the English media and public has manifested itself now in Ireland.

[eirebhoy]

I agree totally. He is happy to be the big man and line some knob's pockets but he won't hand it out (and most other on our richest list) to help Irish clubs make the breakthrough in European competition which is much more important to Irish soccer.

You never know. The Irish football team might just have a bit of his heart. Watching them at the world cup may have been some of the happiest weeks of his life and he probably wants to experience something like that again.

To a lot of LOI fans the national team is just a bit on the side from their first love, some even want the national team to fail. It's completely different for many of us on here who love the team with a passion.

[Rob_the_cat]

Its not up to any of us to judge another man and what he does with his money. Thirdly a debate on the merits of taxation is beyond the minds of the members of our society, never mind this forum. Now, can we PLEASE stop applauding Denis, he made his choice. I made mine, to contribute to the exchequer from my meagre earnings. Today is about one man and one man only. All hail Il Trap!

[Superhoops]

......I cannot figure out Tony O'Donoghue, obviously someone told him to kop on between his first bulletin on six one news and his talk with Razor Houghton. As for "Sharon the gaelgoir" trying to question Delaney in an embarrassing manner, I just thought it was bordering on embarrassing.....

Absolutely spot on

TOD has been an embarrassment for RTE since he was given the run-around the night the announcement about Stephen Staunton's termination was made.

Sharon Ní Bheoláin's interview John Delaney on SixOne news was not just embarrassing, it was amateurish.

[sonofstan]

it'd be great if we could all politely decline the Revenue Commissioners request for their slice of our income with a 'no thanks, I'd rather use the money to pay for something high profile that'll have all the lads saying 'fair play' down the pub, rather than for schools and hospitals and boring stuff'

The real irish inferiority complex, much discussed above, lies in the fact that we're afraid to stand up to the rich and powerful, instead applying the 'cute hoor' rule to avoid confronting our moral cowardice.

[half_full]

Once again Delaney and the FAI astound me in their ineptitude. They now are indebted to Denis O'Brian, on some level or another and this talk of no strings attached is BULL. O'Brian should have no involvement like this and faiLURE should have told him where to go. If anyone thinks that this guy is in it for anything more than PR needs a serious wake up call.

Also, I think Pat Dolan raised some very good points earlier on Setanta as to why Trappatoni took the Irish job, but I do hope he is 100% committed and gives all players a fair chance to get into the squad.

[finnpark]

You never know. The Irish football team might just have a bit of his heart. Watching them at the world cup may have been some of the happiest weeks of his life and he probably wants to experience something like that again.

To a lot of LOI fans the national team is just a bit on the side from their first love, some even want the national team to fail. It's completely different for many of us on here who love the team with a passion.

I agree with you and Im glad he made the donation for this and hopefully it will lead to a return on investment that will befit us all. But I think we need to be realistic about our chances of qualifying especially with Italy in our group.

[NeilMcD]

Jesus it must be tough being that bitter.

[finnpark]

Jesus it must be tough being that bitter.

Some of us are just not getting carried away by all this hype talk especially in the media. Its a sport after all and can be very unpredictable. Lets just wait and see how things go but hes not a miracle worker and I think he will find it hard to finish ahead of Italy despite your optimism

[NeilMcD]

Who is getting carried away on here. All I see is people who are being optimisitic. If you cant be optimistic when you have just appointed one of the best managers in the world you may as well shoot yourself.