Sunday Indo swipes at GUFC again

[Paddyfield]

What is it with the Independent and Galway United? This is not the first time the Sunday Independent/Irish Independent had had a swipe at GUFC. This article is unsigned. Last time the Sindo were having a go at Galway United, it was written by Sligwegian Eamonn Sweeny.

It isn't clear who wrote this. It is clear that it is in the GAA section of the paper - look at the URL.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gael...e-1436271.html

Domestic joke isn't funny anymore

It is putting it mildly to say that it hasn't been a good fortnight for domestic Irish football. For those of a certain age, stories of recession and belt-tightening come with a novelty value attached, yet rumours of football clubs staring down the barrel of a financial gun seem old hat. If they couldn't get their act together during the years of plenty, you could reason, what hope for them in the grim times that apparently lie ahead?

In the last couple of months, the grim reaper has been seen hovering around the gates of Waterford, Cobh, Sligo and Galway and while the spectre of collapse seems to have been averted for the time being, supporters of the said clubs know they face anxious times. With the corpses of Dublin City and Kilkenny City almost still warm in their caskets, how long can it be before the game suffers its next bereavement?

While apportioning blame for the mess is no straightforward task, it was a little disconcerting to listen to the FAI's newly recruited international performance director, Wim Koevermans, talk about the Irish game when he arrived in Dublin two weeks ago. Koevermans spoke nonchalantly about the need for a vibrant domestic game, as if all it required was an anaesthetic to be administered by a simple injection.

Not that the Dutchman can be fingered for a shambles he had no part in creating. What jarred that day at Abbotstown, though, was the jokey, informal atmosphere that prevailed between Koevermans, Packie Bonner and FAI chief executive John Delaney. Koevermans gave the impression he hadn't been particularly well-briefed on the problems faced by Irish football. The FAI, as it does, merely preened in the spotlight, thrilled at their obvious sophistication in securing another foreign appointment.

All we know is that when our old friends Genesis looked at the League in 2005, it concluded it was in dire need of assistance and three years on things have got worse rather than better. Whether clubs showed restraint and common sense, like Kilkenny, or reached for the stars, like Shelbourne, the result has been the same: financial woe and grim, sometimes vain, struggles for survival. The case of Galway United is particularly interesting given the involvement of Nick Leeson. Some within the club and among its supporters took umbrage at coverage of its plight last week which made the obvious link between their problems and the chief executive's past as the world's most notorious financier. They pointed out that, under Leeson's stewardship, the club had significantly increased attendances and created a buzz around Terryland that had been absent for years.

Instantly you see flaws in this line of reasoning. When Leeson arrived in Galway three years ago, his appointment commanded worldwide attention and it was impossible to resist the feeling that his recruitment wasn't, in part a least, something of a marketing gimmick. Whether consciously or not, the club has traded on Leeson's colourful past so it is a touch disingenuous to expect others to forget it now that they have hit choppy waters.

Neither does it seem entirely valid to praise Leeson for increasing attendances when, at the very least, it was needed to justify the vastly increased outlay in expenditure for new and better players, an outlay the club could never afford.

Even if you were to forget Leeson's roguish past, he now seems little more than a failed club director who fell into the black financial hole into which many before have disappeared and more will follow until the rot is finally and irrevocably stopped.


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[pixiehead]

Its Getting boring at this stage . If they cant find somting positive to write about they should shut up to F**K

[Tir Oilean]

**** poor journalism. This was clearly wrote as a last minute filler. Its a nothing article. I wouldnt wipe me arse wit the indo.

[GuisaSaigon]

Lazy journalism from the Sindo, again. Just an excuse to take a cheap shot at Leeson. As Tir Oilean says it's a nothing article, not news just uninformed comment.

[Gaillimh Al]

John O'Brien wrote it

[eamo1]

Surely Nick should get onto his solictors about it.The person calls him "little more then a failed club director"-this isnt true at all and is slanderous.Yes hes made some mistakes but the SINDO cant point fingers when it comes to making mistakes.Week after week you see appologies or "correctioins" as they call them being made including some disgracefull ones,Liam Lawlor,Abbeylara Guard,etc etc.Its poor stuff.

[Maroon 7]

So if Leeson is to blame for our financial woes who is to blame for the financial woes of all the other clubs in trouble?

The plain fact is the vast majority of clubs in the league are battling to survive almost on a week to week basis.

[Tir Oilean]

[QUOTE=Maroon 7;985788]So if Leeson is to blame for our financial woes who is to blame for the financial woes of all the other clubs in trouble?

QUOTE]

Thats next weeks story for the Sindo. Its all Nick Leesons fault.
Nick if I were you I would write a letter to these muppets to highlight their broken record articles. SAme tripe appears over and over again.

[Mr A]

I think that article is pretty fair to be honest. Galway benefited from Leeson's profile while times were good and are now suffering somewhat while things are bad. It was always going to happen.

[Mr Maroon]

load of ****e. the indo is only a rag