5 days ago
League of Ireland has escaped ‘difficult child' tag – but recent spats prove there's nothing wrong with childish scenes
JOHN DELANEY'S 'problem child' followed him around like a bad smell — much to his annoyance.
For starters, he called the League of
Ireland
the FAI's 'difficult child' instead, and was describing the financial basket case it was and how he believed it had progressed.
2
John Delaney infamously called the League of Ireland a 'difficult child'
Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
2
St Pat's players taunt Stuey Byrne after winning the league
The last time I spoke to Delaney was in 2018. I asked him if he was surprised that he could appoint a manager —
He snapped back: 'There's been so much made about that. I came from the
'I didn't mean it in that context and people should know that. It was where it was to where it is.'
But the way the Association sometimes dealt with naysayers from within the League of Ireland around that time showed that the
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The now FAI President Paul Cooke was once an ally of Delaney but became persona non grata after asking questions about finances — Cooke is an accountant — at an AGM.
Roddy Collins was another who was hit with a fine for a comment on RTÉ in 2011, and another when he called the league a 'shambles' in a 2016 column in the Irish Daily
Star
. He was fined by the FAI as he was working for Monaghan United in 2011 and
Had he not been in
football
, any sanction would have been legal. Good luck proving that calling the league a 'shambles' at that time was not fair comment!
But 2016 was also the year that FAI
Competitions
Director Fran Gavin went on RTÉ and said the Association had 'created the atmosphere' for successes such as those of
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But the sad thing is it was often an atmosphere of silence.
Stadia were often quiet due to lack of numbers, and the managers all — publicly at least — got on with it and largely didn't complain.
FAI invite Ireland fan, 11, who was stabbed at Dublin school to training before Bulgaria clash
Thankfully that has all changed.
The crowds are great — though that may change if
The FAI has got it in the neck at times, but that is nothing compared to the WWE-style shenanigans between managers.
There has been
Stephen Kenny, meanwhile,
At the same time,
Virgin Media must be delighted that their guests are in the story as it is a rarity in Ireland.
PUNDIT POPS
Personally, I can only recall a couple of times when pundits got it in the neck from LOI managers or players.
And St Pat's players never forgot when Stuart Byrne said Saints were a side to play when the sun came out. They posed for a team photo in hats and scarves after winning the league.
Managers — and some fans — may complain about the sideshows taking centre stage when there are so many great games, great goals and great players.
But it should be embraced if it keeps people talking about the league.
The league is no problem child, but there is nothing wrong with some childish moments now and then.
