FAI...New Manager Hunt continues

[trailer]

If Damien Duff thought the GAA were dinosaurs and archaic and awful, I wonder what he thinks about the overlords within Irish soccer.

The Irish soccer media will circle the wagons and defend Delaney, didn't Duff, Whelan, Dunphy etc brand the tennis ball protest as a disgrace or words to that effect only a few short weeks ago. All sucking from the same tit.

As opposed to the hyper critical GAA media? The soccer mefia at lesdt bothered finding Delaneys salary and expenses. Our mob have yet to bother rocking that boat

Somehow spinning this as a soccer strength, some neck on you.

"Our mob" a nice touch also.   

No, I'm not. But ultimately it was tbe soccer press that did for him. His salary, the rent, the €100k. All found by the press. Can you honestly see the GAA press asking these questions?

Was it not a news journalist in the Sunday Times that revealed the story about the 100k? The rest followed on from there.

Thats a semantic point at best.

Are we all confident there isnt similar dirty linen within Gaelic Games?

Put the whataboutery Klaxon on standby there....

[johnnycool]

If Damien Duff thought the GAA were dinosaurs and archaic and awful, I wonder what he thinks about the overlords within Irish soccer.

The Irish soccer media will circle the wagons and defend Delaney, didn't Duff, Whelan, Dunphy etc brand the tennis ball protest as a disgrace or words to that effect only a few short weeks ago. All sucking from the same tit.

As opposed to the hyper critical GAA media? The soccer mefia at lesdt bothered finding Delaneys salary and expenses. Our mob have yet to bother rocking that boat

Somehow spinning this as a soccer strength, some neck on you.

"Our mob" a nice touch also.   

No, I'm not. But ultimately it was tbe soccer press that did for him. His salary, the rent, the €100k. All found by the press. Can you honestly see the GAA press asking these questions?

Was it not a news journalist in the Sunday Times that revealed the story about the 100k? The rest followed on from there.

Thats a semantic point at best.

Are we all confident there isnt similar dirty linen within Gaelic Games?

Put the whataboutery Klaxon on standby there....

If there's a bit of the skullduggery financially in CP then it wouldn't be much of a surprise as although we regale with laughter at Michael HR and his parish pump politics and lax attitude to financial accountability, there's a lot like him at various levels within the GAA/FAI/IRFU/Sport Ireland and whatever other governing bodies out there.

There's almost an acceptance of a rogue in Ireland as a harmless type character with no victim and no harm done.

[weareros]

How did Cathal Dervan ever become Dir of Communications for FAI. Wasn't he the "journalist" who tried to orchestrate a campaign for the Irish supporters to boo Roy Keane while still a player?

[Itchy]

How did Cathal Dervan ever become Dir of Communications for FAI. Wasn't he the "journalist" who tried to orchestrate a campaign for the Irish supporters to boo Roy Keane while still a player?

Probably decided over a pint or two in one of Delaneys locals.

[seafoid]

If Damien Duff thought the GAA were dinosaurs and archaic and awful, I wonder what he thinks about the overlords within Irish soccer.

The Irish soccer media will circle the wagons and defend Delaney, didn't Duff, Whelan, Dunphy etc brand the tennis ball protest as a disgrace or words to that effect only a few short weeks ago. All sucking from the same tit.

As opposed to the hyper critical GAA media? The soccer mefia at lesdt bothered finding Delaneys salary and expenses. Our mob have yet to bother rocking that boat

Somehow spinning this as a soccer strength, some neck on you.

"Our mob" a nice touch also.   

No, I'm not. But ultimately it was tbe soccer press that did for him. His salary, the rent, the €100k. All found by the press. Can you honestly see the GAA press asking these questions?

Was it not a news journalist in the Sunday Times that revealed the story about the 100k? The rest followed on from there.

Thats a semantic point at best.

Are we all confident there isnt similar dirty linen within Gaelic Games?

Put the whataboutery Klaxon on standby there....

If there's a bit of the skullduggery financially in CP then it wouldn't be much of a surprise as although we regale with laughter at Michael HR and his parish pump politics and lax attitude to financial accountability, there's a lot like him at various levels within the GAA/FAI/IRFU/Sport Ireland and whatever other governing bodies out there.

There's almost an acceptance of a rogue in Ireland as a harmless type character with no victim and no harm done.

Of the top 3 sporting orgs the FAI is the least well run imo

[Baile Brigín 2]

If Damien Duff thought the GAA were dinosaurs and archaic and awful, I wonder what he thinks about the overlords within Irish soccer.

The Irish soccer media will circle the wagons and defend Delaney, didn't Duff, Whelan, Dunphy etc brand the tennis ball protest as a disgrace or words to that effect only a few short weeks ago. All sucking from the same tit.

As opposed to the hyper critical GAA media? The soccer mefia at lesdt bothered finding Delaneys salary and expenses. Our mob have yet to bother rocking that boat

Somehow spinning this as a soccer strength, some neck on you.

"Our mob" a nice touch also.   

No, I'm not. But ultimately it was tbe soccer press that did for him. His salary, the rent, the €100k. All found by the press. Can you honestly see the GAA press asking these questions?

Was it not a news journalist in the Sunday Times that revealed the story about the 100k? The rest followed on from there.

Thats a semantic point at best.

Are we all confident there isnt similar dirty linen within Gaelic Games?

Put the whataboutery Klaxon on standby there....

If there's a bit of the skullduggery financially in CP then it wouldn't be much of a surprise as although we regale with laughter at Michael HR and his parish pump politics and lax attitude to financial accountability, there's a lot like him at various levels within the GAA/FAI/IRFU/Sport Ireland and whatever other governing bodies out there.

There's almost an acceptance of a rogue in Ireland as a harmless type character with no victim and no harm done.

Of the top 3 sporting orgs the FAI is the least well run imo

they are way ahead of rugby. Outside of the pro level its a mess.

[Crete Boom]

If Damien Duff thought the GAA were dinosaurs and archaic and awful, I wonder what he thinks about the overlords within Irish soccer.

The Irish soccer media will circle the wagons and defend Delaney, didn't Duff, Whelan, Dunphy etc brand the tennis ball protest as a disgrace or words to that effect only a few short weeks ago. All sucking from the same tit.

As opposed to the hyper critical GAA media? The soccer mefia at lesdt bothered finding Delaneys salary and expenses. Our mob have yet to bother rocking that boat

Somehow spinning this as a soccer strength, some neck on you.

"Our mob" a nice touch also.   

No, I'm not. But ultimately it was tbe soccer press that did for him. His salary, the rent, the €100k. All found by the press. Can you honestly see the GAA press asking these questions?

Was it not a news journalist in the Sunday Times that revealed the story about the 100k? The rest followed on from there.

Thats a semantic point at best.

Are we all confident there isnt similar dirty linen within Gaelic Games?

Put the whataboutery Klaxon on standby there....

If there's a bit of the skullduggery financially in CP then it wouldn't be much of a surprise as although we regale with laughter at Michael HR and his parish pump politics and lax attitude to financial accountability, there's a lot like him at various levels within the GAA/FAI/IRFU/Sport Ireland and whatever other governing bodies out there.

There's almost an acceptance of a rogue in Ireland as a harmless type character with no victim and no harm done.

Of the top 3 sporting orgs the FAI is the least well run imo

they are way ahead of rugby. Outside of the pro level its a mess.

How is it a mess outside of pro level compared to amateur soccer?

[Baile Brigín 2]

If Damien Duff thought the GAA were dinosaurs and archaic and awful, I wonder what he thinks about the overlords within Irish soccer.

The Irish soccer media will circle the wagons and defend Delaney, didn't Duff, Whelan, Dunphy etc brand the tennis ball protest as a disgrace or words to that effect only a few short weeks ago. All sucking from the same tit.

As opposed to the hyper critical GAA media? The soccer mefia at lesdt bothered finding Delaneys salary and expenses. Our mob have yet to bother rocking that boat

Somehow spinning this as a soccer strength, some neck on you.

"Our mob" a nice touch also.   

No, I'm not. But ultimately it was tbe soccer press that did for him. His salary, the rent, the €100k. All found by the press. Can you honestly see the GAA press asking these questions?

Was it not a news journalist in the Sunday Times that revealed the story about the 100k? The rest followed on from there.

Thats a semantic point at best.

Are we all confident there isnt similar dirty linen within Gaelic Games?

Put the whataboutery Klaxon on standby there....

If there's a bit of the skullduggery financially in CP then it wouldn't be much of a surprise as although we regale with laughter at Michael HR and his parish pump politics and lax attitude to financial accountability, there's a lot like him at various levels within the GAA/FAI/IRFU/Sport Ireland and whatever other governing bodies out there.

There's almost an acceptance of a rogue in Ireland as a harmless type character with no victim and no harm done.

Of the top 3 sporting orgs the FAI is the least well run imo

they are way ahead of rugby. Outside of the pro level its a mess.

How is it a mess outside of pro level compared to amateur soccer?

Look at playing numbers to start. Despite an unprecedented period of success, less people play the game than ever before.

Delaney is acknowledged by even his biggest critics as having overseen a massive improvement at grassroots level. Rugby has stagnated.

Yesterdays Times

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/gerry-thornley-struggling-clubs-resembling-neglected-child-of-irish-rugby-1.3857485?mode=amp

[mrdeeds]

John Delaney, the executive vice-president of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), spent almost €40,000 on his work credit card in the last six months of 2016, a Sunday Times investigation has found.

While Delaney was on a salary of €360,000 as chief executive, he used the FAI credit card to pay for duty-free purchases at airports, meals in his local pub in Wicklow and to make cash withdrawals of more than €6,000 in six months.

Purchases on Delaney's FAI credit card included €400 at a Hilfiger store, more than €500 on two visits to an executive dry-cleaning outfit, and a €226 bill from Thomas Pink, a store that claims to have perfected "the traditions and intuition of English shirtmaking".

The FAI said "no comment" when asked about Delaney's credit card expenses, and about a separate €60,000 payment made by the association in early 2014 to a third party labelled as "professional fees".

The Sunday Times also found that, on top of Delaney's company credit card expenses, the FAI paid a bill of €8,018 in December 2015 to cover his stay at the Ritz-Carlton hotel beside New York's Central Park. The hotel features soundproof windows and feather beds dressed in goose-down duvets, while guests are offered a choice of pillows from a menu.


As director of Waterford Football Club in 2001, Delaney called on then FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne to stand down pending a review of his use of an FAI credit card. O'Byrne subsequently accepted an exit package amid allegations that he used the card for personal spending. O'Byrne, who repaid the sums in question, blamed the issue on an "administrative error".

Delaney's FAI credit card included 13 separate bills from Plucks, his local pub and restaurant in Kilmacanogue, amounting to a total of €563 in six months. He also had charges of €119 from Kurt Geiger, an upmarket British footwear and accessories retailer, and a €91 bill from Cath Kidston, a "distinctive lifestyle brand".

Staying power: Delaney's bill at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai came to €4,474
Staying power: Delaney's bill at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai came to €4,474
The credit card statements show Delaney had a tendency to withdraw cash using the FAI card in sums ranging from €100 to €250. In just over 40 cash withdrawals in six months, Delaney withdrew more than €6,180. These withdrawals incurred bank charges of more than €115 for the FAI.

On July 21, 2016, Delaney withdrew €200 and €150 from the Topaz garage in Kilmacanogue. On the same date, the credit card was used to withdraw the sterling equivalent of €265 in Terminal 2 of Heathrow. On October 7, the day after Ireland won a home World Cup qualifier against Georgia and two days before the team played away to Moldova, Delaney withdrew €600 in cash in three transactions.

The largest single charge on the credit card in the six-month period was a €4,474 bill from the Ritz- Carlton five-star hotel in Dubai in December 2016. Guests in the hotel enjoy personalised service and daily culinary presentations plus access to a private beach. While in Dubai, Delaney charged a bill of €219 from the Madinat Jumeirah resort and another bill of €271 at the Asia Asia restaurant. At the same time he paid €1,170 to "Aster Home Care", which appears to be a healthcare company based in Dubai.

Delaney's credit card bills show that while in London he usually stays in the Arch, an upmarket hotel near Marylebone. From six separate charges, the FAI has paid €4,202 for use of this hotel.

In September, Delaney amassed a bill of €225 from Gaucho Tower Bridge, a restaurant known for its Argentine steaks and stunning views of the Thames. Delaney has also enjoyed fine dining in Ireland with cumulative bills of €250 from two visits to Marco Pierre White's Steakhouse and Grill. Another €72 was spent on two bills from "Kingfisher takeaway".

Delaney travelled extensively in 2016 as he campaigned successfully for election to Uefa's executive committee in April 2017. He charged more than €7,300 on his credit card for flights in that six-month period. There was €355 spent on duty free. He also charged more than €2,000 in petrol station bills, including a €66.74 purchase in Michael Healy-Rae's Mace shop and garage in Kilgarvan. Last week the Kerry TD spoke in Delaney's defence at an Oireachtas committee hearing into the FAI's corporate governance.

Last week, the FAI refused to answer any questions about Delaney's credit card expenses or say if he reimbursed the association any of the charges, or if he was required to present receipts for his expenditure. The FAI responded "no comment" when The Sunday Times asked whether the association had a policy on staff using company credit cards to withdraw cash.

It is understood the FAI is able to get reimbursements for tickets Delaney purchased for Manchester United and Celtic matches under an arrangement with the clubs. The former chief executive's credit card was used to buy more than €2,300 worth of tickets from these two clubs in the six-month period.

Delaney's solicitor did not respond to queries yesterday.

[Rossfan]

I'm sure Brigín/Kimmage will be along shortly to suggest that Duffy/Browne  were much worse.......

[Baile Brigín 2]

I'm sure Brigín/Kimmage will be along shortly to suggest that Duffy/Browne  were much worse.......

You do understand that claiming I'm Paul Kimmage makes you look special needs?

All I said was I would love to be confident that there are no similar skeletons in closets on Jones Road.

[Wildweasel74]

A fai credit for business use and the obvious mishandling of it should be an automatic dismissal. The fact he's still there would lead me to believe there are a no of these credit cards about among top level staff been similar misused. Wonder how Dolan in the Irish star will defend that.

[Baile Brigín 2]

I'm sure Brigín/Kimmage will be along shortly to suggest that Duffy/Browne  were much worse.......

You do understand that claiming I'm Paul Kimmage makes you look special needs?

Is there any reason why you continually make reference to special needs?
Catch a grip of yourself ffs.

How else do you respond to a post with that level of stupidity? He shows all the hallmarks of being on the spectrum.

Or put another way, if Rainmam is happy to dish it out...

[Rossfan]

I'm sure Brigín/Kimmage will be along shortly to suggest that Duffy/Browne  were much worse.......

You do understand that claiming I'm Paul Kimmage makes you look special needs?

Is there any reason why you continually make reference to special needs?
Catch a grip of yourself ffs.

How else do you respond to a post with that level of stupidity? He shows all the hallmarks of being on the spectrum.

Or put another way, if Rainmam is happy to dish it out...

Continually trying to deflect justified criticism of soccer by raising innuendos against the GAA.......
Time you moved on from the "Gah bad" mindset so beloved of so many of the Irish soccer fraternity.

[spuds]

I'm sure Brigín/Kimmage will be along shortly to suggest that Duffy/Browne  were much worse.......

You do understand that claiming I'm Paul Kimmage makes you look special needs?

Is there any reason why you continually make reference to special needs?
Catch a grip of yourself ffs.

How else do you respond to a post with that level of stupidity? He shows all the hallmarks of being on the spectrum.

Or put another way, if Rainmam is happy to dish it out...

You regularly provide entertainment here claiming to be something you clearly are not and attempt to take a position of superiority but your calling other posters as "special needs" is just not on. The fact you persevere does not reflect well on you.