Financial woes need to be fixed
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
A new season and a new sponsor. Full marks to Airtricity for coming on board to sponsor the League. Now it’s up to us as footballers to ensure they get value for money.
The financial woes of clubs has been well documented but here’s hoping that at the end of this current campaign we are talking about matters on the pitch rather than the all too familiar money issues off it. Last year's fiasco can never be allowed to happen again.
The FAI, the clubs and the players all need to work together to create a league that works in this country. It’s a harsh reality that in the current economic climate full-time football in Ireland is unsustainable but there are exceptions.
One just has to look at the success of Shamrock Rovers. They have showed it can be done and looking at their success, both on and off the pitch, over the past two years is a cause for optimism. Despite all the doom and gloom this can be a great league.
There can be no arguments that the standard of football has improved over the last five years. We just have to look at the excellent record Irish clubs have in Europe over this period. League of Ireland opponents aren't seen as an easy draw any more.
The high standards which managers and players have set themselves cannot and must not be sacrificed even though some clubs have decided to implement a part-time set-up.
We have all taken a hit and clubs and players alike have a responsibility to make sure the Airtricity League works. It’s a fact that most players are now earning half, if not a third, of last year’s wages.
All players want is their contract to be honoured. And with wages down, clubs can no longer use the exorbitant wage excuse when money is due.
It was great to get the three points against Galway. It’s a case of getting to know each other as seven out of our starting 11 were making the home League debut. And it showed! We struggled to find any fluency, especially in the first half. It will take time to gel but we have a good side.
Our centre forward Alex Williams took some stick from the lads after the match. A proud Scot and even prouder Glaswegian, we hadn’t a clue what he was saying throughout the 90 minutes. So if there’s an interpreter out there who specialises in Glaswegian, please contact St Pats!
We have a busy week ahead of us. We play two games over the next six days. Firstly we have a tough home game versus Drogheda in the Leinster Senior Cup. No doubt they will want to get things right after their shock 3-0 drubbing at home to UCD.
Next Saturday, we travel to Linfield for the return leg of our Setanta Cup draw. This will be my fourth time playing in Windsor Park and it is probably my favourite away ground on the island. I know the Setanta Cup has come in for some criticism lately but it is a competition I have loved playing in. If we manage to beat Linfield we will progress through to the semi final, which would be great this early in the season.
The financial woes of clubs has been well documented but here’s hoping that at the end of this current campaign we are talking about matters on the pitch rather than the all too familiar money issues off it. Last year's fiasco can never be allowed to happen again.
The FAI, the clubs and the players all need to work together to create a league that works in this country. It’s a harsh reality that in the current economic climate full-time football in Ireland is unsustainable but there are exceptions.
One just has to look at the success of Shamrock Rovers. They have showed it can be done and looking at their success, both on and off the pitch, over the past two years is a cause for optimism. Despite all the doom and gloom this can be a great league.
There can be no arguments that the standard of football has improved over the last five years. We just have to look at the excellent record Irish clubs have in Europe over this period. League of Ireland opponents aren't seen as an easy draw any more.
The high standards which managers and players have set themselves cannot and must not be sacrificed even though some clubs have decided to implement a part-time set-up.
We have all taken a hit and clubs and players alike have a responsibility to make sure the Airtricity League works. It’s a fact that most players are now earning half, if not a third, of last year’s wages.
All players want is their contract to be honoured. And with wages down, clubs can no longer use the exorbitant wage excuse when money is due.
It was great to get the three points against Galway. It’s a case of getting to know each other as seven out of our starting 11 were making the home League debut. And it showed! We struggled to find any fluency, especially in the first half. It will take time to gel but we have a good side.
Our centre forward Alex Williams took some stick from the lads after the match. A proud Scot and even prouder Glaswegian, we hadn’t a clue what he was saying throughout the 90 minutes. So if there’s an interpreter out there who specialises in Glaswegian, please contact St Pats!
We have a busy week ahead of us. We play two games over the next six days. Firstly we have a tough home game versus Drogheda in the Leinster Senior Cup. No doubt they will want to get things right after their shock 3-0 drubbing at home to UCD.
Next Saturday, we travel to Linfield for the return leg of our Setanta Cup draw. This will be my fourth time playing in Windsor Park and it is probably my favourite away ground on the island. I know the Setanta Cup has come in for some criticism lately but it is a competition I have loved playing in. If we manage to beat Linfield we will progress through to the semi final, which would be great this early in the season.
About Damian Lynch
Premier Perspective: Damian Lynch is an extratime.ie columnist giving his views on the current state of the league as well as his own personal performance with St. Patricks Athletic. The Saints' skipper will give his … View Full Profile