Phelan rejects new home internationals
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Niall Phelan, head of the Carling brand in Ireland, has rejected any idea of another home international tournament saying that the idea of a similar tournament including England in 2013 represents ‘nothing new.’
The Carling Nations Cup kicks-off next month at the Aviva Stadium, when Ireland face Wales and Scotland play Northern Ireland on the 8th and 9th respectively. However, despite recent talk of a new five-team tournament, Phelan says there is a platform already there and the door would be open for England in the future under the current format.
“There has been a lot of potentially confusing talk in the past week about the possibility of creating a ‘new’ home international football tournament in 2013 featuring the five teams from Ireland and Britain,” said Phelan.
“What puzzles me is that this platform already exists,” he added. “It’s called the Carling Nations Cup and it kicks off in Dublin in just three weeks time when the Republic of Ireland play Wales and Northern Ireland take on Scotland. Unfortunately England were unable to participate this year but the door will always be wide open for them to take part in future tournaments.”
There is a general consensus that for the tournament to really prosper, the English will need to be involved. And that’s something that Phelan certainly agrees with to an extent. He says: “We hope that the Carling Nations Cup will become an established event in the international football calendar going forward and that England will be involved.
“In the meantime though, I think it’s time for everyone to forget about what may or may not happen in 2013, get behind their teams and give them all the support they can between now and May. The Carling Nations Cup has been set up with the full backing of all the participating football associations and it offers our international teams the chance to pick up some precious silverware ahead of the summer with competitive fixtures that will play a valuable role in helping managers develop their squads for the future.
“Hopefully, fans will have a chance not only to see their favourite players in action but also to check out the stars of tomorrow and I’m sure they will turn out in force in February and May to support their teams and really make this a football tournament to remember,” he concluded.
The Carling Nations Cup kicks-off next month at the Aviva Stadium, when Ireland face Wales and Scotland play Northern Ireland on the 8th and 9th respectively. However, despite recent talk of a new five-team tournament, Phelan says there is a platform already there and the door would be open for England in the future under the current format.
“There has been a lot of potentially confusing talk in the past week about the possibility of creating a ‘new’ home international football tournament in 2013 featuring the five teams from Ireland and Britain,” said Phelan.
“What puzzles me is that this platform already exists,” he added. “It’s called the Carling Nations Cup and it kicks off in Dublin in just three weeks time when the Republic of Ireland play Wales and Northern Ireland take on Scotland. Unfortunately England were unable to participate this year but the door will always be wide open for them to take part in future tournaments.”
There is a general consensus that for the tournament to really prosper, the English will need to be involved. And that’s something that Phelan certainly agrees with to an extent. He says: “We hope that the Carling Nations Cup will become an established event in the international football calendar going forward and that England will be involved.
“In the meantime though, I think it’s time for everyone to forget about what may or may not happen in 2013, get behind their teams and give them all the support they can between now and May. The Carling Nations Cup has been set up with the full backing of all the participating football associations and it offers our international teams the chance to pick up some precious silverware ahead of the summer with competitive fixtures that will play a valuable role in helping managers develop their squads for the future.
“Hopefully, fans will have a chance not only to see their favourite players in action but also to check out the stars of tomorrow and I’m sure they will turn out in force in February and May to support their teams and really make this a football tournament to remember,” he concluded.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile