End of season - A player's perspective

In just over a week, the 2011 Airtricity league season will come to a close for most clubs. I am sure that clubs will have their own problems over the close season getting their house in order and preparing for next year. A few rumours have already circulated regarding a couple of clubs’ finances. Let’s hope none of those rumours surface in the not too distant future.

Fans will also have to wait a few months to see their clubs line out again but will probably end up saving money for the few months with no home or away fixtures to attend. With Christmas just around the corner most will probably be glad to have that extra bit of cash!! This week however, I want to discuss the end of season and what it means from a player’s point of view.

I mentioned in my last article that anxious times await for players come the end of season. The reasons are obvious. When the season comes to an end next week the primary or secondary source of income that players receive during the season comes to an end. Players will therefore have to wait until next season until they receive any form of pay from football. As I have mentioned before, with mortgages, bills, Christmas, etc, it will be a tough time for a lot of players who have given their best throughout the season.

 I understand that a lot of people out there are in similar situations with the massive financial pressure and lack of work available these days but I am merely trying to give you an honest inside perspective from an Airtricity League player’s point of view. Although most will be glad to have a break away from football, there will still be that anxious wait till our next pay check from football. Ireland may be one of the only countries where their top football players rely on their government as means of pay in the off season.

Another reason that will bring worry to many players during the break off will be the fact that many of us will be out of contract soon and will begin our annual search and wait for a new contract. We have entered a period were most contracts are handed out on a one year basis and come the end of a current season, clubs have most of their players out of contract and wait till late December/January/early February to recruit players for a new season. 

Last year I was in the exact same position. My contract was up at Sporting Fingal and as far as I was aware there were only 7-9 players from a squad of over 21 still in contract. So what can you do as a player? Sit around till January/February and wait for things to happen or, perhaps, look at different avenues?

One such avenue is the possibility of emigrating abroad to play football. A lot of former players have opted to head over to Australia and I know from talking to a few such as Shane Robinson and Brian Shelley that they really enjoy it there. Canada and America are also possible destinations. Another possibility is to try to get your agent if you have one or get in touch with an independent agent to see if he can get you something of interest abroad. Last year, I had offers from Egypt and Malta through different agents. I have already spoken in previous articles about other countries such as Eastern Europe and Asia that offer lucrative contracts.

However, perhaps the best option for out of contract players is doing the PFAI training camp that Stephen McGuiness and the players union here in Ireland have run over the past few years. The training camp basically gives out of contract players the chance to keep fit in a professionally run environment over the off season which in turn gives them a better opportunity to get a club in Ireland when the season starts back again or gain something abroad.

The training schedule is organised to try and suit most members as best as possible. Trevor Crolly who in everyone’s view is an exceptional coach takes training around four times a week with friendly games organised to keep up match sharpness. It is run in a thoroughly professional manner with top class facilities available and food organised for after training as well. 

Last year was the first time I took part in it and it also happened to be the first year of the FIFPro tournament. The FIFPro tournament was set up to give out of contract players from Ireland, Sweden, Norway and Finland a chance to take part in a mini competition in front of hundreds of scouts and agents from various countries. Last year’s tournament was a huge success and I know that it will be run again this year with the PFAI taking part again.

You only have to look at the group of players who took part in it last year to see how successful the training camp was. An obvious example for anyone considering taking part this year is Daryl Kavanagh who before last year’s PFAI training camp was on a slippery road to extinction from football. However, having got a move to St. Pat's this year on the basis of how well he did at the training camp and over in the FIFPro tournament, he has become one of the best players in the Airtricity Premier League.

Other good examples are Dean Marshall and Darren Meenan - two young players who have enjoyed great seasons at UCD and have also benefited from the training camp after UCD manager Martin Russell saw them playing and training at it. For anyone not sure what to do in the off season, the proof is there that the PFAI training camp really does work out.