Delaney set to be grilled on the future of a ‘league in crisis’

JOHN DELANEY will give a state of the football nation address in Leinster House today as the FAI chief executive is set to be quizzed on a tough year for Irish soccer.

The Waterford man will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to discuss the difficulties faced by domestic clubs and the future of a ‘league in crisis’.

Committee chairman, Deputy Tom Kitt says Delaney can expect to answer for a traumatic year in the domestic game.

“Irish soccer clubs have been dogged by financial troubles over the past number of years, with a number of clubs, such as Cork, Drogheda, Cobh and Derry, making headlines for what was happening off the pitch rather than on the pitch,” he said.

“Many prominent and well-known clubs have flirted with financial insolvency recently and in the season just past, a number of clubs again experienced cash difficulties with players having been sold off to make ends meet, delays in wages being paid and clubs moving to a part-time existence.

“All of this points to a league in crisis and, with low or falling gate receipts and declining advertising revenues due to the recession, the problems are likely to persist. Questions are being asked about the management of clubs and the structure of the league itself and this meeting with the chief executive of the FAI, which has responsibility for the league, will provide members of the committee with the opportunity to examine the problems facing the League of Ireland, question the association on the key issues facing individual League of Ireland clubs, while also providing the FAI with the opportunity to outline its plans and strategy for the league.”

Meanwhile, Cork City chairman Tom Coughlan insists Roddy Collins could well be the club’s next manager.

He has whittled down his shortlist of prospective new managers with Paul Doolin’s replacement to be Collins – who reportedly met with Coughlan on Monday night on Leeside, Stephen Kenny or Stephen Henderson.

“I did meet with Roddy Collins. But I have also met with two or three other managers who remain in the frame,’’ Coughlan said.

“It’s part of the process to find the best manager for the club that can work within the new budgets set down.

“Roddy Collins is a very experienced manager and won who won trophies throughout his career. It would be remiss of me not to meet with him and talk to him when I’m in the process of finding a new manager.

Collins is currently boss at Maltese side Floriana, while a decision is expected to be made on his future in the next 36 hours.

The Cork side’s talismanic midfielder Joe Gamble meanwhile, looks likely to take the revolving door in the opposite direction of the incoming manager.

The Rebel Army’s highest paid player is currently in Hartlepool where he is attempting to impress boss Chris Turner and win a contract with the League One outfit.

Former Cork players Denis Behan and Leon McSweeney are currently on the books at Victoria Park.