PFAI boost as clubs get down to business

After the glory days of summer, there is quiet confidence this won’t be a winter of discontent for many out-of-contract Airtricity League players.

Clubs have been active in signing and re-signing players much earlier this close season than in the last few years, a development warmly welcomed by the footballers’ union, the PFAI.

“It’s fantastic that we have clubs doing their business a lot earlier,” says PFAI general secretary, Stephen McGuinness. “That’s very beneficial for us. This year for some reason, licensing and budget approval doesn’t seem to be an issue for clubs.”

McGuinness added: “It looks like the league is moving forward. Maybe what’s happened is that clubs better understand the licensing and what, budget-wise, is required within those criteria. Let’s hope so.”

Ironically, the increased business could yet scupper plans to field a League of Ireland team, for the third year running, in the FIFPro Winter Tournament in Oslo on January 10, a showcase for out-of-contract players from Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Finland hosted by the international players’ union. In the first year of their involvement, the Irish finished third and last year were runners-up after losing out on penalties in the final.

“I suppose it’s a good thing in a way if we don’t have a team because that means everyone’s fixed up,” McGuinness smiles. “But we’re confident we’ll still have a good squad of players.”

Whether they take part in the tournament or not, many players are already feeling the benefits of the winter training programme, funded by the PFAI, which has just kicked off at the AUL complex in Dublin and which, for three days a week, will run on into New Year.

“I believe this is a great programme,” says Pat Scully, the former Limerick boss who is heading up the management team for Oslo. “It’s easy to become disillusioned. My job is basically to make sure the lads enjoy training, keep themselves fit and the most important thing is we want them to get contracts and clubs.”

Graham Gartland knows better than most that a footballer’s life can be wildly unpredictable.

“Things don’t always go smoothly,” says the well-travelled player, who was most recently with Shamrock Rovers. “I was released by two clubs before I turned 20 and by the time I was 24, I’d won everything in the league. So it was a massive turnaround in seven years. And it can happen again.”

Last year, all of the Airtricity League players who featured in the FIFPro tournament claimed contracts with Premier Division clubs. This year, the PFAI hopes that — if a team does take part — they can liaise better with their Scandanavian counterparts in a bid to also create openings for Irish players in Northern Europe.