Roddy blasts eircom League

Shamrock Rovers’ manager Roddy Collins has accused the eircom League of double standards after League officials refused to register Marc Kenny and Brian Shelley in time for last week’s clash with Cork City.

Kenny and Shelley were both signed on short-term contracts by Collins last week with both players accepting wages of €50 a week due to the club’s financial problems.

However, when the club looked to register the players to play against Cork on Friday, the eircom League refused to accept the registrations claiming they did now believe the wages that were being paid.

Also, as Shelley was returning from England where he last played with Carlisle United, international clearance was required and the League did not seek the clearance quick enough despite fast tracking Curtis Fleming’s clearance to allow him to play for Shelbourne on Friday night.

Collins said: “Why one rule for Shelbourne and one rule for Shamrock Rovers? The attitude of the League is maddening, switching off the phone at 5pm on the button on Friday and refusing our request.

“Sometimes you wonder, what’s the point?”