Stephen Bradley changes tack on commentary around Michael Noonan deal by keeping quiet

Michael Noonan of Shamrock Rovers. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Stephen Bradley has refused to comment on the ongoing controversy around an agency agreement at Shamrock Rovers which Fifa are probing.

The club’s manager switched from having plenty to say on the matter after Monday’s 1-1 draw against Dundalk to lowering the shutters five days later.

Bradley was asked following the 3-2 defeat at Bohemians whether he stood by his firm earlier comments.

“Speak to the club,” was all he had to say.

Right now, Bradley is the public face of the men’s Premier champions, a crown they’ve held in five of the last six years.

Two statements have been issued on behalf of as independent chairman Ciarán Medlar and his board, firstly on Monday before an updated version on Friday. They intend making no further comment.

Both statements were similar but the subtle difference was the wording around their awareness from August 2025.

Whereas the initial message referred simply to “agency agreements”, it was expanded to “detailed contents of agency agreements” five days later.

Minutes of a board meeting from as far back as February 2025 were cited in media reports as the point when the chief executive shared information on the Noonan deal.

That chief executive, John Martin, tabled his notice to quit Rovers in April, eventually leaving in July and joining the FAI as director of football in September.

Their chief executive David Courell insisted this week that Martin acted in “good faith” but “if there transpires to have been an oversight, then that's something John will have to address in time.” As previously reported by the Irish Examiner, the kernel of this case is whether ownership rights came into play and if there was a breach of Fifa statutes.

Noonan was just 16 when he signed his first professional contract at Rovers, shocking St Patrick’s Athletic by joining their rivals for the start of the 2025 season.

Valued at €2m by Rovers, they brokered a sale to TSG Hoffenheim earlier this month only for the youngster to opt against moving to the German Bundesliga at this point.

Concerns that a portion of that fee would leave the club’s coffers due to an historical clause caused unease among senior figures, especially Bradley. He said this type of practice ought never to recur.

He was keeping his counsel on this and any other off-field matters – answering four questions in a row with the same “speak to the club” response.

One of those was seeking comment on confirmation from the FAI of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the postponement of the opening league fixture on February 6.

Dundalk’s visit to Tallaght Stadium, scheduled for live TV coverage, was cancelled due to what was publicised as a waterlogged pitch.

A complaint has been received about the efforts to fulfil the match. The refixed game last Monday finished 1-1 and Dundalk have confirmed they didn’t lodge the complaint.

South Dublin County Council, as owners of the venues, are responsible for logistics and pitch upkeep. They have yet to comment.