The Genesis Report

Bateman

The Genesis Report is going to change Irish soccer forever. At least thats what you believe if you are not hardened by years of inept FAI administration within a structure that allows nothing but ineptitude.

The effects of th Report will be drastic if implemented. If the report is not implemented, however, soccer in Ireland could die. With Government funding set to decrease dramatically, it will not be viable to sustain an international team that regularly qualifies for major tournaments, on the back of a poorly supported, poorly run, poorly financed, poorly marketed, and in short ingnored domestic league.

Whatver you say about the standard of the eircom League in relation to the international setup, the fact remains that we are the only nation in UEFA whose footballing administration body holds as first priority its international team over its domestic league.

Although the Genesis Report does not directly mention the eircom League, it does say that greater harmonisation of all strands of Irish soccer is badly needed.

This could be a watershed for Irish soccer, there is more to it than simply menton resigning. And remember that everytime you buy a Man Utd or Liverpool jersey at the expense fo an Irish club jersey, you are gradually forfeiting any expectation you feel entitled to hold that the FAI's running of irish soccer will be any better than we are used to.

A domestic league that makes little or no profit cannot sustain a succesful international team.

Xterminator

I understand your argument, but I think that you are being naive.

Ther fact is that the UK and ireland are so closely intertwined, in all aspects of society, that there are more people living in the UK, claiming to be of Irish origin, than there are living in Ireland.

Thus the potential Irish market abroad is bigger than the one at home. This is an unusual circumstance.

Without exception, every single player who harbours internation ambitions must leave ireland to play in a higher rated league.
Currently 100% of our players are based in the UK.
Thus if you follow the careers of our internationals you are following 'foregin' teams.

Also the domestic football situation in Ireland has little or no chance of reaching its full potential until the divide between the North and the south is bridged, creating a financially viable domestic league, whose product reaches the standard where at leat the majority of our underage intertantionals can ply there trade at home, and still get the same level of competitive football, coaching, and facilities they receive when the go to the UK teams like Tranmere, Blackburn, Arsenal, Everton, Wolves etc.
The reason the facilities cannot be developed, is because of the finincial restraints, which is a bit of a vicious circle.

Perhaps a Celtic league could be developed, including Welsh and Scottish clubs, which are finding themselveds increasingly in the same boat could also be usaed to increase revenue. (and hopefully crowds.

In short I dont blame the Irish people for not supporting the Irish domestic football, as you seem too, I think that irish domestic football continiues to fail us the people.
And naturally I support what has become the league of Irish internationals, the Premiership.

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