Ray Houghton in the Star

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 01:57PM #1

IRISH BUSINESS NEEDS TO HELP HOME CLUBS

Ray Houghton has called on Ireland's wealthiest businessmen to keep their money at home and invest in the eircom League at a time when Irish backers are bankrolling Sunderland, Celtic and even Peterborough United.

Houghton yearns for the day when and Irish club competes in the knock-out stages of Europe's premier competition.

He knows that will take serious investment in the domestic game, but he believes there is an onus on entrepeneurs to keep their football investments this side of the Irish Sea.

"Nothing would please me more than to see an Irish team that actually gets into the Champions League." the Euro '88 hero told Star Sunday.

"Irish football and the Irish team needs the eircom League to improve, and to achieve that, we need investment and we need money to be pumped into the domestic game here at home.

"We need investment to bring new players in and to keep the best youngsters here in Ireland, rather than send them over to England where they might not get a chance at first team level.

"Let's build a league that allows Irish football to keep them here, let them play here, improve here and get a good league going. I can't wait for the day when an eircom League side is in the league stage of the European Cup on a regular basis."

Houghton, a man who knows a thing or two about realising Euro dreams, believes the Champions League dream is possible, but only when Irish businessmen cop onto the potential value of their own game.

MONEY

"If I was a big money man here in Ireland, I would get more satisfaction out of putting my money into my own game than pumping my money into a club in England or Scotland where the locals get the benefits of it, not the Irish fans." added Houghton.

"Why not put the money into Ireland? If an Irish team qualifies for the Champions League, then you'll get more enjoyment out of that than anything else.

"Everyone benefits when the Irish international team does well, and it will be the same when an eircom League side makes that breakthrough. If an irish side gets into the Champions League, then the place will kick off. That's what we all want to see."

Discuss!

Mossy Monk · 21-01-2008 02:01PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

Discuss!

What do you think?

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:10PM

Mossy Monk wrote: »

What do you think?

I broadly agree with him. I find it very hard to believe there is more money to be made out of Peterboro than Rovers.

However, Houghton is wrong in the sense that Kelleher at Pats and Arkaga at Cork have happened recently, and while the jury is still out on their bona fides, they dont come much bigger.

Xavi6 · 21-01-2008 02:12PM

He's right in theory but in principle England is where the big money is at right now.

I'd love to see every eL club bankrolled by some big wig but it might even be worse for the game here if only one or two teams have it and have a monopoly on the league like Rosenborg in Norway. More people would lose interest if that happened.

guinnessdrinker · 21-01-2008 02:16PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

"If I was a big money man here in Ireland, I would get more satisfaction out of putting my money into my own game than pumping my money into a club in England or Scotland where the locals get the benefits of it, not the Irish fans." added Houghton.

I agree with Razor, its refreshing to hear an ex Irish international player speak about the domestic league like he does in that article.

I especially agree with the bolded sentance.

tdv · 21-01-2008 02:19PM

I think Ray Houghton is a big idoit.

dbnavan · 21-01-2008 02:26PM

Would love to see a pro league in ireland

_blank_ · 21-01-2008 02:28PM

Xavi6 wrote: »

He's right in theory but in principle England is where the big money is at right now.

For the big teams, yes.

Look how hard it is for the "next 4" in the EPL to break into the "top four".

Now, sure, there is money from Sky and other TV deals, and it is HUGE, but in fairness, Peterborough have about as much chance of getting into the Premier League as I have of riding Halle Berry.

Look at what this Kelleher chap has planned for SPA. Invest a relatively small amount, make them the best club in Ireland, get them to the CL Group stages, and milk the profit.

It's what Ollie wanted with Shels, but he wasn't backed by a multinational consortium, like Kelleher is.

If Irish (business) people could look past the glitz and glamour, there could be a tidy profit waiting for them with minimal investment.

He is giving SPA €3m per year, that is a pittance compared what the English teams are spending to attempt an assault on the CL

Xavi6 wrote: »

I'd love to see every eL club bankrolled by some big wig but it might even be worse for the game here if only one or two teams have it and have a monopoly on the league like Rosenborg in Norway. More people would lose interest if that happened.

I think Shels' expoilts kickstarted the interest that Kelleher has in SPA (rumour has it that he approached Ollie first, but Ollie didn't want to lose his grip on the club :eek::eek:) and this Arkaga group has in Cork City. Even Drogheda have a seemingly endless money supply, that has to be coming from somewhere.

It's going to be a great decade for Irish football, imo. I'm just bitter and twisted that Shels won't be a part of it, and we'll get left behind.

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:30PM

dbnavan wrote: »

Would love to see a pro league in ireland

and the LoI players get a hug at the end of the week, do they? :rolleyes:

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:31PM

Xavi6 wrote: »

He's right in theory but in principle England is where the big money is at right now.
.

Peterborough?

_blank_ · 21-01-2008 02:31PM

dbnavan wrote: »

Would love to see a pro league in ireland

The majority of Premier Division teams ARE professional.

Jesus, I wish people would introduce themselves to the facts before making statements.

I would love to see a professionally run professional league in Ireland, comprised of teams from both sides of the border.

I would love to see the FAI and the IFA get the finger out and stop pandering to the suits, and start asking the questions that football fans want to hear, start giving answers that football on this island needs.

Xavi6 · 21-01-2008 02:32PM

DesF wrote: »

Now, sure, there is money from Sky and other TV deals, and it is HUGE, but in fairness, Peterborough have about as much chance of getting into the Premier League as I have of riding Halle Berry.

I'm sure you would have said the same about Fulham 15 years ago. Maybe you'll get your hole off her yet!

cson · 21-01-2008 02:34PM

tdv wrote: »

I think Ray Houghton is a big idoit.

Fantastic contribution right there. Surely an early candidate for post of the year? Take a boow son, take a boow.

To look at it from a purely business point of view, surely investing in an Irish Club has to represent better value than a League 1/ League 2 English club. My reasoning is that with a relatively small amount of money (vis a vis an English League 1 club) you could get an Irish club into the Champions League Qualifiers. You'd recoup a lot of your initial spend here. Granted the fanbase wouldn't be as big as an English club but all the same...

dbnavan · 21-01-2008 02:35PM

DesF wrote: »

The majority of Premier Division teams ARE professional.

Jesus, I wish people would introduce themselves to the facts before making statements.

I would love to see a professionally run professional league in Ireland, comprised of teams from both sides of the border.

I would love to see the FAI and the IFA get the finger out and stop pandering to the suits, and start asking the questions that football fans want to hear, start giving answers that football on this island needs.

Not all. And I mean a league that could finiancially hold on to our talent not see it going to england, who was the last the last millon pound player in the FAI???

_blank_ · 21-01-2008 02:36PM

cson wrote: »

Granted the fanbase wouldn't be as big as an English club but all the same...

The fanbase for an Irish team in the CL is fúcking huge tbh.

Shels had 24,000 in Landsdowne for the Depor match, and could have sold more tickets if the two end terraces had have been allowed to open.

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:42PM

dbnavan wrote: »

Not all. And I mean a league that could finiancially hold on to our talent not see it going to england, who was the last the last millon pound player in the FAI???

Every LoI player is paid.

There will never be a situation where top players wont go to England, if the French, Dutch and Portugese cant stem their elite leaving..., the difference is we get an appropriate fee for them, which is starting to happen again.

But we digress.

dbnavan · 21-01-2008 02:42PM

DesF wrote: »

The fanbase for an Irish team in the CL is fúcking huge tbh.

Shels had 24,000 in Landsdowne for the Depor match, and could have sold more tickets if the two end terraces had have been allowed to open.

Half of whom never went to a league game in their lives, I must admit I was at it, and only ever saw shels play twice in a league game before that! Most of the 24,000 where people jumping on the band wagon, same as dublin in the GAA, no problem getting a ticket when its pissing down in carlow on a feburary Sunday, compare that to Croker in the sun in July.

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:45PM

dbnavan wrote: »

Half of whom never went to a league game in their lives, I must admit I was at it, and only ever saw shels play twice in a league game before that! Most of the 24,000 where people jumping on the band wagon, same as dublin in the GAA, no problem getting a ticket when its pissing down in carlow on a feburary Sunday, compare that to Croker in the sun in July.

But the point is the market is there. If the Gah can get huge crowds to their mudwrestling, a woeful product at the moment, and look at where Leinster Rugby are within 10 years, there is potential for a well run LoI club in a decent facility. If only Rovers never left the RDS..... :mad:

cson · 21-01-2008 02:49PM

DesF wrote: »

The fanbase for an Irish team in the CL is fúcking huge tbh.

Shels had 24,000 in Landsdowne for the Depor match, and could have sold more tickets if the two end terraces had have been allowed to open.

I'm not familiar with Shels tbh Des but I'd imagine the active fanbase is around a third of that? I could be way off the mark here so I hold my hands up if I'm wrong.

The point I was getting at is that it wouldn't in theory be that hard to get an Irish team into the group stages of the Champions League with a bit of investment. Granted that you'd be relying on a favourable draw (That you wouldn't draw the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan who were in this years draw). Its not beyond the bounds of possibility. And you can be sure Lansdowne would sell out for the 3 home games.

dbnavan · 21-01-2008 02:51PM

OhNoYouDidn't wrote: »

But the point is the market is there. If the Gah can get huge crowds to their mudwrestling, a woeful product at the moment, and look at where Leinster Rugby are within 10 years, there is potential for a well run LoI club in a decent facility. If only Rovers never left the RDS..... :mad:

Agreed but how do they tap into the market. Someone in say Meath or Rosscommon is never gonna give a thought to following shels or pats, more of the country needs a local team.

chopperbyrne · 21-01-2008 02:52PM

When Rovers finally get in to their new stadium, they'll be in a better position than almost any club in the country.

Right in the heart of one of Dublins largest residential areas, where football is easily the most popular sport.

bohsman · 21-01-2008 02:52PM

cson wrote: »

I'm not familiar with Shels tbh Des but I'd imagine the active fanbase is around a third of that? I could be way off the mark here so I hold my hands up if I'm wrong.

The point I was getting at is that it wouldn't in theory be that hard to get an Irish team into the group stages of the Champions League with a bit of investment. Granted that you'd be relying on a favourable draw (That you wouldn't draw the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan who were in this years draw). Its not beyond the bounds of possibility. And you can be sure Lansdowne would sell out for the 3 home games.

active fan base is smaller again but if Irish teams started qualifying more often they would hold onto more and more of the bandwagon jumpers.

_blank_ · 21-01-2008 02:53PM

cson wrote: »

I'm not familiar with Shels tbh Des but I'd imagine the active fanbase is around a third of that? I could be way off the mark here so I hold my hands up if I'm wrong.

:D

I fúcking wish there were 8,000 active Shels fans.

Eight hundred more like.

Xavi6 · 21-01-2008 02:53PM

cson wrote: »

I'm not familiar with Shels tbh Des but I'd imagine the active fanbase is around a third of that? I could be way off the mark here so I hold my hands up if I'm wrong.

Eight thousand? Ha I wish.

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:54PM

chopperbyrne wrote: »

When Rovers finally get in to their new stadium, they'll be in a better position than almost any club in the country.

Right in the heart of one of Dublins largest residential areas, where football is easily the most popular sport.

and not one business man makes a bid for them after the examinership...

_blank_ · 21-01-2008 02:55PM

dbnavan wrote: »

Agreed but how do they tap into the market. Someone in say Meath or Rosscommon is never gonna give a thought to following shels or pats, more of the country needs a local team.

What about the people of, say another random county, oh yeah, Kilkenny.

They have had Kilkenny City in the eircom league for 26 or more years.

They wouldn't support them.

Hmm...maybe the people of Gowran need their own team?

What makes you think that Real Trim would have any more fans than Kilkenny City had?

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:56PM

dbnavan wrote: »

Agreed but how do they tap into the market. Someone in say Meath or Rosscommon is never gonna give a thought to following shels or pats, more of the country needs a local team.

Which is what the A league is meant to address. Please do some research.

OhNoYouDidn't · 21-01-2008 02:59PM

DesF wrote: »

What about the people of, say another random county, oh yeah, Kilkenny.

They have had Kilkenny City in the eircom league for 26 or more years.

They wouldn't support them.

Hmm...maybe the people of Gowran need their own team?

What makes you think that Real Trim would have any more fans than Kilkenny City had?

Thats not fair Des. Kilkenny did their best over a long time. The failing was to not promote/relegate teams from the LoI/Junior ball.

Gowran and Trim have sides, they should be able to find their level and we would see more rural sides in the LoI, even if it is only for a season or two.

Guy:Incognito · 21-01-2008 05:38PM

I love the way Ray, who isnt even bloody Irish, has an opinion on everything and the way instead of finishing his career with a lowly club like Stevenage, chose to come "back" to Ireland to help out the league for a season at the end.

ziggy · 21-01-2008 05:45PM

This post has been deleted.

ibh · 21-01-2008 05:55PM

Have to say that i agree with DesF on the Kilkenny City thing. The fans or lack therof are the main reason why they had to bow out. I don't see teams in small country towns like Trim getting the necessary support. What gates would these ambitious Junior clubs hope to get if the were in Div 1.
I'm a Dundalk fan, and even though we are pretty well supported there is a huge potential fan base that we just can't seen to crack.
I would also love to see more Irish players returning to the LOI near the end of their careers. Ian Harte to Drogheda???

Ray Houghton in the Star

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