These are testing times for all eircom League supporters. I was delighted to see the Cork City fans band together forming 'FORAS', (Friends of the Rebel Army Society) and potentially getting involved in the rescue of the club after the debacle that was Arkaga.
I always had a slightly wary feeling about where Arkaga were coming from when I heard they were about to sack Damien Richardson on the day he led the club to FAI Cup final success. I still think that for most people involved in the game here, the question remains; what were Akaga involved with Cork City for, and why the hasty retreat?
I've already said on these pages before, that Turner’s Cross is one of my favourite grounds to visit. There's always a good atmosphere, the fans are very passionate, and given that they're the only club to represent the entire City, the support base should be big enough for the club to be in a healthy sustainable state.
As Roddy Collins maintained on Monday’s MNS, as sports franchises go in Irish soccer, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers are probably as big as it gets. (Ironic that both could end up under the control of supporters, whose interest is maintaining the clubs as vibrant winners, rather than people involved hoping to make a quick buck.)
With the negative publicity surrounding the travails of Cork City, and you could throw Galway United, Cobh Ramblers, Waterford United, and Sligo Rovers into that pot too, the oxygen supplied to the league by St Pat’s' great win over Elfsborg in the UEFA Cup, has been hugely helpful.
I was still in Beijing when Pat’s played the Swedes, but I was thrilled to see the packed stands at Inchicore, not to mention the great result, and as everyone who was at the game will tell you, the style of football played by Pat’s, would gladden the heart of all eircom League supporters.
How good was it to hear of the sold out sign hanging outside the ground? Hertha Berlin may not be the glamour draw that some may have wanted, but they'll still provide stiff opposition for Johnny Mac’s men. Let’s hope supporters of all clubs get behind Pat’s when they play Hertha in Dublin.
I remember well when Shelbourne played Rosenborg in Europe a few years ago, it was fantastic to see Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians, Pat's, Galway, Finn Harps, etc. jerseys in the crowd on that occasion.
Of course, domestic rivalries will always remain, but most fans can see the importance of fellow eircom League clubs doing well in Europe, not only for the UEFA coefficient, but also for the general well being of the league. It makes people who don't go to games sit up and take notice. Likewise, Drogheda's performance against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League. Paul Doolin’s men were the width of a post away from putting Kiev out, and look what the Ukrainians have gone on to achieve.
So doom and gloom are the order of the day in the league at the moment, but with my optimistic cap firmly on my head, I'd still argue that there could be good times ahead.
For Shamrock Rovers the move to Tallaght is getting ever closer, and the prospect of watching Joey Ndo performing his party tricks on the pitch between now and then should be enough to keep the turnstiles at Tolka whirring away. His skill featured in this week’s Good, Bad and Ugly on MNS was something that Lionel Messi or Ronaldinho would be proud to have in their locker.
Bohemians fans can already start preparing for next season’s Champions League. It has been a great job by Pat Fenlon and his staff.
Happy days at Dalymount, although they remain reliant on the funds provided by the potential sale of the ground in Phibsboro, and one would hope that the club's move to the new stadium at Harristown doesn't drag on too long. Pat’s are doing themselves and the league proud in the UEFA Cup, as I've already mentioned.
Derry City are definitely moving in the right direction under Stephen Kenny - still in the three cup competitions: FAI, League Cup, and Setanta and with Cork’s points deduction, they are also pushing for a place in Europe in the league.
Let’s hope the Cork City situation is resolved before season’s end.
My point is, that despite the gloomy mood that pervades the league at the moment, there are many silver linings to the dark cloud. The players probably won't appreciate me saying this, but it's time wage demands became realistic.
If you are playing in front of 3,000 or 4,000 people once a fortnight, it's hard to expect €3,000 a week in wages. Or more in some cases. It's just not sustainable as a business model, until the crowds get bigger.
Of course the players are not to blame. If a club are willing to offer you €4,000 a week, you're not going to say: ‘actually I'll take less because I don't think our crowds can justify that sort of money’. The clubs themselves have to take a lot of responsibility.
If club A is offering a player that sort of money, clubs B, C and D, know that if they want to compete, they too will have to pay those sorts of wages. What happens ultimately is that the whole deck of cards comes tumbling down. Maybe what we've seen in Cork, Galway, Sligo and elsewhere this season is a reality check for all involved. For club boards of management and players alike.
Finally for now, we received a couple of emails to mns@rte.ie wondering what's going on with Roddy Collins' hair these days. To be honest, I'm not too sure. A few days in the Spanish sunshine, and the Rodmeister thinks the Boyzone (circa 1997) look is in fashion once again. I suppose we should be thankful that he spared us the Hawaiian shirt this time around.
I'm also looking for inspiration from any viewer/reader who can help me. Every time I introduce Tony McDonnell onto the MNS couch, I always say - The UCD legend, Tony McDonnell- If anybody has any ideas how else I might refer to the big man, drop me a line to mns@rte.ie. All ideas gratefully received.
So after a few weeks in Beijing, where it's hard to watch eircom League football, the Irish bars tend to favour Premier League soccer from Britain even above the GAA Championship, and can take some persuading to put the football and hurling on their screens, I'm really happy to be back to the league.
I hope Bohs fans will forgive me if I suggest that it would be good for the league if the Gypsies slipped up once or twice in the coming weeks to add to the drama over the last few rounds of matches in the race for the title. Somehow, I think Pat Fenlon won't agree with those sentiments.
