Former Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn believes that domestic Irish football needs an injection of ‘rock and roll’ to become a thriving European league.
The former Sunderland striker, manager and chairman has been involved in every aspect of football and is hoping that the domestic league can give young players a viable option rather than having to gamble on an English apprenticeship at a very young age.
Speaking to the Irish Sun, the one-time record Ireland goalscorer said that he would no longer advise parents to allow their children sign for English clubs at 16 considering nine out of ten players do not get a second contract.
And Quinn admitted that he would be keen to take an active role in such a process saying: “I would definitely be interested in getting involved in offering an alternative to kids being whisked away from here at 16.
“There’s too much carnage, when 93% of the players go over aren’t getting a second contract.
“I speak to parents all the time and, in the past, I might have said, ‘You should give them the chance to go’. Now I’ve gone the other way. How can you send your kid off when there is more than a nine in ten chance of them not making it with nothing to fall back on?
“Because our kids go over so young, they’re not respected and they’re easier to move because not much money is invested in them.”
Pictured below: Robbie Brady one of the few who made it to the top - the former St Kevin's Boys midfielder went to Manchester United as a 16-year-old
And while Quinn himself made the grade having travelled over to the Arsenal youth set-up as a teenager, the former Man City striker believes that Ireland should start following the Scandanavian example where players travel over at a later age with more maturity and a completed education.
“Scandinavian players come later and have education. There’s a much better chance of them making it. That’s what we’ve got to strive for.”
Quinn believes that the League of Ireland is the perfect place for players to learn and ply their trade, especially if the league can thrive with a little bit more imagination and investment.
“It boils down to trying to throw a bit of rock and roll into the League of Ireland for it to come out of the shadows,” said Quinn.
“There is a leap of faith and an initial investment required. The Government and association (FAI) have to back it and understand this is different from anything else they are funding.
“I don’t want to be hard on the FAI, they do an awful lot of work which is overlooked, but we need a structure for elite players to develop in this country.
“In countries like Kazakhstan, the league has improved. How? They’ve brought in players from Brazil and elsewhere, suddenly they’re progressing in Europe and selling players for big transfer fees.
“If the money filters down properly then that can be used to fund academies so the best young players don’t feel they have to go abroad. All of those fans who aren’t currently watching the League of Ireland, if there were Brazilian players or current Ireland internationals playing, would they go along?
“I think they would. I’m interested in getting involved to offer an alternative to what we have now.”
