Irish football is at one of its lowest ever points, but as former FAI general secretary Brendan Menton pointed out yesterday, clubs will survive and prosper.
There is a question about whether the same can be said for the players at different levels.
This Friday the best available out of contract players from the Connacht region will gather for a second time in Castlebar with a view to finding a future in the sport.
John Russell, who has worked as regional development officer with FAI to grow the game in the Sligo area, has come up with the PFAI-led initiative that mirrors the annual training camp which is in Dublin every year.
Russell, currently player/assistant-manager with Sligo Rovers, saw the opportunity for young and older professionals.
Playing in the capital has huge advantages in the League of Ireland, given there are four Premier Division clubs and similar in the First Division to choose from.
It can be more difficult in other parts of the country to find a new home.
Russell tells RTÉ Sport: "I spoke with the guys in the PFAI during the year, Stephen McGuinness and Ollie Cahill. The goal was to get a training camp for out of contract players this side of the country. The lads are doing great work up in Dublin.
"We've never had something this side of the country to cater for the west. It’s for guys looking for a club that have fallen out of the league this year.
"It’s also for players who might have been out of the league for a year or two. A couple of the players here have been abroad and are back in the country now. We have players travelling from other parts of Mayo, Galway and Sligo to showcase themselves to potential managers.
"The League of Ireland is tough. It’s short-term contracts year to year. If a player has a good season, he has clubs after him. If there is injury or loss of form, all of a sudden the contract may not be there. They might fall out of love with the game and look outside of football.
"Opportunities like last Friday and the next couple of weeks give them a shop window, get their name out there again and hopefully a couple of managers might take them in."
As well as the good facilities in Milebush, there is also the staff.
Russell is considered one of the rising coaches in Ireland while Leo Tierney, who coaches with the FAI Education and Training Boards (ETB) Player Development programme in Castlebar, is also on hand.
He is another UEFA Pro Licence holder and qualified in goalkeeping instruction, working alongside Russell at Sligo.
Tierney sees the level of player in Connacht getting better each year.
But one issue they face is that as players leave clubs, they could drop out of the game because of the lack options. There is no pathway after Under-19 level in League of Ireland.
Tierney explains: "The standard of player in the league has gone up over a couple of seasons and there is value to be had.
"There are a lot of vacancies at clubs out there. Managers try to be clever and get players at the right price. But the players are good. The standard in the west of Ireland is very good.
"A lot of the lads here, we would have had them at Galway (United) or Sligo (Rovers) and they would have come through the FAI Emerging Talent programme here as well.
"That programme helps identify the best players in the country and they come together to train with a view to making it as far as they can at senior level one day. It’s good to see them all back together again."
The education programmes co-ordinated by the FAI, like the ETB, have undoubted benefits and with the current crisis, it is feared some of those could suffer.
That course provides a dual education in football and the classroom for talented young footballers who are looking for a helping hand when they are unsure of what the future holds, be it in college, work or even to just aid the dream of making it as a professional.
It enables players who have left school to develop a potential career in football or the sports industry.
Matt Doherty, Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan and Chris Forrester are some of the players who have been on the FAI-ETB programme where students receive a QQI Level 5 in Sport & Recreation studies plus an ITEC Gym Instructors Diploma, Pool Lifeguard and FAI Coaching Certificates.
All the while, they are receiving top class coaching and regular sessions with fellow talented players.
James McGrath is one such player to take the path and made his debut for Sligo’s senior team last season.
The 19-year-old is hoping the PFAI camps in Mayo will help him grow further.
He explains: "I did the Leaving Cert a couple of years ago. I was playing SSE Airtricity League of Ireland since I was 15 and I needed a pathway to get an education and play football. I took a year out to do the FAI course with the ETB and that helped me mature and become a better player.
"It also helped educationally as I got CAO points off that for the Leaving Cert. That meant I could go to IT Sligo. I’m doing these camps to stay fit and hoping to get back in with the first team with Sligo Rovers.
"That’d be the plan. At the same time I still have college to fall back on. I might have to go to another club (if I don't get the chance at Sligo in 2020). I hope to be playing as high a level I can and this camp is helping."
Micheál Schlingermann, who spent the last year as a back-up goalkeeper for Mayo GAA, is among the most experienced taking part.
He also has worked in various FAI roles off the field.
After a decade in the League of Ireland that provided some great memories, he is keen to return to football pitch on a part-time basis.
"I took a year out and moved home to Mayo. That limits you to the clubs you can go to so I decided to take the year and got work at home. It is great to back and get the cobwebs off tonight and get back in. I know a lot of the lads here from the league, it’s great to have something this side of the country.
"The aim is I can get something sorted that suits with work. My employers are helpful, the job is flexible. I was with Sligo Rovers before which is a big club and the experience I had with Drogheda before that was good as well so hopefully someone will take a chance on me."
There is an irony that as the FAI plummets to financial and governance lows, there is a golden generation emerging through Under-19 and Under-21 level that offers great hope for the future.
Aaron Connolly, despite being 19, has already bypassed those levels to the senior Irish side.
The Brighton and Hove Albion striker was a star at 15 at Mervue United. Ronan Asgari was alongside him.
Asgari is looking for his big chance as he watches on at his former team-mate reaching his potential.
Asgari is still dreaming of his moment after failing to make an impact at senior level with Galway in 2019.
He is taking part in Castlebar, making the journey from Galway to try to catch the eye.
"I grew up with Aaron. It was Aaron and I that were the two 15-year-olds playing with Mervue. A lot of people said it was unlikely you’d see a 15-year-old playing League of Ireland with the likes of Aaron. Some people forget I was there too!
"I was there all the way with him and it gives you hope. He is doing it in the Premier League and it is great to see. I always knew he could do it. He was scoring goals for fun and you could tell he was determined."
Determination will be characteristic on show again on Friday when the players journey to Castlebar, some travelling up to two hours, for another session.
They are too busy trying trying to path their own future to worry about the FAI's.
Russell concludes: "The aim is to get more players for this Friday's session.
"We want to promote it and drive it. It took time to get it up and running and it’s just getting it out there to let players know that this on.
"It’s a good environment with top class players that will drive each other on. The goal going forward is this will be an annual thing."
Delighted to get our Castlebar training camp up and running on Friday with @rusler18
— PFA Ireland (@PFAIOfficial) December 9, 2019
Next session on Friday 13th, if you haven't already registered or for more info please contact ollie@pfai.ie pic.twitter.com/YDDYKH5wrT
All interviewees were speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport with Mike McCartney
Words by Rory Houston
