So the IRFU’s time at Croke Park has ended on a somewhat sad note with the defeat by Scotland and the failure to claim the Triple Crown but this disappointment will be nothing compared to what the GAA must be feeling as they look at the accounts.
Since Croke Park finally opened its doors to ‘foreign sports’ back in February 2007 after years of political debate about the issue, it has been a revelation for Irish sport.
The GAA received a massive cash injection thanks to deals done with the IRFU and the FAI as well as any additional gate receipts they took as part of the deal.
The amount the GAA is reportedly to have raised by allowing the use of their stadium is €36million, and this came at a time of financial recession.
It also gave the GAA a use for Croke Park in the winter months when it is rarely used.
If the GAA had not been so stubborn over the past decade, and had they not voted no to a change in ‘Rule 42’ (a rule that only allows GAA sports to be played on GAA grounds) in 2001, then we may have continued to see rugby and soccer played at the country’s best stadium in the future.
The IRFU and FAI were forced to plan the redevelopment of the crumbling Lansdowne Road after the collapse of the Irish governments plan for a national arena and the GAA’s stance on the use of their headquarters.
They spent millions of Euros that could have been reinvested in developing both sports and building a smaller stadium that would be suited to hosting less glamorous internationals, AIB Cup finals,FAI Cup finals, etc.
Instead we will have the Aviva Stadium, no doubt a fine ground, but it’s 50,000 capacity is too big for the above mentioned finals and too small for Six Nations rugby and crucial soccer qualifiers.
In the past four years, rugby in Ireland has grown dramatically in popularity due to the success of the national team, and Croke Park was the venue as Ireland picked up their first Grand Slam in 61 years as Ireland beat France, England and Italy at GAA headquarters in 2009.
The fact that 82,000 people could watch those events obviously helped raise the interest in the game, while also creating a much louder atmosphere. The smaller attendance in the Aviva Stadium will obviously make it more difficult for fans to get to games and what the atmosphere will be like in the redeveloped, and so called ‘spiritual home', remains to be seen.
The same goes for soccer, while it has always been a popular game in Ireland, the move to Croke Park has allowed many more fans experience a competitive home international match rather than just a meaningless friendly when tickets were more easily available at the old Lansdowne Road. Maybe that chance helped young fans to become more proud of their country’s football team and not just the big English clubs they support.
However, it is not the fault of the IRFU or the FAI that this has happened. Some have said more pressure from them on the GAA may have helped to keep Croke Park open to other sports but it would have been too late - the redevelopment had begun, the investment was made and the GAA had made its bed when the success of the move had become apparent.
Obviously, the GAA would have had to vote again on the issue but given the success of the past few years, it is unlikely they would have said no.
The GAA has shot itself in the foot. They may say they have not budgeted for the additional income from international events but the fact of the matter is rugby and soccer internationals created a massive amount of revenue and also indirectly increased the popularity of Gaelic Games.
When fans travelled from different countries to watch their nations do battle with Irish rugby and soccer teams at Croke Park, many returned to visit the stadium’s museum and no doubt grew to appreciate the importance of GAA to Ireland’s culture.
So now when the likes of Kerry, Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin are not bringing the crowds to Croke Park then the GAA will have to turn to Westlife and Bono rather than Brian O’Driscoll and Robbie Keane to keep the money rolling in at Headquarters.
And it’s a shame that they would rather glitzy pop stars swagger in front of Hill 16 rather than Irish sporting heroes competing against the world's best.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Reds should be wary of the Knights
So the Red Knights are attempting to ride into Old Trafford on a crusade to apparently save Manchester United from the American cowboys that have slung one of the world’s biggest football clubs into a £700million debt.
The Glazers are reluctant to sell. Mainly because they bought United for one reason, and one reason only - to earn a profit - but they have been unable to do so yet because of the global recession.
Therefore, in any normal business sense, it is too big a loss to ‘cut and run’ yet so they are prepared to ride the proverbial storm until they can potentially reap the rewards of the huge financial risk they took to take the club off the stock market in 2005.
January saw Red Football Ltd, the parent group of Manchester United FC, announce a huge £700million debt that sparked an outcry from Reds fans who were led to believe that the deficit had grown by £200m from the £500m figure that was mooted about when the Glazer’s purchased the club. In fact, the figure has never risen, in fact it has dropped, not by enough but it has.
The ‘Green and Gold Until Our Club Is Sold’ campaign begun and has been of relative success – making a point to the owners that the fans are not happy but also still getting behind the team.
I agree that the Glazers need to be pushed out to secure the future of United as the large debt they have amassed, along with their hit and miss success rate in business, has left the club in a precarious position.
However, are these ‘Red Knights’ the people that can pull the club out of their poor financial state? What are their intentions? Have they got the finances? Will they be able to continually strengthen the team?
These are just some of the questions that fans need to ask before giving them their support and backing them.
Supporters will also have to realise that while these Knights in red shining armour, who are out to rid the club of all things Glazer, claim to be lifelong United fans, if they get invest heavily into the club then their business heads will be put on straight away.
They will be successful business men if they have the cash to stump up an offer for one of the biggest football clubs in the world, thus they will have all the attributes that go with financial success including ruthlessness and the constant want for profit.
So those fans who are thinking that because the ‘Red Knights’ wear the red shirts they will automatically do what every fan wants, think again. Don’t think they won’t raise ticket prices. Don’t think they will buy Kaka. Don’t think they will drop the price of merchandise. They will do what is best for their pockets.
If they have the financial muscle to provide what United fans want then they will be good for the club, there is no doubt about that.
The main worry I have with this consortium is Keith Harris being in control. The financing wheeler dealer who shares the name with the ventriloquist famous for the Orville The Duck puppet has been sounding like a muppet.
In January when the news broke of the apparent increase in debt, Harris was straight in heaping blame on the Glazers and calling for the fans to protest. He also claimed that a group was already set-up to look at a bid to buy the club.
More recently, when Harris spoke out about the ‘Green and Gold’ campaign, he called for fans to do more and start boycotting games.
Boycotting games? Stop buying merchandise? Why? Isn’t it starkly obvious? Harris is trying to remove some of the prestige around the club so that the Glazers will look to sell and at a lower price. Harris seems to be more of the ‘Green and mould’ campaign.
United fans have to remember that the club is not like Manchester City or Chelsea who have been made mega-rich by the owners.
Granted the Reds have always had a strong financial backing that is more than most other clubs but the brand of the club, and the success in the stock markets, was built on the 90’s domination of English football that made United a world renowned successful club that was attractive for investors and sponsors.
Why should fans who have spent a lot of money on season tickets, who enjoy going to a game at the weekend and who have built their social lives around football just stop going to games? It won’t make any difference to the Glazers.
Ticket revenue makes up a fractional amount of United’s huge profits. Sponsorship and merchandise sold worldwide is what brings in the big bucks.
United need continued success to ensure that the sponsorship keeps coming. If fans start dropping off from going to support their team, apart from being unfair on the players, it could also have an effect on results on the pitch.
It seems to be that Harris, who played a pivotal part in the takeovers of Manchester City, West Ham and Aston Villa, has seen the money signs ringing again and has jumped at the chance of adding to his fortune.
He may be a United fan but as mentioned above, he’s an experienced business man and financial success will come first for him.
The Glazers need to go but Manchester United supporter groups should be wary of who they back in a bid to buy them out.
The Glazers are reluctant to sell. Mainly because they bought United for one reason, and one reason only - to earn a profit - but they have been unable to do so yet because of the global recession.
Therefore, in any normal business sense, it is too big a loss to ‘cut and run’ yet so they are prepared to ride the proverbial storm until they can potentially reap the rewards of the huge financial risk they took to take the club off the stock market in 2005.
January saw Red Football Ltd, the parent group of Manchester United FC, announce a huge £700million debt that sparked an outcry from Reds fans who were led to believe that the deficit had grown by £200m from the £500m figure that was mooted about when the Glazer’s purchased the club. In fact, the figure has never risen, in fact it has dropped, not by enough but it has.
The ‘Green and Gold Until Our Club Is Sold’ campaign begun and has been of relative success – making a point to the owners that the fans are not happy but also still getting behind the team.
I agree that the Glazers need to be pushed out to secure the future of United as the large debt they have amassed, along with their hit and miss success rate in business, has left the club in a precarious position.
However, are these ‘Red Knights’ the people that can pull the club out of their poor financial state? What are their intentions? Have they got the finances? Will they be able to continually strengthen the team?
These are just some of the questions that fans need to ask before giving them their support and backing them.
Supporters will also have to realise that while these Knights in red shining armour, who are out to rid the club of all things Glazer, claim to be lifelong United fans, if they get invest heavily into the club then their business heads will be put on straight away.
They will be successful business men if they have the cash to stump up an offer for one of the biggest football clubs in the world, thus they will have all the attributes that go with financial success including ruthlessness and the constant want for profit.
So those fans who are thinking that because the ‘Red Knights’ wear the red shirts they will automatically do what every fan wants, think again. Don’t think they won’t raise ticket prices. Don’t think they will buy Kaka. Don’t think they will drop the price of merchandise. They will do what is best for their pockets.
If they have the financial muscle to provide what United fans want then they will be good for the club, there is no doubt about that.
The main worry I have with this consortium is Keith Harris being in control. The financing wheeler dealer who shares the name with the ventriloquist famous for the Orville The Duck puppet has been sounding like a muppet.
In January when the news broke of the apparent increase in debt, Harris was straight in heaping blame on the Glazers and calling for the fans to protest. He also claimed that a group was already set-up to look at a bid to buy the club.
More recently, when Harris spoke out about the ‘Green and Gold’ campaign, he called for fans to do more and start boycotting games.
Boycotting games? Stop buying merchandise? Why? Isn’t it starkly obvious? Harris is trying to remove some of the prestige around the club so that the Glazers will look to sell and at a lower price. Harris seems to be more of the ‘Green and mould’ campaign.
United fans have to remember that the club is not like Manchester City or Chelsea who have been made mega-rich by the owners.
Granted the Reds have always had a strong financial backing that is more than most other clubs but the brand of the club, and the success in the stock markets, was built on the 90’s domination of English football that made United a world renowned successful club that was attractive for investors and sponsors.
Why should fans who have spent a lot of money on season tickets, who enjoy going to a game at the weekend and who have built their social lives around football just stop going to games? It won’t make any difference to the Glazers.
Ticket revenue makes up a fractional amount of United’s huge profits. Sponsorship and merchandise sold worldwide is what brings in the big bucks.
United need continued success to ensure that the sponsorship keeps coming. If fans start dropping off from going to support their team, apart from being unfair on the players, it could also have an effect on results on the pitch.
It seems to be that Harris, who played a pivotal part in the takeovers of Manchester City, West Ham and Aston Villa, has seen the money signs ringing again and has jumped at the chance of adding to his fortune.
He may be a United fan but as mentioned above, he’s an experienced business man and financial success will come first for him.
The Glazers need to go but Manchester United supporter groups should be wary of who they back in a bid to buy them out.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Boxing needs to knock out the cheats
It’s time all governing bodies of professional boxing began to clean up the sport and dispell any chance of cheats prevailing in the game.
It is amazing how, with so much money ploughed into the sport, that testing is so easy-going in comparison to other sports.
Cycling and athletics are often referred to as ‘dirty’ with the highest rates of failed drugs tests.
However, while at university I produced a drugs and sport publication that, with interviews from across various sports, proved that whilst they may have the most failed samples, cycling has the most stringent of testing procedures.
It’s selective as well as random, meaning that less competitors can miss or avoid testing with both blood and urine samples mandatory.
However, in professional boxing they do not follow similar 'Olympic-style testing' and do not insist on blood samples -instead they just take urine samples in the run-up, and straight after contests.
Cycling has tarnished its imagine by cleaning it up in the hope it will cleanse the sport from the cheats, while ensuring fair and rewarding competitions for honest competitors.
Professional boxing needs to follow cycling’s example and ensure that fans can watch the sport confident that the champions that are being crowned are true winners.
The recent spat between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao has brought this situation to light and, while I agree it would have been unfair on the latter to submit to the demands put forward, blood testing has to come into play soon.
Victor Conte, the man who supplied Dwain Chambers and many other athletes with performance enhancing substances that for years went unnoticed, has come out and said that professional boxing testing is useless.
“The testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless," Conte told BBC Radio 5 live. The testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless," Conte told BBC Radio 5 live.
"I don't believe they want to know how rampant the use of drugs really is," said Conte. "Testing in boxing is completely and totally inept."
While Conte’s comments are not good news, what the head of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), David Howman has said is even more worrying for fans of boxing.
He said: "Professional boxing is not in compliance and has made no effort to comply.
"They give the boxer every opportunity to hide what they may have taken previously and that is not the way the world operates these days."
The fact that professional boxing organisations are refusing to comply may mean that there is plenty to hide.
The governing bodies may be worried what effect a string of failures could have on the sport’s image that has already been tarnished by the amount of corruption prevailing in the game.
However, if they fail to bring in tougher testing then fans are going to start doubting the credentials of the fighters competing, especially after the claims by the Mayweather camp about Pacquaio’s apparent steroid use.
Of course, the amount of money on the line at the top level must mean that the purses are fairly won, but testing should also be much more strict because of the health danger that is carried by participating in boxing.
If a boxer is going into the ring against someone who has used a performance enhancing substance then their life is more at risk due to the fact that the drug may have made the cheating opponent stronger and/or fitter than they should be, thus giving the ability to cause more damage.
It is time professional boxing cleaned up and followed the examples of the amateur side of the game, athletics, cycling and other sports that follow 'Olympic-style testing' for the sake of the promoters that financially back it, the health of the fighters that compete and the fans that pay the money that helps keep the sweet science going.
It is amazing how, with so much money ploughed into the sport, that testing is so easy-going in comparison to other sports.
Cycling and athletics are often referred to as ‘dirty’ with the highest rates of failed drugs tests.
However, while at university I produced a drugs and sport publication that, with interviews from across various sports, proved that whilst they may have the most failed samples, cycling has the most stringent of testing procedures.
It’s selective as well as random, meaning that less competitors can miss or avoid testing with both blood and urine samples mandatory.
However, in professional boxing they do not follow similar 'Olympic-style testing' and do not insist on blood samples -instead they just take urine samples in the run-up, and straight after contests.
Cycling has tarnished its imagine by cleaning it up in the hope it will cleanse the sport from the cheats, while ensuring fair and rewarding competitions for honest competitors.
Professional boxing needs to follow cycling’s example and ensure that fans can watch the sport confident that the champions that are being crowned are true winners.
The recent spat between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao has brought this situation to light and, while I agree it would have been unfair on the latter to submit to the demands put forward, blood testing has to come into play soon.
Victor Conte, the man who supplied Dwain Chambers and many other athletes with performance enhancing substances that for years went unnoticed, has come out and said that professional boxing testing is useless.
“The testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless," Conte told BBC Radio 5 live. The testing that is being utilised in boxing is virtually worthless," Conte told BBC Radio 5 live.
"I don't believe they want to know how rampant the use of drugs really is," said Conte. "Testing in boxing is completely and totally inept."
While Conte’s comments are not good news, what the head of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), David Howman has said is even more worrying for fans of boxing.
He said: "Professional boxing is not in compliance and has made no effort to comply.
"They give the boxer every opportunity to hide what they may have taken previously and that is not the way the world operates these days."
The fact that professional boxing organisations are refusing to comply may mean that there is plenty to hide.
The governing bodies may be worried what effect a string of failures could have on the sport’s image that has already been tarnished by the amount of corruption prevailing in the game.
However, if they fail to bring in tougher testing then fans are going to start doubting the credentials of the fighters competing, especially after the claims by the Mayweather camp about Pacquaio’s apparent steroid use.
Of course, the amount of money on the line at the top level must mean that the purses are fairly won, but testing should also be much more strict because of the health danger that is carried by participating in boxing.
If a boxer is going into the ring against someone who has used a performance enhancing substance then their life is more at risk due to the fact that the drug may have made the cheating opponent stronger and/or fitter than they should be, thus giving the ability to cause more damage.
It is time professional boxing cleaned up and followed the examples of the amateur side of the game, athletics, cycling and other sports that follow 'Olympic-style testing' for the sake of the promoters that financially back it, the health of the fighters that compete and the fans that pay the money that helps keep the sweet science going.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Not Keane on Celtic move
Robbie Keane’s loan move from Tottenham to Celtic was a bit of a shock but, while it may have lit up a drab final day of the transfer window, it is not going to reignite the Republic of Ireland captain’s career.
The Dubliner has changed club’s more than most, but while not all his moves have worked out, like joining Inter Milan before he was ready and signing for Liverpool despite Rafa Benitez not wanting him, joining Celtic could be his biggest career mistake.
Having struggled to cement a place in Tottenham’s starting line-up since returning to White Hart Lane 12 months ago, a move away was a good idea, and a loan move an ideal chance to impress Harry Redknapp.
However, while Keane may believe he can score plenty of goals in the SPL and impress Redknapp, or maybe another Premier League manager, while also helping Celtic stage a dramatic comeback in the title race, he is kidding himself on both accounts.
First of all, no matter how many goals he scores, he won’t suddenly force Redknapp to change his mind and put the Dubliner in front of Defoe or Crouch.
Secondly, Celtic lie 10 points behind Rangers in the league table and have been far too inconsistent this season to stage a realistic title challenge. Wayne Rooney, even in his current form, would struggle to save The Bhoys.
The growth in the gulf in class between the SPL and the Premier League over recent years means scoring goals in Scotland is not as impressive as it once may have been.
In truth, Keane would have been better off joining Sunderland or another club in the Premier League who are not competing with Tottenham for fourth spot.
It’s doubtful that Celtic are coughing up Keane’s £65k a week wages, so he was surely affordable to other clubs.
Going out and scoring vital goals to keep a club in the Premier League would have been far more impressive - and a much tougher challenge that would improve him as a player.
And if it was Keane’s dream to wear the hooped shirt, then he should have followed in the footsteps of his namesake and gone to Celtic Park at the end of his career.
For the sake of the Republic of Ireland's chances of qualifying for Euro 2012, let's hope I'm wrong.
The Dubliner has changed club’s more than most, but while not all his moves have worked out, like joining Inter Milan before he was ready and signing for Liverpool despite Rafa Benitez not wanting him, joining Celtic could be his biggest career mistake.
Having struggled to cement a place in Tottenham’s starting line-up since returning to White Hart Lane 12 months ago, a move away was a good idea, and a loan move an ideal chance to impress Harry Redknapp.
However, while Keane may believe he can score plenty of goals in the SPL and impress Redknapp, or maybe another Premier League manager, while also helping Celtic stage a dramatic comeback in the title race, he is kidding himself on both accounts.
First of all, no matter how many goals he scores, he won’t suddenly force Redknapp to change his mind and put the Dubliner in front of Defoe or Crouch.
Secondly, Celtic lie 10 points behind Rangers in the league table and have been far too inconsistent this season to stage a realistic title challenge. Wayne Rooney, even in his current form, would struggle to save The Bhoys.
The growth in the gulf in class between the SPL and the Premier League over recent years means scoring goals in Scotland is not as impressive as it once may have been.
In truth, Keane would have been better off joining Sunderland or another club in the Premier League who are not competing with Tottenham for fourth spot.
It’s doubtful that Celtic are coughing up Keane’s £65k a week wages, so he was surely affordable to other clubs.
Going out and scoring vital goals to keep a club in the Premier League would have been far more impressive - and a much tougher challenge that would improve him as a player.
And if it was Keane’s dream to wear the hooped shirt, then he should have followed in the footsteps of his namesake and gone to Celtic Park at the end of his career.
For the sake of the Republic of Ireland's chances of qualifying for Euro 2012, let's hope I'm wrong.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Khan makes Golden choice
Amir Khan has made a shrewd decision leaving Frank Warren’s camp and moving to Golden Boy promotions, another good move since his humiliating defeat at the hands of Breidis Prescott back in September 2008.
The first move after that loss was getting rid of a few hangers on, who were giving him so called advice, and recruiting one the world’s greatest coaches in Freddie Roach.
Roach has coached multiple world champions, many of them taken with only raw potential before being turned into top class boxers and was the perfect man to save Khan's career.
After getting back on track with four straight wins, most notably the defeats of Marco Antonio Barerra and Andreas Kotelnik, Khan has now made the boldest, and probably best decision of his short career so far by ditching Warren.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no fan of Khan, I find him to be too arrogant for his own good and his defence is still poor, nowhere near good enough to be talking about being on the same level as stablemate Manny Pacquiao or Miguel Cotto.
However, he does seem to have grown up a lot since the Prescott defeat, and has seen that what Warren will offer is nothing compared to what Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions can.
Money is obviously going to be a huge factor but Khan only has to look close to home at Hatton and Joe Calzaghe to see what many years spent fighting in the UK against below calibre opponents can do to a career.
While Calzaghe was fortunate enough to still be at the peak of his game when he finally got his break in the US, Ricky Hatton has no chance of recovering from big defeats in Las Vegas to Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Five years earlier, he could have.
Khan’s decision will see him get big fights in the US, which despite the hopes of British promoters, is still the stage to prove you really are the best, and he will also get advice from a man who has done it all in the ring - the Golden Boy himself, De La Hoya.
Whether Khan will be able to prosper is another matter, it remains to be seen if he can handle taking big punches and he will have to improve tactically but his career seems to be going in the right direction.
There have been a few rumours circulating as to why he has made the decision; Racism, money and a fall-out with Warren. Let’s just hope it was purely a boxing decision made by Khan and his coaching team.
The first move after that loss was getting rid of a few hangers on, who were giving him so called advice, and recruiting one the world’s greatest coaches in Freddie Roach.
Roach has coached multiple world champions, many of them taken with only raw potential before being turned into top class boxers and was the perfect man to save Khan's career.
After getting back on track with four straight wins, most notably the defeats of Marco Antonio Barerra and Andreas Kotelnik, Khan has now made the boldest, and probably best decision of his short career so far by ditching Warren.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no fan of Khan, I find him to be too arrogant for his own good and his defence is still poor, nowhere near good enough to be talking about being on the same level as stablemate Manny Pacquiao or Miguel Cotto.
However, he does seem to have grown up a lot since the Prescott defeat, and has seen that what Warren will offer is nothing compared to what Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions can.
Money is obviously going to be a huge factor but Khan only has to look close to home at Hatton and Joe Calzaghe to see what many years spent fighting in the UK against below calibre opponents can do to a career.
While Calzaghe was fortunate enough to still be at the peak of his game when he finally got his break in the US, Ricky Hatton has no chance of recovering from big defeats in Las Vegas to Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Five years earlier, he could have.
Khan’s decision will see him get big fights in the US, which despite the hopes of British promoters, is still the stage to prove you really are the best, and he will also get advice from a man who has done it all in the ring - the Golden Boy himself, De La Hoya.
Whether Khan will be able to prosper is another matter, it remains to be seen if he can handle taking big punches and he will have to improve tactically but his career seems to be going in the right direction.
There have been a few rumours circulating as to why he has made the decision; Racism, money and a fall-out with Warren. Let’s just hope it was purely a boxing decision made by Khan and his coaching team.
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