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7 things we learned from John Delaney's Sky Sports interview

The channel aired a feature which gave a rare insight into the FAI chief executive’s life this morning.

1. His nickname is ‘the Godfather’

Really? Who calls him that??

2. Delaney wasn’t much of a player in his day

“Technically he wasn’t great”, according to someone who seems to be an old team-mate. “He’d rather go through you than around you.”

3. He claims he was offered a job elsewhere for more money than he’s on with the FAI

According to the FAI chief, he turned down a salary worth three times the €340,000 he currently earns with the association because he’s “happy in his job”.

4. Delaney would like to see an All-Ireland team

Having a united Irish teams is “inextricably linked to a solution for the whole island”, he says. Responding to Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, who questioned players switching allegiance, Delaney added that they only pursue players who want to play for the Republic.

5. European Cup winner Shay Brennan lived with the Delaneys

The former Manchester United and Ireland full-back spent a couple of years with them in Tipperary while John was a child.

6. Clones Town FC will name their ground after him

How do you like the sound of 'John Delaney Park'?

7. He calls his 10-year-old twins every morning

The final few moments show Delaney the family man phoning his kids before they go to school.

Watch the Sky Sports interview in full here

Last night’s MNS: The Luas Derby, red cards and Nutsy meets MON

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66 Comments
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    Mute Shane Lawless
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:16 PM

    €340,000? That’s a joke.

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    Mute TheHeathen
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:27 PM

    The winner of the Airtricity League gets 100000 says it all. A joke of a man and a joke of an association

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    Mute Richard Crompton
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    Mar 20th 2013, 2:03 AM

    W a n k e r

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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:18 PM

    The question should be , is he worth the €340,000 that the FAI is paying him ? I don’t think so .

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    Mute Audrius Neviera
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:18 PM

    8. He’s a wan&@r

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    Mute Kevin Clarke
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:42 PM

    He used to be a w&n**r but he’s alright now.

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:51 PM

    Nah, still a w@@ker. Regardless of what ybig sing

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    Mute Kevin Clarke
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:58 PM

    I agree completely but it was set up lovely there for last comment couldnt resist quoting that famous song..:)

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    Mute Regina Carroll
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:18 PM

    he is a joke

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    Mute Dexter Gordon
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    Mar 20th 2013, 1:03 AM

    No, he’s serious ..

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    Mute Richard Crompton
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    Mar 20th 2013, 2:05 AM

    A Fr Ted character gone wrong..muppet hair and face.

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:30 PM

    Chap is a disgrace. Drinking cans with all the other idiots in Poznan while Monaghan went under. He earns nearly 4 times more then prize money for winning the Airtricity league. (€100k) hasn’t a notion, he should have been shown the door long ago with trap.

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    Mute Colin Toner
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:19 PM

    8) He’s a muppet that was out enjoying himself during the Euro’s instead of trying to save Monaghan United from going bust. Clones Town F.C. really need to rethink their naming idea.

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    Mute Peter O' Neill
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:38 PM

    He is on more then the two association presidents of the Euro 2012 finalists combined, Ireland is ranked 40th in terms of national sides behind Romania, Norway, Serbia etc, our top league is a mess with half teams going bankrupt and other half barely attracting circa 4,000 to matches, FAI finances are a joke with Aviva selling less then half of targeted corporation sales. Any talented youth we have are brought to play in UK before hit puberty…Has he actually ever done anything right????????? If wasn’t for being part of golden circle id say he would be on circa 50k max (or on the dole).

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    Mute Harry B.
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    Mar 19th 2013, 5:24 PM

    Well said

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    Mute Cork Kunts
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:48 PM

    I phone my kids ever morning. Saves getting out of bed.

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    Mute Brian Horton
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:27 PM

    The godfather is a great name for him, as the head of that mafia.

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    Mute Lee Marvin
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:53 PM

    I’d like to know who could possibly have offered him three times his already vastly inflated salary for his services. I’m sorry but I just cannot believe that. The man has some neck.

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Mar 19th 2013, 2:11 PM

    One of the Banks?

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    Mute maurice frazer
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    Mar 19th 2013, 3:25 PM

    His father

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    Mute Peter O' Neill
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    Mar 19th 2013, 9:17 PM

    No one? Was same story when RTE stars were told were on far too much (€500,000 – €1 million), they said could make far more in UK working for national broadcaster….just no one told them their audience numbers in UK be a tiny regional station rather then national station…… and so they’d be on less then tenth of money they are on now even if could get job in UK.

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    Mute Paul Sweeney
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    Mar 19th 2013, 9:34 PM

    He dreamt it. It’s the only plausible explanation…

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    Mute Clifford Brennan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:46 PM

    He really should take that other offer. His wages are a disgrace. It would be better to fund irish football than financially massage this clowns ego. Not worth 1/10 of his salary.

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    Mute jason stenson
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:42 PM

    Number 8 lives on a guarded estate in waterford where you wouldn’t get much change out of a million for the house

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    Mute James Reilly
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:36 PM

    Question 8 should of been
    When will you step down !
    Sometime soon
    or
    When the damage is beyond repair, and there’s fu€k all left in the petty cash box from you greedy ba5tard5.

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    Mute Niall
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    Mar 20th 2013, 12:27 AM

    Another of instead of have man I see.

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    Mute Max Rockatansky
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:53 PM

    Sky just said they will air Part 2 of this interview tomorrow. It must be a trilogy. Epic story

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    Mute maurice frazer
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    Mar 19th 2013, 3:26 PM

    How much is he getting paid for the interviews

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:35 PM

    He hired a former manager because they read the Indo every day. Says it all.

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    Mute Emmet Walsh
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    Mar 19th 2013, 6:17 PM

    What do you mean? Genuine question.

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    Mute Eoin Naughton
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    Mar 19th 2013, 3:59 PM

    He’s all about grassroots football but chooses to sabotage Limerick FC at nearly every opportunity

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    Mute big bird
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:55 PM

    Someone offered this man a job outside of the fai paying more than 1 million a year. That could buy a lot of wigs

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    Mute David
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    Mar 19th 2013, 3:34 PM

    Teams should break away and form a splinter organization. He is a cancer that the FAI will never cure. Probably start grooming his kids for his job in the future, just as his father did with him. The whole thing stinks more than a portaloo outside a Fianna Fail tent in Galway.

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    Mute Dylan Prendergast
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    Mar 19th 2013, 2:09 PM

    I learned that he’s a self absorbed p****

    55
    sean
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    Mute sean
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    Mar 19th 2013, 3:28 PM

    FAI (F….k All Interest)
    Not to get into a political rant
    But john delaney and his salary , is a prime example as the the level of money wasted in this country.

    The fact he earns twice as much as his spanish counterpart is mind numbing indeed.

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    Mute Declan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:29 PM

    Anyone know what his English counterpart is being paid ?

    53
    B
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    Mute B
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:36 PM

    400,000 Stg which includes a 100,000 bonus.

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    Mute TheHeathen
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:37 PM

    Well the leaders of most countries get less. The combined heads of the Italian and Spanish FAs get less. It’s beyond a disgrace.

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    Mute Bret Maher
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:54 PM

    well said !

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Mar 19th 2013, 5:51 PM

    @B, you should take into account what the English premier league earns and generates! Compare that to the FAI, he should only be getting half at the most and only be in the job for 10 years max?

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    Mute Peter O' Neill
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    Mar 19th 2013, 9:39 PM

    Not comparable at all.

    Premiership alone has revenues of €3 Billion and TV rights of €5 Billion, being one of the largest leagues in the world (Before even include Championship, 1st division etc). Average attendance at Premiership match is 35,000 compared with Irish Premier league average attendance of 1,500!!!!!!!!!!! (About same as team in UK Blue Square Conference), Ireland are ranked 40th in Fifa rankings and in very strong decline, England are 4th.

    Ireland has barely any youth development system compared with one of the best academy systems in world. Add in fact FAI finances are a mess, half teams going bankrupt, no strategy, employees who ready to rebel. Really is impossible to find anything Delaney has done right (apart from being son of ex FAI treasurer)

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    Mute Mark Keenan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:29 PM

    I dream of having his job… Lucky bugger!

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    Mute Billy Treacy
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    Mar 19th 2013, 2:10 PM

    He is a Muppet full of his own self importance. He should have gone over the Staunton debacle. Unfortunately he wears too many hats in The FAI and probably gets a vote for every hat. The sooner he’s gone the better! The Green Army will have to buy there own pints then though.!

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    Mute Ciaran McCann
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    Mar 19th 2013, 2:25 PM

    He phones his kids every morning!! Does his spend 365 days away from home or is he separated!??!

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    Mute Mike Thomas
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    Mar 19th 2013, 4:37 PM

    If he did turn down a job with a salary worth three times the €340,000 he is on, it just proves what a clown he is.

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    Mute Donal Fallon
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    Mar 19th 2013, 6:17 PM

    The rentamob who went to Poland may enjoy his company, but he’s no friend of real football fans in this country. Disgusting indifference shown to our league in recent times

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    Mute Daniel O Connell
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    Mar 19th 2013, 5:12 PM

    Who employs him? Who employs them? Who is paying for this absolute farce of a situation. Why is he still there? I will not go accross the road to watch our national team as long as he is there…
    As much as i cant stand Trap, he is laughing all the way to the bank…cause this clown gave him that contract and FAI cant pay him off..

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    Mute paddy slattery
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    Mar 19th 2013, 5:23 PM

    Tis Denis O’Brien that’s paying for trap to be there, sure what would u expect from him, didn’t he get rid of off the ball…..the clown!

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    Mute Peter O' Neill
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    Mar 19th 2013, 9:58 PM

    Well theoretically FAI pay his wages. FAI get money from International gate receipts so simple solution…. boycott matches until they sort both FAI and international team out (Not a Trap hater as doing best he can with players he has, doesnt help 90% team now 1st division standard). Main issue is youth development with it being funny laying off youth development coaches so Delaney can keep his joke of a salary.

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Mar 19th 2013, 2:45 PM

    He’s still there, Is it hard to get rid of him?

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    Mute The Almighty
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    Mar 19th 2013, 4:12 PM

    Pure chancer sc-m bag!

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    Mute Darren Swan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 1:49 PM

    He’s sound

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    Mute The Almighty
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    Mar 19th 2013, 5:32 PM

    What has this utter clueless knac-ker every done for Irish football? Other than pay obscene wages for a old age pensioner and fluke qualification to the euro only to get embarrassed and ridiculed in front of the whole world! What else has he done for Irish football and why is he getting paid more than leaders of huge country’s? Can anyone answer?

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    Mute Declan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 5:29 PM

    And where did Denis o brien get his money. What a f**cked up little country this is !

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    Mar 19th 2013, 2:06 PM

    As long as he buys a round in Stockholm he’ll be good in my book!

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    Mute Graham Carrick
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    Mar 19th 2013, 2:12 PM

    Exactly

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Mar 20th 2013, 12:42 AM

    Hope to god I see him over there, he’ll hear what a real fan has to say to him and not the usual gobsh*tes that think “he’s sound” because he bought them cans.

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    Mar 20th 2013, 7:38 AM

    You realise it’s €8 a pint?

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Mar 20th 2013, 5:28 PM

    I do indeed, hence the reason I’ll be drinking cans, just not from delaneys pocket money.

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    Mute Henry Porter
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    Mar 19th 2013, 9:59 PM

    I think he holds an important post but €200,000 would be a really good salary for the job he does and that is not passing judgement on how he does it. The post simply does not merit any more. On a personal front, there is no one else on earth who would pay him his current salary.

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    Mute Lisa Gorry
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    Mar 19th 2013, 6:57 PM

    Was this on sky news or the onion? Completely farcical

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    Mute gareth richardson
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    Mar 19th 2013, 6:35 PM

    Ever wonder why people like John Delaney are on the salaries that they are on ? Just look at the comments on this page and imagine his kids reading it. No amount of money could compensate for that. Incidentally I met him once and he’s sound !

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    Mute Peter O' Neill
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    Mar 19th 2013, 10:08 PM

    Wouldn’t be such comments if Delaney was actually doing single thing right instead of stuffing his own pockets while league and international team crumble apart . Fact is FAI, league, international team and youth system are a complete mess. Delaney’s only skill or reason to be in position he is fact his dad was FAI treasurer so Delaney in golden circle.

    If you want to pay him 400k since he’s ‘sound’ get a hat out and have a whip around (little tip for your own safety….probably be best to avoid league of Ireland or international team supporters) otherwise sack him and get someone in who actually knows what they doing for quarter of his salary.

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    Mute David Linehan
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    Mar 20th 2013, 12:48 AM

    Get a grip, if you bothered supporting your countries own national league and not some other countries league you’d realise how bad this man is or Irish football, while you watch another countries club on the tv, there’s real fans out supporting LOI clubs who struggle because of people like Delaney, no other association would stand for it, he has no interest other then his own self promotion, a cancer on Irish football.

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    Mute Scobee Gough
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    Mar 20th 2013, 5:03 AM

    The most overpaid man in the country bar none, the chap is a joke, how he gets away with it is beyond me

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    Mute Gerry O'reilly
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    Mar 20th 2013, 6:56 PM

    Not on hia own plenty of other people getting false wages for being useless

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