FAI CHIEF JOHN Delaney says he had nothing to do with the confiscation of flags protesting his position within Irish football’s governing body and admits mistakes have been made securing tickets for travelling fans.
Delaney met with a number of influential supporter groups on Thursday night in what were described as positive talks by one fans group.
The Irish Sun report that the Association chief asked them to ‘draw a line in the sand’ with regards to the criticism of his reign.
The 51-year-old had been faced with mounting pressure as Martin O’Neill’s tenure as Ireland manager drew to a close last month.
Ahead of what turned out to be O’Neill’s final match in charge against Denmark in Aarhus, some fans had claimed that protest flags emblazoned with the slogan ‘#DelaneyOut’ had been confiscated by Danish officials as they entered the stadium.
Similar accusations have been levelled against the FAI – more recently ahead of a game in Belgrade at the beginning of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
“I had nothing to do with banners,” he told supporters in quotes reported by The Sun. “You’d swear I know everything about everything that goes on in the organisation.
I am the CEO but I can’t be responsible for everything. I can’t be aware of everything. I was asked before the game was I involved and I said I knew nothing about it.”
Delaney also addressed ticket issues ahead of their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign opener away to Gibraltar next March.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that 500 tickets would be made available to fans travelling to the 2,300-seater Victoria Stadium, but Delaney said he was hopeful of securing a further 300 tickets for travelling support.
“I’ve spoken to Gibraltar today and yesterday. We’ll probably get 800 out of them,” he said.
I got on with them. It’s a personal thing. The first thing to do is try to bag the 800. I don’t think we’ll have too much of a problem with the hardcore [fans getting tickets].”
In a statement today, Ballybrack Seagulls supporters group, whose members attended the meeting on Thursday night say they was ‘still plenty of work to do but a real desire was shown from all to get back on track’.
It read: “An open meeting of many of Ireland’s hardcore travelling support took place in the Orchard Stillorgan on Thursday evening.
“The meeting was facilitated by Wayne O’Sullivan – a member of Ireland’s largest supporters club, Ballybrack Seagulls, on the back of some divisions within the Irish supporters.
“The agenda was to give all in attendance a platform to air any grievances they had that would block unity within the fan base. Invited and in attendance were the FAI CEO John Delaney and the FAI head of security Joe McGlue .
“All areas of Irish football were discussed and questions were put to John and Joe. Both were comfortable to give their side of events. Clarity was given to all concerns and FAI staff happily addressed any queries from the fans.
Satisfactory guarantees were given to work towards and tremendous trust and respect was formed to give foundation to more similar meetings planned in the near future.
“With the change in management team/coaching structures of the FAI in the past week , the goal of all the like-minded fans present was to come together and unite and use the months before our next competitive fixture as a way to rebuild bonds, come together and join forces that would result in our world-renowned fans being on the same page once the first match against Gibraltar rolls around.
A general appreciation from all present was the common outcome of the fans from Thursday, clarity was given and slates wiped clean.
“Still plenty of work to do but a real desire was shown from all to get back on track and continue to do what we do best and that’s supporting our beloved nation in foreign stadia world wide, together.”
Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne preview a big weekend of Heineken Cup action and dissect the week’s main talking points.
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For James Ryan to come in like that on his European debut, just off an injury… My God, he’s only 21. So excited to see where his career goes. Henshaw was fantastic at outside centre aswell. Barry Daly has been such a welcome surprise, really balanced player.
And Carbery. Kid oozes class. Playing at 15 for the next couple of years will do him no harm, look at Beauden Barrett.
@4OYards: haha great second row. Beirne coming back next year and Treadwell in Ulster – some fine young locks and Dilliane is only 24 too
@4OYards:
I feel not playing Carbery at 10 when Sexton is out is wasting vital development time. One of the hottest prospects at out-half in World Rugby. Leinster has an embarrassment of riches.
Perhaps it would be best for everyone if of the exiting 10s was given a chance to lead another province in need of a player of such quality
@Gavin Healy: He is very effective coming into the line from No. 15. I wonder how his place kicking is coming along. He is the real deal. So is James Ryan
Henshaw was savage in Defence today, made some great carries too. Lots of young talent in that team.
@Batster: an immense warrior and absolute gent on and off the pitch
Only saw the game just now but James Ryan was incredible. For a guy so young, he easily looked like an international quality lock today. Carried the ball excellently, showed great tackle technique, wasn’t afraid to get involved in a bit of niggle at the ruck, called line-outs to himself. Just class.
While he still has to be physically eased into pro rugby and managed like those before him, today was a top class performance from the young man.
It’s poor reasoning to say Henshaw is wasted at 12. The guys is superb at 13 and more exciting to watch. Hopefully he gets a run out at 13 in November. But the fact that he is brilliant at 13 doesn’t equate to him being wasted at 13. He’s immense there as well.
@Paul K Murphy: the rational side to the argumemt you’re making is fair. The other side is silly and is just used as a Schmidt dig.
@Conor Paddington: Henshaw is wasted at 12.
There’s a changing of the guard afoot. Carberry was outstanding as was Conan, the young guys coming through have the ability. Henshaw is next level. World class 13. Outstanding
The Article says Montpelier will be a different beast at home, Leinster with Sexton, O’Brien,Fardy, Heaslip, Kearney and Ringrose could be a very different beast too
Hey Ryan, you mention the amount of yards henshaw made, leinster tries scored, nabolos weight, etc. Any chance you could mention the actual score? It would be helpful.
@Brother Sylvest: you have several options there. You could have watched the match, one. You could google it, two. You could check innumerable social media sources, three. You could have checked the articles which were match reports as opposed to commentary, four. The list actually goes on.
@Conor Paddington: All true Conor but it’s a fair point to suggest including the score in an article about the match is not asking for too much given that other stats were mentioned
@Brother Sylvest: leinster won but Montpellier secured a losing bonus point .. I Google it
Aki 12 and Henshaw 13 for Ireland. Like how they played for connacht.
Great strength in depth,fingers crossed exciting year ahead
From an Irish perspective a McCloskey 12 and Henshaw 13 looks mouthwatering.
Should always be at 13 a natural
Yes Leinster got the win but to be fair it was more like Montpellier let them win! That overlap at the end! Since under 8s the whole idea is to suck them into the middle then go wide around the outside! How that pass wasn’t giving I’ll never know!
@mb: that’s unfair . They earned that win today
Bit of a Pedantic Pat post but Henshaw didn’t come through the system at Leinster.
I’ll get me coat….
@Rosco Bosco: bit of a blind Barry more like….it mentions that in the article!
@Marc Richardson: It got edited after I mentioned it Marco
The real talking point should be how amazing it is that a backline with an average age of 22/23 once Nacewa went off managed to outperform (based on skill, not just energy) a very expensively assembled Montpellier backline. Incredible.
Bodes very, very well for Ireland in the years to come.
Thought Henshaw and Carberry were sensational, and in the forwards, Ryan was outstanding, what a player we have in the making. Ireland might need him from next year as we really only have 3 locks of international stature with Ryan out of the loop.
In Leinster supporters opinion is Henshaw a better 13 than Ringrose?
@Conor Greham: To be honest, I don’t know. That remains to be seen.
@Conor Greham: Maybe. But Leinster don’t have a 12 that’s better than Henshaw and Ringrose is fantastic.
@Conor Greham: ringrose is a very good 13, we don’t have a natural 12 so unless one comes along while ringrose is fit Robbie switches to 12.
Reid at 12 and henshaw at 13 or henshaw at 12 and ringrose at 13 not a coach on the planet is going to pick the first one.
@Conor Greham: Ringrose performaed brilliantly at 12 against Australia. Anything to be said for GR@12, RH@13?
Also, strange no mention of Leinster achieved this victory with Sexton, O’Brien, Heaslip, Fardy, Rob Kearney, Dan Leavy (even if the latter two wouldn’t / shouldn’t have played) – incredible squad depth.
Leinster flattered.montpelier much better team but didn’t have luck referee or anything on their side
Very sloppy performance. If Leinster are to progress this year we need to see the basics done well and let the attractive rugby look after itself.
I know it is a team full of young guns which is great to see, but this is the 3rd or 4th year like this and the team needs to kick on.
Also, Ringrose is a class 12 too, great at offloads and a very strong straight up defender. The 2 lads could interchange no worries and that’s this Lions 12/13 in S.A.