JOHN GILES’ FUTURE at RTÉ is up in the air, after the pundit revealed he is no longer contracted to the national broadcaster.
Giles was expected to be part of the regular panel for this Saturday’s game against Scotland, but it was announced that the former player and manager had been dropped.
Giles says that although he had fulfilled his quota under his current deal with RTÉ, they had traditionally been flexible with contracts, and worked extra games free of charge.
He told Newstalk’s Off The Ball that he was available and willing to work this Saturday’s game free of charge, and was disappointed to be overlooked.
“I made it very, very clear that I was available and I wanted to do the match.”There is a contractual situation where I’m contracted to do a certain amount of matches, and I have fulfilled the obligation for those matches. But we’ve always been very flexible on matches that we’ve done, and could do more and do less.”I was prepared to do an extra match, and made it clear, obviously, there was no extra payment for that match,” he said.
“I’m very diappointed. It’s one of the most important games we’ve had in recent times,” he told presenter Ger Gilroy.
Giles also said that he was unhappy not to have received a phonecall from Head of Sport Ryle Nugent, explaining the decision.
“I’ve never spoken to Ryle Nugent about it.”I would have like to get a call from the Head of Sport to explain to me what the situation is,” he added.
But most notably, Giles revealed that his current deal is set to expire at the end of the summer, and as things stand, he is not signed up to cover the end of Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign.
“I’m not actually contracted at the moment, until the rest of the campaign, so I don’t know what the future holds, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Whatever your opinion on Giles ability as a competent analyst in the modern game, this would be a sad way to say goodbye to the lads. particularly considering it’s the first game on RTE since Bill died. They deserve to see out this campaign together I think.
All 3 did the champions league final.
First Ireland game.
Yeah very true. I would hate to see John Giles finish his time with Rte in negative circumstances like this. He’s a national legend who deserves to be treated with much more respect.
Giles was dropped by Ireland for the first qualifier for WC 1970 against Czechoslovakia (despite being best player on best team in old First Division – Ireland wasn’t exactly awash with stars at the time). Strangely enough he was injured for next match against Hungary. Wonder what his next move will be here.
RTE are an awful shower of b**tards.. They have treated their “stars” like dirt. Pat Kenny and Gay Byrne said so after Gerry Ryans death. They tend to drop people like hot potatoes without informing them. eg Marty Whelan, Derek Mooney, Geri Maye, Shiela Seoige, Brendan O Connor… Johnny Giles.. Would a phone call be too much to ask?
Sinead, most Communist organisations traditionally put a bullet in your head when you’re finished. So they didn’t do too bad.
Marty Whelan, Derek Mooney, Geri Maye, Shiela Seoige, Brendan O Connor…
‘stars’? Christ, nobody on that list should ever have got within an asses roar of any station to begin with. bunch of bingo experts, bullshitters, birds and bird watchers. not a broadcaster among them.
Communist? Hang on, I thought RTE were mouthpieces for the Neo Liberal Capitalist regime secretly controlled by Dennis O’Brien.
I can’t keep up with who our puppet-masters are supposed to be.
Giles is a gentleman and deserves better
He hasnt managed or kicked a ball in anger for maybe 40 yrs. He has, id have thought, less knowledge than Cunningham, Sadlier etc. Dont start me on Dunphy.
In fairness sinead they pay them extremely well up until that supposed point. I personally don’t want licence fee money spent on making sure pundits are treated fairly $$.. pundits are pundits not doctors or nurses or teachers. Lets not lose the run of ourselves here
The man is a legend of Irish soccer, one of our greatest ever players and very enjoyable to listen to as a pundit but when you see what other channels are doing it may be no bad thing for RTE to move away from the ’3 Amigos’ and do something fresher. Ritchie Sadlier is really good, always has an interesting perspective. Giles should have of course been given the courtesy of a phone call / meeting if RTE are indeed going in a different direction. It’s the least the man deserves after all the years.
Hmmm, how quickly things change. And there was smug Ryle Nugent singing the praises of the 3 Amigos and Billo just two weeks ago on the Late Late Show. Whatever you think about Giles and the RTE soccer panel, that’s no way to treat the man. Let the Amigos serve out this Euro campaign and then if RTE want to change the personnel or format – good luck to them, it’s their gig.
So true…nugent is a jumped up gob shyte. How he became head of sport is beyond me!
Doesnt your last sentence contradict your entire point?
I think he should be allowed the rest of this qualifying campaign and then a send off similar to Bill’s at the end of it. Everyone’s has to retire at some stage but John shouldn’t be forced out the door the way he seems to have been.
Its a pretty cowardly way to get rid of someone. Smells like Ryle Nugent
What’s everybody got against Ryle Nugent all of a sudden? I don’t follow sport but seem to remember he was an excellent stand-in on The Den back in the day
As a commentator Nugent is unaware of the rules of the sport he is covering or able to tell us anything significant with the sporting event. He basically wings it with bull and as head of RTE sport we can only assume he brings the same commentating traits to the table.How he even got to be head is another matter.
would ryle nugent have gotten this past bill so easily
Simply put, a disgraceful way to treat a legend who deserves better. The actions of RTE goes to show that they are a no better circus than the one that is on Merrion Square!
That’s show business baby..
Touché Eamonn!
Ryle’s communication skills obviously as bad as his commentating…
A totally loathsome way to treat a man who has been a cornerstone of football on Irish television for 30 years. Giles is as vital as Bill O’Herlihy in that crew, a legend of the field as well as the studio.
You would almost expect it of someone like Ryle though, who is where he is thanks to Mammy.
Bring back Giles ! While Sadlier is good, Giles has been there, done that, many times. When he speaks, people listen.
Appalling decision. Reverse it.
Ryle Nugent is head of RTE sport.. Says it all really when the gead of sport has to ‘double-job’ as a commentator.
Met Johnny Giles last week. An absolute gent who will always be remembered for his footballing ability . An Irish player of world class ability and a legend of the game… I’ve never met Ryle Nugent .. I suppose he feels that he has earned the right to behave like an assh0le having put so much effort in over the years.
Hope it’s not the case but I’m wondering with the passing of Billo are changes being made now that couldn’t be done before
A no
Wasn’t Nugent also waffling on as well about how he was nervous working around Billo as a researcher aged 19, when he first worked in RTE? Now he has his big boy pants on, and Billo ‘watching from afar’, seems he’s suddenly got over being scared sh**less of him.
It’s disgusting how he has been treated
You stay classy RTE
This doesn’t sit well at all. To be honest I would F”" mr mono tone Brady off and try and get someone to complement Dunphy and Giles. Twill be like brolly, I hate him, but you don’t know what you have lost till its gone.
Canny Cunningham always seems to ‘compliment’ the fickle, ever contradictory Amoan Dunphy rather well! The real tradgedy is that Aprés Match will never be the same again!
Pretty poor timing by RTE, coming so soon after Billo’s death. I know he’d done the CL Final but the general public associate the 3 lads more with the Irish team. PR mess likely to drag on & Dunphy won’t go as quietly.
Giles appears on newstalk Off the ball that is enough for RTE to drop him.
Somehow I think they may have twigged that before now…
RTE probably need more money for GAA games pundits
It’s not related to money
If its not for a financial reason, why not let him be on the panel?
Giles always gave his opinion in a professional manner, in fact he probably did so much more than his other panelists. The least he could ask for is a bit of respect from rte, after all he helped bring in the audiences and so the revenue.
Giles imo is one of the best pundits anywhere, any channel, his reading of the game is second to none…hope Rte doesn’t cock this up and loose a legend..unthinkable if he’s not on any future panels.
Absolute horsemanure. Giles’s insight into the game ended in the 80s. He has nothing to offer anymore.
Sadlier is brainless u can see him there thinking what can I say that will bring any sense to the discussion ,and he usually fails miserably by making the most clueless arguments,Giles always made the most sense and his analysis of the game is the best of the panel but he has been quite argumentative to the presenter lately so he could be getting punished for that.
The management of RTE are a disgrace!
Time for change at the top!
Well it happens John u had ur time same as many Irish players and managers who couldn’t cut on the field that u wanted gone. Same as happened to you on TV ur past your best and someone younger is ready to take ur place.. Thanks for everything tho be great if u took Brady with you or even instead of you..
This saying was made for people like you.
BETTER to keep your mouth shut, and let people think your an AS*H&&e, THAN open it and dispel all doubts..
What’s the problem he is past his best he made a great living from RTE and someone better is ready to take his place.. Giles is a legend but he is past it.. Don’t cry over it fella.
Bring back Giles Dumphy will Be lonely
A good pundit, not a great pundit
John Giles knew his soccer .
He was very good on RTE.
It’s a shame that RTE dismissed him!
People are getting sick and tired of RTE left wing management!
Bring back John. Sadlier is a wierdo
legend for Irish footie… It’s a disgrace for him to be treated like this… Typical rte good thing going and they mess it up, what would bill o h say……!!!
I can’t believe we’re leaving our septuagenarian on the bench
I’d rather they sacked Dunphy.
Id rather they sacked gun head Brady
Sad sad day . I think it’s forgotten how good he was as a player. He is honest, straight up no nonsense but brilliant and very few pundits come close to his knowledge of the game. More watchable than Richie any day . He and Skippy provide balance To Dunphys occasional insane outbursts .
I know we have had plenty of good times & bad times in football with the rep.of Ireland and seeing Giles, dunphy & Brady etc etc giving there analysis after the games.. There have been great analysis, arguments and moments of pure anger, stupidity and comments that have gone on on RTE that were great viewing!!
But I think it’s time for a new generation of panelists to start giving there opinion on football matters etc etc after the European championships next summer.. Let likes of Giles, dunphy & co one more season until after the European championships and bring the RTE panel up to date with new & fresh faces and that are more interested in the football aspect of the game.. And freshen up the panelists with darragh maloney presenting the shows who is very good at what he does!!!
sure he is a free man of the city he can walk in and sit down on the panel oops I forgot ain’t nowt free in thiis country anymore
Giles is a Leeds and Ireland legend.
Brady has also walked the walk at the highest level.
Dunphy is as predictable as yesterday’s newspaper at this stage.
Give the young one’s a chance. There are talented young presenters around with young families who are not been given a chance because we hang onto 76 BH/ 80 JMc Gee / Gay Byrnes etc. Give the Sadliers a chance..
I think it’s time to move on he’s fulfilled his contract maybe the timing’s not great with Bill passing on but another contract till the end of the campaign will only lead to crys for a renewal (hoping we qualify )let the young fellas in or maybe let Stephanie Roach guest appear for a while
For God’s sake keep Giles if they want to freshen it up remove Dunphy he’s a walking advertisement why forcep delivery is banned in Ireland
forcep delivery is banned in Ireland?!
Petition is live. https://www.change.org/p/rte-sport-rte-let-john-giles-cover-the-euro-qualifier-on-saturday-the-13th-of-june-2015?just_created=true
This will probably offend some of you but I don’t care. Giles & Dunphy belong to a breed of football that couldn’t be further removed than what football is today. Personally thought they should have made way some time ago. Irrespective of my opinion, it’s only one broadcast and people are reading too much into this. Gilesy will be back.
Nice guy but 90% of what he says is in no way relevant to modern day football. His ramblings about not believing in any other formation than 4-4-2 or lack of willingness to embrace new tactics have made him tiresome to watch. He is totally out of touch with modern football and for those of us who actually want more information about the players and the tactics now used Ritchie is a far better choice. This must be a bitter blow after losing his close friend bill but I think it’s a good move for RTE
Time to get off the stage John…
I heard he’s a bollox
Get over it Johnny
Had a good run in the team.
RTE jobs for the boy’s just like it has always been and people like ryle Nugent get a job in rte because they are connected to the right people, when in the organisation they are no better then politicians scheming, manipulating and manoeuvring upwards in the organisation then in positions of power they will look after their mates such as Richie Sadlier who attempts to be controversial by disagreeing with dunphy, Brady to help solidify his position on the football panel. Sadlier dosen’t know the game and didn’t play at any kind of decent level for a decent length of time but he knows ryle Nugent and that is good enough. Johnny Giles is old school, dosen’t do politics and the sucking up associated with that and fair dues to him, a legend of Irish football unlike the 2 clowns in Nugent and Sadlier who have contributed to his demotion. RTE should Not be funded by the Irish public in any way, shape or form. If Sadlier was a box of chocolates then he would ear every one in the box, a chancer but Nugent shouldn’t be there either. Johnny Giles is well out of it and has more integrity then the whole sports department of RTE combined. RTE, too many overpaid politicians, bent banks, corrupt politicians, useless tribunals with no consequences for the corrupt and connected rich kids like ryle Nugent in positions of power within the national broadcaster, banana republic indeed. A disgrace.
Could it be possible john giles was replaced because he has a weekly slot on off the ball on Newstalk yes you guessed it owned by DOB! With all this court stuff going on ?
I remember when they sacked Don Revie, and now this. The timing is awful given the importance of Saturday’s game.
Wonder has it got anything to do that giles does a slot on off the ball ( Newstalk ) rte having a stab at Denis o Brien aka brown bag o Brien
Giles is a big baby, he got dropped same as a lot of Irish footballers got dropped over the years. Some after harsh criticism from himself and Dunphy and you don’t see them whining about it to the papers. All he ever does is repeat what Dunphy says just in a more long winded way. Knows nothing about modern game.