Clap Trap Or Money Trap?

Since the arrival of the IMF in Ireland, businesses and employees have become fearful of their future in employment. But the repercussions of the financial meltdown in this small island of ours has hit the sports world especially in Abbottstown, the home of the Football Association of Ireland.

It was announced yesterday at the launch of the Europa League final in Dublin that CEO of the FAI, John Delaney, manager of the senior national team Giovanni Trapattoni and his management team are to take pay cuts, to help the Association in their time of need.

Speaking after the launch, Delaney admitted his cut was going to be very significant, but didn’t want to say how much that would be.

In terms of trap it is understood that the cut he will take will come up to around €100,000 per year. The FAI have never discussed the exact figure that the Ireland manager takes in, but its believed to be in the region of €1.8 million, with Communicorp’s Denis O’Brien paying half that. Trap says hes got no problem taking the pay cut.

Already before the pay cut announcement it was confirmed that Packie Bonner will not have his contract renewed as technical director in the FAI, this has left a world of possibilities open for more compulsory redundancies in the FAI but John Delaney refuses to confirm or deny that

Ticketing structures for the Europa League final were also announced yesterday with 7,000 tickets going on sale to the Irish Public. Tickets will go on sale on the 16th December at 11Am. People will be restricted to 2 tickets each. The cost of tickets start at €50 going up to €135.

With the biggest budget this nation has ever seen coming up next week and also Christmas coming up there will be a significant amount of people who could not afford €50 to see this final. Delaney says he’s confident of selling out Ireland’s allocation.

The FAI have come under heavy pressure since the Aviva Stadium opened its doors about its ticketing costs and with that hard hitting budget in mind Delaney has promised to bring down those prices as early as Christmas

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.