John Fallon: Awards season can't mask some cold realities
OSCAR season in Irish football collides with Christmas and the Irish Examiner will indulge the festivities by presenting a few of our gongs.
The 2023 domestic season will be undoubtedly recalled fondly – a joint record for Shamrock Rovers and a record FAI Cup final attendance among the highlights – but the arcane state of facilities was once again magnified as the impediment nobody can foresee improving anytime soon.
Here we divert from the default headings to attach some of other noteworthy events that occurred over the season or are being left dangling:
Contracts for Difference:
Thankfully gone are the days of players having wages delayed or in a few cases none paid at all but employment stability remained. That thankfully has been addressed to a degree by the standard players' contract, which effectively ensures payment from the start of pre-season in January until a guaranteed end date of November 30.
Weekly pay of €430 minimum for full-time professionals over the age of 20 and €130 to part-timers doesn't constitute much but it's a start.
The same rates applied to the women's league if – and it's a big if – clubs opted to accept the semi-professional status the FAI finally offered.
Very few did in its maiden season and the notion of the development protecting clubs from losing players to the UK for nothing was torpedoed by Abbie Larkin departing Shamrock Rovers for Glasgow City on a free negotiated as a sweetener to lure her from Shelbourne six months earlier.
Youthful Exuberance:
Contrasted with the last decade when the FAI trumpeted the infusion of youth when it was in fact due to an exodus of experienced players, the current landscape is more a byproduct of Brexit restrictions.
With the UK out
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