Updated at 20.58
EAMON DUNPHY HAS made no attempt to hide his displeasure with the FAI’s plans for an upcoming report on the state of Irish football, which is scheduled to be released later tonight.
Speaking on 2FM’s Game On, Dunphy said, in reference to the plans to move Wimbledon to Ireland in the mid-90s, that he “spent three years trying to persuade FAI to accept a 500 million investment,” but explained that the association rejected the offer, claiming it “would destroy the league”
“I watched the (Dundalk) game against BATE (in the Champions League qualifiers),” he added.
“That match should not have been played. The pitch was grey and bumpy… It was a disgrace
“You try to market that around the world? That’s the image of a league that doesn’t give a damn.”
Dunphy also said the association’s interview process, undertaken as part of the report, was insufficient, citing John Giles and Liam Brady as two notable absentees.
“They’ve interviewed 190 people and they haven’t interviewed some of the smartest people in Irish football
“I’ve spent 65 years watching League of Ireland football. They couldn’t interview me?
“This is spin. This is bullshit. A report won’t produce anything
“You should talk to people who’ve made a commitment to the game.
“What would they say to a one and a half billion offer today, suppose the Qataris offered it, as they did to France.
“What’s changed from the mid-90s?”
Meanwhile, Dunphy also gave his thoughts on the Jack Grealish saga, saying he was “very disappointed” that the youngster had opted to declare for England rather than Ireland.
“He’s a going to be a top player,” Dunphy added.
“A couple of comments from Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane would not have helped.
“18 months ago, we could have capped him at full international level.
“It was a chance missed.”
