NO MORE O’BRIEN FUNDS FOR FAI
ROMELU LUKAKU will be a welcome addition to the Premier League 100 club, according to long-standing member Andy Cole.
Lukaku needs just one goal to become the 28th player to reach a century of goals and will be aiming to do so today when Manchester United host arch-rivals Liverpool.
And former United striker Cole, third on the list with 187 goals, believes Lukaku has proved his worth in his debut season after finally understanding the demands JOHN DELANEY is adamant the FAI can ‘stand on our own two feet’ despite Denis O’brien pulling the financial plug last night.
The billionaire businessman was funding the majority of Martin O’neill, Roy Keane and their staff’s pay, and Giovanni Trapattoni and his crew before that.
In January, O’neill and Keane signed contract extensions to stay in charge of the Irish team for the next two years – and that won’t change.
Yet speaking shortly after the of playing at Old Trafford. “I think what he’s appreciated now, being at Manchester United, is that it’s not possible for him to take a weekend off because every game is intense,” said Cole.
“Maybe at Everton he could have taken a weekend off and still nicked a goal but at United everyone wants to beat you and I think he’s realised the level of intensity that’s required.
“The magnifying glass is always on the centre-forward at United and I think it’s fallen on him massively this season.
“He’s not had too much rest, he’s played virtually every match and not had much time to recover, because of the injury to Euro 2016 finals in France, Delaney admitted O’brien’s personal funding was essential to retaining the duo.
“Without (O’brien’s) contribution it just wouldn’t be possible,” he said in July 2016.
Much has been made of the FAI’S finances and their debt – according to the most recent accounts – stands at €34 million.
But last night Delaney said: “I think at this particular juncture we’re strong enough now to stand on our own two feet.
“All I can say on behalf of the FAI and people in football is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But he’s done really well. He came with a big price-tag but he’s done well.
“It’s not been an easy first season. There’s been a lot of pressure on him with Zlatan injured and Marcus Rashford (right) in and out, so he’s been the only recognised centre-forward. But you can’t take anything away from what he’s done since he arrived. He’s scored goals, which is his job.
“Being one goal away, if he gets it at the weekend or he doesn’t, he’s going to get there at some stage because he’s been good thanks for what was an extraordinary contribution at a pivotal time for the FAI.”
Speaking to Off The Ball, Delaney continued: “He’s given funding of almost €10 million to us so we could fund an international manager.
“At the time he came to us, it was a difficult time financially. It was a time we were building the Aviva Stadium.
“We were also looking to push the boundaries to have a proper budget to bring a top manager in to manage the international team. enough to score 100 goals in the Premier League.”
Until his goal against Chelsea in United’s 2-1 win a fortnight ago, Lukaku had failed to score against any of the Premier League’s top-eight sides, underlining his ‘flat-track bully’ tag.
And Cole (far left, with former team-mate Nicky Butt) admitted Lukaku – with eight goals in his last 11 games – must continue to score against the big teams to keep the critics off his back.
“He got one against Chelsea but that question is still going to be thrown at him.. that he’s not
“That turned out to be Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli at the time. So we always knew it was going to come to an end.
“It’s a decade, he’s been fantastic, he’s a big supporter of the FAI, he’s going to be into the future as well in other ways.”
Duffy, James Mcclean and Darren Randolph have been shortlisted for the FAI Senior Player of the Year award.
Duffy is also up for Young Player of the Year, along with Cyrus Christie and Callum O’dowda. The awards take place in RTE tomorrow week.