QUINN: GIVE US A BREAK ..NOW

Legend wants help for investors as Duffy claims top award

NIALL QUINN is calling on government intervention at the highest level to radically overhaul the football industry in Ireland.

And the former Ireland international and Sunderland chairman points to the facelift horse racing received in the last 20 years as proof it can be done.

Quinn is a respected figure in the game and has been touted by some as a potential future head of the FAI.

But he feels that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar should be considering tax breaks for investors in Irish football.

Quinn said: “I’d love if there was somebody higher up in that echelon of government who understood the importance of soccer in this country.

“There are 400,000 participants, maybe more. We shouldn’t be standing in the queue with the judo people or the karate people.

“Any time the country has ever given a tax break in this country, it has always worked and they’ve had to stop it because it became too popular.

“What’s wrong with trying that in soccer?”

Quinn continued: “I’m not dreaming here because Irish horse racing was in bits in the 70s and 80s and they gave tax breaks to people investing in horse racing.

“Suddenly Irish breeding, Irish jockeys, Irish horses are the best in the world.

“I hope our country has someone in the high echelons – I’m talking up to Taoiseach level – that will understand the value of the highest participation sport in the land

“We can have 10 or 12 great academies that would really start to make young people in this country feel there was a pathway for them.”

Quinn was guest of honour at the PFA Ireland annual awards function on Saturday where Dundalk’s Michael Duffy was crowned Player of the Year.

He was shortlisted with his Lilywhite team-mates Patrick Hoban and midfielder Chris Shields.

And Quinn claims that trio are an example of what can be produced in Ireland on a more regular basis if the investment is there.

“Patrick Hoban is a wonderful footballer,” he said. “If he had another couple of years here, he could have gone on to have any career he wanted.

“Dundalk may not have got him. I watch English league football and he’s way ahead. Chris Shields is as good a holding midfielder as you will see.

“And Duffy on the wing, I’m glad I don’t have to mark somebody like that. These players to me prove that we can have top class players.”

Meanwhile, Lilywhites star Duffy has thanked his team-mates and manager Stephen Kenny (left) for propelling him to Player of the Year status.

Close to an Ireland call-up, winger Duffy said: “There were a few of us who deserved to win it, we’ve had a great year.

“I signed here looking to win stuff. I thought it was going to be harder (to settle) so I have to thank Dundalk and Stephen Kenny for that.”