FIFPro news
Irish union training camp to help out of work players
Wednesday 20 January
The Irish players’ union PFAI organized a training camp for out of work professional players, in order to help those footballers with their search for a new club.
PFAI secretary general Stephen McGuinness explained the idea behind this training camp: ‘When we heard that over 90 per cent of our league players would be out of work at the end of the 2009 season, myself and Ollie Cahill discussed what we could do to help our members. We decided to arrange a training camp at this time as managers would still be finalising their squads and there are still a number of players who are seeking employment.
The idea proved to be well appreciated. ‘We received a huge response so we organised this camp.’ In total 26 players have confirmed their attendance over the coming weeks. The PFAI training camp got underway on Monday morning at the AUL Complex in Dublin as coach Trevor Croly took the players through the first session. Croly was assisted by Alan Moore and Matt Gregg. McGuinness and delegate liaison officer Cahill were on hand to oversee proceedings.
‘The first day's got off to a flying start’, said McGuinness. ‘Players are committed to this initiative and we have more players coming on board during the week.'
'This is aimed at the player who is determined to get himself in the shop window and signed up by the start of the season. Pre-season training is hard enough when you have a club so this just helps lads who are looking to be prepared when the opportunity of a contract comes along.’
The camp already attracts attention, according to McGuinness: ‘We've already received inquiries into the office from managers regarding those players that turned up today; I'd like to see the lads sorted out with employment sooner rather than later and if this camp only lasts for a couple of weeks and all the lads are signed up we have done our job.’
Click here to watch a TV3 interview with Stephen McGuinness.
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