Two more clubs reap benefit

Soccer: The FAI has announced that negotiations with British clubs on compensation claims for schoolboy clubs has yielded in excess of €1 million.

Under Fifa regulations if an Irish player signs professional terms, any club he played for from the age of 12 to 21 are entitled to compensation.

Yesterday, two clubs, Belvedere in north Dublin and Douglas Hall in Cork, revealed that €65,000 and €160,000 respectively will be forthcoming due to players who have recently signed professional forms.

Despite this windfall for the grassroots of Irish football, FAI career guidance officer Eoin Hand highlighted that some Irish clubs, especially ones in rural areas, may be missing out on payments due to a lack of awareness of the Fifa regulations.

"Schoolboy clubs make a massive contribution to the development of young players and the compensation payments agreed by Fifa reflect this investment. The financial benefits to the clubs are fully merited and it's important that more clubs become aware of the Fifa regulations."

€80,000 each is to be paid by Aston Villa and Birmingham City for the only players Douglas Hall ever sent to England. Goalkeeper Colin Doyle is with City, although currently on loan with Nottingham Forrest, while the other player would not be named as Villa has since released him.

Belvedere is receiving staggered payment from Ipswich Town for Gerard Nash and a further case involving Sunderland and Niall Flynn is expected to reach an agreement. Three further Belvedere players have signed deals with Millwall, ensuring another financial injection for the Dublin nursery.

"There are not as many players joining clubs abroad anymore, as due to the expense they don't want to take the risk," said Belvedere's Gerard Mooney.

The knock on effect of all this is Eircom League clubs will also have to start paying compensation. Currently, negotiations on a sum are ongoing between clubs and new FAI chief executive John Delaney.