Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely today furiously denounced the National League, claiming it is "rotten".
Keely’s outburst follows last night’s 3-0 home defeat by Shamrock Rovers, in which Shelbourne’s Jim Gannon and Peter Hutton were sent off.
"Look at Jim Gannon’s sending off last night," said Keely. "He’s a fellow who’s never been in trouble in his life, and yet he gets a straight red card for his first tackle of the match, a tackle which most observers will tell you was 50-50".
The Shels boss, never one to mince his words, is also wary of the consequences to his club of their successful appeal of an eircom league decision.
Two weeks ago, the league imposed a £1,000 fine on St. Patrick’s Athletic for fielding an ineligible player in their first three games of the season.
Shels appealed this decision, demanding that the mandatory nine point penalty be imposed instead. Last Monday, the FAI Appeal Board upheld Shels’ appeal, thereby overturning the League’s decision.
"Ollie Byrne [Shels General Manager] told the league how to do their job and, like all suits, they’ll close ranks to protect themselves, " he said, "Ollie embarrassed them and now we’ll pay the price".
Indeed, Keely says he’s giving serious consideration to retiring at the end of the current season.
"You have to ask yourself if it’s worth it. I know it’s been rotten for years, but I just don’t know if I should put up with it anymore. But the reports of me threatening to quit on the spot are false. I’d never turn my back on the players. But at the end of the season I’ve got a lot to think about".
Shels goalkeeper Steve Williams is in hospital today after being stretchered off midway through last night’s game. He suffered a suspected hairline fracture of the ankle.