The Saints Are Coming

Saint Patrick’s Athletic are now just two games away from the group stages of the Europa League. Chief executive Richard Sadlier talks the Super Saints’ chances against the mighty Steaua.

Craig Fitzsimons, 24 Aug 2009

As someone who went to Britain and lived the dream until injury cruelly intervened, would Sadlier say that it’s better for most developing Irish players to stay here and get regular football, rather than going over and festering in the reserves at a League One or Two club?

“I don’t think you can apply one rule for all. There are players who’ve gone over, gone straight into English or Scottish first teams at age 18, had successful careers until their mid-30s, and met someone and got married and built their life there. That’s the fairytale. But there’s plenty of others who go over, don’t make the grade and come back after two years. Maybe better to play here for a while, then go over in your early 20s and do really well, Keith Fahey being one obvious example from our club. It’s a judgement call that each person has to make. I’m not always convinced by the argument that lads who get offered a move over should stay here until they’ve done their Leaving. I played with tons of lads who were 15, 16 who had no place waiting in school until 18, lads who weren’t exam-minded at all and had basically sunk in school. With these lads, there’s no point spending two years on an exam you know you’re going to fail. It all depends on the person, really.”

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