By Alan Cawley

When is enough, enough? At what point do we turn around and say, that's it, change has to happen? It has gone on too long.

These are feelings that come to us in so many aspects of day-to-day life but I'm posing them towards Irish soccer lovers and in particular, for the League of Ireland.

If there is anything we have learned in the aftermath of the Celtic Tiger years, it is just how acceptant we are as a nation.

Whether it be added taxes, job losses, cuts in salaries ,whatever the case, we just accept it.



We are the best nation in the world to voice our grievances amongst our friends or down the local on a Friday night but ultimately we just accept it and move on.



I don't have too much time for politics. Unfortunately for me though, they seem to play a large part in the game that I love.



Listening to John Delaney's recent interview on RTÉ 2FM's Game On programme, I couldn't help but feel I was listening to a well-versed politician rather than a man who feels passionately about trying to change the face of Irish football and how it's perceived.



If you didn't know anything about football in this country and tuned in, you'd be forgiven for thinking everything is rosy in the garden and the game is excelling in what the organisation is trying to achieve.

Sadly that's not the case.



When the conversation moved towards domestic football and the League of Ireland in particular, I thought you could actually feel it across the airwaves how much Delaney didn't want to discuss this topic.

"For far too long, clubs are just surviving - they are not living"

He described the league as the problem child of the organisation. That's some statement.



I'm not an expert on parenting. But I think the reason children become problematic is because most likely they are not getting the love and attention from a guardian that is needed in order to develop.



As the chief executive of the organisation, it is his duty to make sure the right structures are in place so that we have a fully functional domestic set-up for top flight football.



Or at the very least again, try to put these structures in place and not tell the country how much of a headache it is.



He stated that since the FAI took control of the league, clubs have been run far more stringently. That is a positive.



But don't just accept that. It has to be something to build on, something to work with the clubs on and to progress.



For far too long, clubs are just surviving - they are not living.



The FAI's short-sighted approach seems to be just take each year as it comes and hopefully all clubs still exist.



How will it ever improve or progress with what looks like a short-term attitude?





He pointed Galway and Waterford United when the topic of improved facilities arose, when not too long ago Galway United went out of existence and Waterford seem to be facing a continuous daily challenge just to stay afloat. The politics continue.



The redevelopment of Dalymount Park would be fantastic but we need more than just that and fast.



It is ironic that he wants his legacy to be as a chief executive who got us a fantastic national stadium, with the help of the IRFU.



However, how much more of a legacy would changing the face of domestic football be?



A starting point for this change is the urgent need more improvements on facilities.



He is getting very well paid, so results are something to expect.



It's quite surprising really that he doesn't have a more hands on approach on SSE Airtricity League matches because according to the answer given regarding away trips for the national team, he seems to love getting out and about interacting with the Irish public.

"You only have to look at our national side to see how important it is that we have proper top flight football in this country"

The anecdote about how he was able to provide a train for stranded Irish fans on an away trip made me think that maybe this man is just misunderstood.



He explained this just couldn't be possible if he wasn't out and about interacting with the fans on away trips.



I'd love to see how these workshops play out in bars dotted around Europe where the chief executive of the FAI is there to listen to the problems and grievances of Irish football fans.



It must be very satisfying for those fans to know they are being listened to.



I am not saying for one second that changing the face of Irish football is an easy task.



If anything it's probably the most difficult given everything we are competing with. However, at least have a go or be seen to do it.



I think we've reached the point now where enough is enough and people want to see things change.

Of course this won't happen overnight and like everything else it will take time but let's start the planning process now.



I was so impressed with the FAI and the video they put together in our application for hosting some games in Euro 2020.





It's not all bad - I'd much rather focus on the positives and what can be achieved rather than people always highlighting the hurdles we are faced with.



Hurdles are there to be jumped over or sometimes even crawled under, there is always a way and there are enough positives to make a new attempt to rescue the league.



I look at the talent we have and you only have to look at our national side to see how important it is that we have proper top flight football in this country. It's imperative.



I just want to see more achieved. I don't think anyone is asking for anything unrealistic.



We need to see a plan and a direction which will yield results.



I've mentioned John Delaney a lot in this piece that's because he is the top man when it comes to bring about change.



He kept telling us on Game On about his love for watching Waterford and League of Ireland football growing up. Show me the love.



If he feels it's OK to be painted in a certain way like what we saw in a recent documentary, he must also accept that his role is to bring about change to a League that is floundering.



I'm not sure if it is his passion is to bring about this change, but hopefully I'm wrong.



If it was to be achieved, his legacy would be a far greater one than what he envisages of it at the moment.