Shay Given was on Newstalk's Off The Ball last night discussing everything from his time at Newcastle to Steve Staunton's time in charge of Ireland, but it was Given's comments about FAI Chief Executive John Delaney that caught the eye.
The goalkeeper stated his disappointment he didn't receive the same send off that his former teammate Robbie Keane had. Keane's last match for Ireland was against minnows Oman, the striker scored in a 4-0 win at the Aviva, Dublin.
They could have at least picked up the phone and said thanks for your efforts. It was over 20 years of my life, you know? I wasn’t asking for a parade down Dublin with me sitting on the front of a bleeding lorry.
Given made his Ireland debut in 1996, making 134 appearances but it appears that did not warrant an acknowledgment from the FAI for his effort and commitment to the team, but Given explained that an issue between his father and Delaney may have effected his bargaining position,
There was a bit of needle with John Delaney and my Dad. I don’t know if he has grudge against me after what my Dad said. It was after one of the games, the FAI were laying off loads of people at the time and a reporter asked my Dad, I think he had a few beers after one of the games and stuff and he said, ‘John Delaney should take a pay cut,’ because all of these people are losing their jobs and stuff. It was on the front page of newspapers.
Before heading to the Euros in the 2012, a few of the senior players, including Given, had a meeting with Delaney on behalf of the squad to discuss their bonuses for the tournament, but much to his surprise, the CEO brought up his father's comments from years before,
This popped up in a meeting in 2012 for our bonuses, me, John O’Shea and Robbie Keane we were talking to John Delaney about bonuses for the whole squad, you know, the senior players. And he pops up saying, ‘What about your Dad saying this and that?’
I was raging like, fuming. What has that got to do with me, you know?
My Dad can say what he wants and he kind of got stitched up a little as well. It wasn’t the right time or place to talk about conversation. We were talking about something totally different and it was so out of the blue but I don’t know if there is a bit of history there but I felt I could have had a phone call off somebody.
Hard to imagine there the pair will exchange Christmas cards this year after his comments.
