Doubly Certain!

I tend not to go back over anything I’ve said previously but in this case I think it’s prudent that I comment on last week’s article, Blunder Boots. I did accuse the Irish F.A. of making a complete ‘horlicks’ of the cup replay, but they were in fact ‘aided and abetted’ by the senior clubs committee. The old saying goes that it ‘takes two to tango’ and it certainly proved correct on this occasion. Now we have the even more farcical situation of the cup replay taking place on Saturday March 31, the date set aside for the semi-finals, with the semi-final down for decision on either Tuesday 17 April or Tuesday April 24, depending on which team wins through. I’m sure I don’t need to tell anybody of the fixture chaos that’s a distinct possibility, if there are any interruptions to the league progress due to adverse weather conditions over the next few weeks. Every time you think it can’t get any worse it usually does and this cup saga is proving no exception. I.F.A. chairman Jimmy Boyce actually attempted to get the game played this week, by suggesting that any suspensions due to start this week, should not apply to the two teams involved as their match should’ve been already played. But it was all to no avail and once more the local game has been held up to ridicule. If that’s not bad enough we have the continuing saga of the outdated Windsor Park, which is in need of serious structural repairs if it is to pass a F.I.F.A. inspection (the ancient Railway Stand can no longer be used). Now who is to pay for these repairs I hear you ask, but in reality you know the answer already, it’s the I.F.A. of course. Linfield own Windsor Park, but in fact spend nothing on its upkeep, that’s all down to the I.F.A. Linfield are the Landlords, but have exclusive use of the ground for their domestic games, while charging the governing body excessive rent for their use of it, e.g. Internationals, semi-finals and finals. Just what shrewd person negotiated that contract, obviously a top class con artist who’s now living in luxury in the Bahamas or some such place? One thing’s for sure, if the I.F.A. wants to stage more Internationals at Windsor Park, money will have to be found in the short term. Just a wee idea, why don’t they approach world Champions Italy for a friendly match in order to raise funds to bring the Park back up to standard? This still has a ways to run yet and it’ll be interesting to see what the final outcome really is. But one thing’s certain, the one organisation who won’t lose out, are Linfield F.C., of that you can be doubly sure!