A growing number of League of Ireland clubs are offering substantial bonuses to players who receive recognition through the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFA Ireland) awards. These bonuses, ranging from €1,000 to €7,000, are contingent upon players having the bonus clause in their contracts and being selected for the PFA Ireland Team of the Year or winning the Player of the Year award. This revelation has prompted the PFA Ireland to implement changes to its voting process to ensure greater accuracy and fairness.
Players in the League of Ireland could earn significant bonuses, ranging from €1,000 to €7,000, on top of their regular salaries at the end of each season. This opportunity stems from a growing trend among clubs to include performance-based bonuses in player contracts, rewarding those who achieve recognition through the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFA Ireland) awards. However, only a select group of players are eligible for these substantial rewards.
This bonus system is contingent upon players having the clause written into their contracts and subsequently being selected for the PFA Ireland Premier or First Division Team of the Year or winning the coveted Player of the Year award. The revelation of this widespread practice came to light at the end of last year when Stephen McGuinness, the chief of the PFA Ireland, encountered player contracts from Dundalk FC. During that period, Dundalk was facing financial challenges, and McGuinness was actively involved in supporting the players and the club. McGuinness explained to Mirror Sport that the use of PFA Ireland awards as a means of incentivizing players was completely unknown to him and his team. Clubs had been discreetly incorporating these clauses into contracts, rewarding players for their exceptional performances recognized by their peers. He stated that several clubs had expressed their intention to use this approach, viewing it as a valuable way to acknowledge and reward outstanding talent. Even more notable is the fact that this trend extends beyond the men's game, as McGuinness confirmed that the women's game has also adopted this practice. Clubs are offering bonuses ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 for players who make the Team of the Year, while those who are crowned Player of the Year can expect rewards between €5,000 and €7,000. This discovery has prompted McGuinness and his staff to re-evaluate the process of voting for their end-of-season awards. They plan to implement several changes to ensure greater accuracy and fairness. One significant change involves consulting with managers to determine the most frequently used formation in the league. The Team of the Year will then be selected based on this prevalent formation, reflecting the actual tactical landscape of the league. Furthermore, to acknowledge performances throughout the season, a mid-season vote will be introduced. While the outcome of this vote will remain confidential, the results will be combined with the end-of-season vote to create the final Team of the Year. Overall, these changes aim to address concerns that players who start strong might not receive due recognition if their form dips later in the season. McGuinness expressed a positive outlook on this bonus trend, viewing it as a valuable way for clubs to incentivize and reward exceptional players. He believes it is a unique and meaningful form of recognition, as it is based on the votes of fellow professionals who have witnessed their peers' performances firsthand. The PFA Ireland is committed to ensuring that its awards process remains fair, transparent, and reflective of the true talent and achievements within the League of Ireland
LEAGUE OF IRELAND PLAYER BONUSES PFA IRELAND TEAM OF THE YEAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
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