By Kevin Murphy
A Greek football exodus to Irish shores maybe on the cards after the Limerick FC Chairman had a brainwave to rescue his club from SSE Airtricity League relegation.
Limerick Chairman Pat O’Sullivan has come up with a plan to bring Greek footballers to the banks of the Shannon after a winless run of 19 games this season.
O’Sullivan came up with the idea for the new recruitment policy from the comfort of his own home.
Great story from @damien_omeara on @LimerickFCie's attempts to sign players from Greece. #shirleyvalentine has a lot to answer for!
— Hazel Nolan (@HNolan101) July 15, 2015
Speaking to Morning Ireland he said: “I was watching Shirley Valentine at home with my wife Helen and I’m saying the Greeks are technically very good at football.
“Austerity has to have had an effect and football must be suffering. So why not look at that?
“I got my daughter Pam to google the Greek Players Union and we made contact through that. I emailed them and told them what we were looking for.
Behind every great sports chairman, there's a daughter who can type into Google for him @morningireland
— Brighid Breathnach (@BrighidBB) July 15, 2015
“They have sent us details of certain players.We have spoken to the individual players and the terms and conditions we have agreed.
“Now we have to look at bringing them for trials when we are ready to do that. It has to be done and in place by the end of this month.
“If I can find players do a job for me in Limerick, particularly in the short-term and possibly in the long-term, the Irish go to England and different countries so why can’t the Greeks come here.”
O’Sullivan revealed the players are of a high calibre with some having international experience, and said that if manager Martin Russell is satisfied, the players will be signing.
“They have to be a quality of a player that will give us what we need in our team and that the manager has to be happy with.”
@damien_omeara @morningireland thanks for the coverage guys!! You'll be first to know when we make this signings #StrongerTogether
— Limerick FC (@LimerickFCie) July 15, 2015
Interesting approach to player recruitment from Limerick FC's Pat O'Sullivan on @morningireland #ShirleyValentine #Greece
— Emily Clare Kelly (@emilyclarekelly) July 15, 2015