Waterford FC legend Alfie Hale has called on Waterford FC to clarify recent events at the club, which he described as like "two children behaving badly".
The Blues were relegated to the First Division after four years in the Premier Division following a 2-1 loss to UCD in Friday night's playoff.
The crucial game came three days after manager Marc Bircham was spectacularly sacked over social media following a dispute with the club's owner Richard Forrest.
Alfie Hale, who won five league titles and also managed the Blues, says he's never seen anything like it:
"Well, I've never been angry with football because I've always loved it and you can take the ups and downs, but I've never seen anything like what happened last week.
"And, I think both looking from the manager's point of view and the chairman's point of view, they both let themselves down very badly, but most of all, they let the club down very, very badly. And the people who really represent the club's health are the supporters and the players. And these are the people that were left high and dry with three days to go to the most important game, in recent history for the club."
The Waterford team who won the League of Ireland title in 1972. Back (from left): Peter Bryan, Vinny Maguire, Peter Thomas, Paul Morrissey, Tony Cottee, Jackie Morley. Front (from left): Carl Humphreys, Dave Kirby, Alfie Hale, Johnny Matthews, John O’Neill, Jimmy McGeough
Alfie Hale’s long career started with two goals scored on his debut as a 17-year-old for Waterford in 1957. He became part of the great Waterford side which won six league titles in seven years (though he was only part of the side for five of the triumphs), playing alongside fellow greats like Johnny Matthews (RIP).
He also became the oldest player to score a goal in the League, when at the age of 41, he scored as the player-manager of Thurles Town in his last game in 1981, earning him the distinction of scoring in four different decades in the League of Ireland.
Hale, who was also capped 14 times for Ireland, also enjoyed some success as a manager, and spent a lengthy period in charge at Waterford between 1982 and 1988. He then returned to manage the club between 1991 and 1993, and also had stints as boss of Cobh Ramblers, where he signed future Manchester United star Roy Keane and gave him his debut, and Kilkenny City — the final League of Ireland club he coached between 1995 and 1999.
He says it's going to take a long time to build confidence in Waterford FC back up:
"It's going to take a long time to build it back up. And the confidence of the supporters as well to be there, you know, and they've shown great strength, the supporters, this year on the opportunities that they have been allowed to see the Blues play they've turned out and given great support to the players.
"But I mean, it's ironic that a month ago, six weeks ago, there was possibly talk about Mark Bircham being the manager of the year, for what he had done, but it's up and spoiled and it's like two children misbehaving badly. And nobody can do anything about this."
Alfie says an announcement needs to be made from the club. He also says they must not lose sight of the most important people in all of this - the fans:
"Sometimes people who buy in clubs, and I was delighted to see Mr Forrest buy the club, but they tend to believe like, you know, when they say it's their club, it's not really their club, it's the supporters' club and the supporters will decide in the longterm whether Waterford will exist and continue to exist and continue to get stronger, or get weaker. They will decide in the end."
LISTEN back to Alfie's full conversation with Sport Editor Julie Smyth here:
