As spring turns to summer, it’s timely for John Delaney to offer to take on a spell of gardening leave, as his future in Irish football is now up in the air.

John Delaney Going, going, gone. But, hold on, not entirely gone. Not yet. Not officially and not definitively.

John Delaney has offered to voluntarily step down from his role as Executive Vice-President with immediate effect pending the completion of an independent investigation by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) into issues of concern to the Board.

The embattled Football Association of Ireland will today attempt to start mending fences with the Government by confirming a glut of exits, including John Delaney’s.

The Football Association of Ireland has said it will make whatever changes to its board demanded in order to have its State funding reinstated.

At an early stage in a long day’s journey into evening, FAI president Donal Conway had been listing some of the positive things being done under the association’s leadership, among which he included the promotion of ‘glow football’ which, played under ultra violet light, he told the Oireachtas Committee, allows for the game to be played “in the dark”.

A delegation from the FAI, including former chief executive John Delaney, is appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport today.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has admitted to breaking the rules for getting State funding by not notifying Sport Ireland of the €100,000 loan from its former CEO John Delaney.

The Football Association of Ireland could be about to lose Martin O’Neill from their grasp after the Ireland manager last night held what was understood to be a productive meeting with Stoke City about their managerial vacancy.

Uefa have confirmed a 50% increase in prize money for next year’s European Championships — meaning Ireland’s qualification struggles could see the FAI miss out on at least €12 million.

Schoolboy football will have a voice at the FAI top table for the first time since 2007, after Schoolboys FAI (SFAI) chairman Tim Fitzgerald was voted onto the association’s 10-man board.

President: Paddy McCaul

DESPITE showing a massive loss for 2008, the FAI continues to insist there are better times ahead for Irish football.

THE Republic of Ireland could be forced to finish their World Cup qualifying campaign in Britain in the event of Brian Kerr’s team finishing second in Group 4 and having to take part in a two-leg play-off game.

David Blood has been elected President of the Football Association of Ireland at a special council meeting following the organisation's AGM yesterday.

At today's eircom League AGM, Paddy McCaul was elected chairman of the eircom League.