The Pitch: What politicians don't get about need for investment in football academies 

The de-facto state-ownership of the game must end with David Courell pushing politics back in its rightful place, no longer allowing it to wag the dog.

TIME FOR ACTION: FAI CEO David Courell. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Football Association of Ireland’s appointment of a new chief executive could not have come soon enough.

Last Friday’s confirmation that David Courell will lead the organisation came just 48 hours after a deeply underwhelming budget delivery by the Department of Sport, where elite academy funding for football was ignored.