Fresh row brewing over composition of interview panel for top FAI job

SUGGESTIONS of a new crisis brewing in the relationship between the FAI and Government were being played down yesterday following reports of the rejection by the Irish Sports Council of FAI nominees to the interview panel for the association’s position of chief executive.

Over 40 applications are believed to have been received for the vacant position which is currently occupied by interim chief executive John Delaney, himself a candidate for the full-time role.

The composition of the interview panel is considered a sensitive issue given the high-profile nature of the job and is currently being thrashed out between the FAI and the Irish Sports Council.

Yesterday it was reported that the names of three candidates put forward by the FAI for two positions on the panel had been rejected by the ISC, who have now requested new nominees.

It is also understood that in keeping with Minister John O’Donoghue’s demand that the whole process be transparent, the Government is insisting on an independent chairman of the interview board.

But denying that there has been any major hiccup in recently improved relations with the FAI, a Sports Council source said that “things have improved significantly” since the fall-out from the departure of former chief executive Fran Rooney and that there was inevitably going to be some “toing and froing” at this stage of the process of establishing the make-up of the interview panel.

The chief executive position at the FAI is believed to be worth over €250,000 per year.