€10m shot in the arm for FAI and future of Irish soccer
FAI interim chief executive John Delaney yesterday hailed the deal as "a terrific and immediate boost for football, as well as helping us to develop the long-term future of the game in Ireland".
The contract involves a guaranteed cash income of €7m, as well as €3m in kit for all the international teams.
The cash total could also rise by a further €3m depending on the senior side's qualification for, and subsequent progress in, the finals of the World Cup and European Championships.
Other key aspects of the deal include the immediate allocation of €500,000 for the Technical Development Plan, the FAI's ambitious programme to improve coaching and playing standards nationwide. The sum of €450,000 is also being invested in Ireland's biggest underage tournament, the Kennedy Cup, which is held annually for U13s in Limerick.
The Umbro deal also enables funding of the underage internationals programme to increase by €200,000.
With almost 100 internationals taking place every year at this level, the extra funding means the FAI will be able to provide a total of €1.7m for underage internationals in 2005/6.
At a press conference in Dublin following the signing of the contract yesterday, John Delaney said: "Securing a €10m deal brings immediate and lasting benefits to the development of the next generation of people who want to play football in Ireland.
"In order to increase participation, we need continuity of funding from all our key income sources - this Umbro deal provides a very stable platform over a long period which will help us provide the football community with the support they need."
Umbro managing director John Courtenay described the agreement as one which should have a positive impact across all levels and throughout the country.
He added: "Agreeing a deal up to 2010 demonstrates Umbro's real commitment to football in Ireland."
The deal marks something of a fresh start in the long relationship between Umbro and the FAI after a period of turbulence and uncertainty during and after Fran Rooney's time as CEO at Merrion Square.
Last year, the parties were on a collision course after Rooney pressed ahead with plans for an 'own brand' range of FAI leisurewear.
Umbro made it clear they viewed the sale of such goods as being in breach of the terms of their deal.
At the time, the items were said to have been worth in the region of €150,000 but the Umbro boss yesterday put a value of between €50,000 and €60,000 on the product - mainly t-shirts - which has effectively been in cold storage for months.
Describing the issue as "a blip" in the context of the new deal, he added: "We'll deal with the issue of the existing kit. We'll take it off the FAI's hands and look after it."
Delaney said the matter was now resolved "at no commercial loss to the FAI".
Reflecting on the company's relationship with the FAI, with whom Umbro have been doing business for 11 years, Courtenay said he was "very happy with nine-and-a-half or 10 of those years".
However, he claimed when the company started negotiations on a new deal six months ago they failed to make progress.
"Communications with the FAI were difficult," he said, "but recently things have been dealt with quickly and efficiently."
The new sponsorship deal will be seen as another feather in the cap of interim chief executive Delaney, following the recent partial restoration of Sports Council funding, which was withheld pending the advertising of the posts of chief executive and financial director at the turn of the year.
Delaney yesterday declined to comment in detail on his application for the chief executive post on a permanent basis, but denied the timing of such 'good news' events for an often under-fire organisation is part of a 'rolling interview' for the job.
Admitting that the FAI had looked at other kit sponsorship alternatives, he said both parties had been anxious to reach a resolution for some time. As for improved relations with the Sports Council, he pointed out the restoration of funding was "their decision", albeit in response to the FAI putting "our best foot forward".
Noting that the interview process would take its own course and insisting it was important he distance himself from it, he emphasised: "You can't wait for a new appointment. You can't wait for decisions to be made outside your control. You've got to get on with the day-to-day business. It's important we bring a sense of development and security to the game."
Delaney also revealed a new deal with Fiat has been agreed and said that he expects an agreement with eircom in the coming weeks.
THE FAI's new €10 million sponsorship deal with Umbro is being described as the second largest in the Association's history, ranking just behind eircom's sponsorship of Irish soccer in terms of value and duration.
Sports sponsorship can take a variety of forms, encompassing rights fees, advertising, provision of equipment and other factors, making like with like comparison difficult, but there's no doubt that the FAI's deal with Umbro - set to run until 2010 - is among the more lucrative in Irish sport.
Gaelic games have also benefited hugely from major sponsorship, with both Guinness' promotion of the hurling championships and Bank of Ireland's sponsorship of the football championship reckoned to be worth €25m apiece over 10 years.
At county level, one of the bigger deals would be 02's €300,000 per annum investment in Cork GAA.
In rugby, the Irish Permanent have backed the international side to the tune of €5m over three years, while Toyota's sponsorship of Munster is worth €1.9m over the same period of time.
Undoubtedly, the single biggest sporting event in Ireland in terms of sponsorship - and everything else - was the Special Olympics in 2003.
As the huge event's premier sponsors, Bank of Ireland's input was valued at between €3 and €4m.
However, with many other sponsors on board, the total committed was estimated to be in the region of €15 to €20m.
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