Delaney move irks minister
But the move has met with an icy response from Government.
In a brief statement issued following meetings of the Board and Council in Dublin yesterday, the FAI said the Association had agreed to Mr Delaney’s request for time to consult with his employers and family before giving his response.
The statement also said the FAI “will continue to engage with the Government.”
However, a Department of Sport spokesman later offered an uncompromising response, saying: “The statement as issued by the FAI requires clarification and, as it stands, does not meet the wishes of the Government which have already been clearly set out by the minister.
“There is no basis for further engagement with the FAI pending an indication that they intend to comply with the Government’s wishes.”
A Government source suggested that while they have no problems with the appointment of an interim chief executive at the FAI, they are insisting the posts of chief executive and financial director be advertised before January 1. The position was later reiterated by Sports Minister John O’Donoghue himself, who added: “All we are trying to do is to ensure the best for Irish soccer on into the future and I wish that the FAI would accept that in good faith and move ahead.”
Leaving a special Council meeting at City West that was described by various delegates as “productive” and “unanimous”, FAI President Milo Corcoran had earlier denied that the decision to back Mr Delaney had put the FAI on a collision course with the Government.
“Negotiation with the Government is ongoing, there’s no change there at all,” he said. “We will keep the Government informed of what we are doing and discuss the situation with them.”
Corcoran stressed there was “unanimous support from the Board and from the Council” for Mr Delaney, which he described as “a healthy situation.”
But when asked how long an interim period would be, the FAI President replied: “How long is a piece of string - it’s interim. There’s no period of time, we’re not getting involved in the time issues - it would be an interim appointment.”
As to when they expect a definitive response from Mr Delaney, who is the national development manager for a Waterford-based logistics company, Mr Corcoran said: “He’s going to discuss it with his family, he’s going to discuss it with his boss and he’ll come back to us when he’s ready.”
Mr Delaney left the meeting without making any comment. Asked if the FAI planned to advertise the position of chief executive before January 1, Mr Corcoran appeared to deliver a bombshell when he said: “That is not in the plans to do that, no.”
However, a spokesman for the FAI later offered a “clarification” of Mr Corcoran’s comments, saying: “The timeframe of any appointment will be discussed with the Government.”
But when the new quote was put to him on the RTÉ News, the Minister appeared unmoved.
“We’ve already stated what the timescale is in terms of the advertisement. We’re not seeking to interfere with the inner workings of the FAI.... The Genesis Report is now almost two years old and surely it is time that the terms of the report were fulfilled. What we’re asking is not, in my opinion, a very difficult task for the FAI. We’re not telling the FAI who to choose as chief executive or financial controller - all we’re asking them to do is advertise for these positions in an open and transparent way... this is the least we can expect from the FAI following all the troubles which we’ve had, not just in recent years but going back decades.”
Last week, Mr O’Donoghue warned the Association it had to get its house in order if Government funding is not to be jeopardised.
After he had summoned representatives of the organisation in the wake of Mr Rooney’s departure, Mr O’Donoghue said: “The Government’s patience with the FAI has run out at this stage and I made it clear to them that we wanted to see them get their act together and start becoming more professional, effective and efficient at what they are supposed to be doing - promoting the sport of soccer in this country.”
As the FAI put on a rare united front yesterday, it seems the Government are still far from convinced about their team tactics.
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