Delaney denies Keane’s claims of anti-Cork bias

FAI CHIEF John Delaney has flatly contradicted Roy Keane’s accusation that there is an anti-Cork bias underlying Liam Miller’s omission from the Irish squad.

“Any one individual can make whatever comments they like,” said the FAI chief executive last night.

“But certainly there was talk about potentially an anti-Cork position from within the association. The facts just don’t stand up in that regard. Over 60% of our board are from outside of Dublin. Then look at the managers: Sean McCaffrey is from Monaghan. Don Givens’ family come from Limerick. Stephen (Staunton) is from Louth.

“In terms of developing soccer in Cork, we’re just about to finish the stand in Turner’s Cross, we have a FÁS course down there and we’re about to appoint two new Development Officers down there. The Emerging Talent programme is run in Mayfield and we’ve backed the infrastructure there.

“There may have been a position a large number of years ago when there was a different focus in the association but the FAI that exists today is very much based on the total development of football in every part of this country.”

Delaney also dismissed Keane’s claim that the FAI breeds a culture of mediocrity in Irish football.

Referring to yesterday’s decision on Lansdowne Road, with plans for a National Academy, bigger attendances in the eircom League and recent increases in sponsorship and Sports Council funding, Delaney hailed the FAI as well-run organisation.

“Anyone is entitled to their opinion. I deal with facts and I don’t think the facts reflect some of the comments that were made.”