The gospel according to John

With problems in the domestic game and the financial challenges of a new Lansdowne Road his critics bid to land blows, but FAI chief executive John Delaney sees a bright and prosperous future for Irish football — at home and abroad. He outlined his vision to football correspondent, Liam Mackey.

AS HE LEAFED through the documents in his office in Abbotstown, John Delaney was once again confronted with troubling news from the League of Ireland.

Dundalk were looking for a salary cap because gate receipts weren’t high enough. Worse, after a director had blotted his copybook, Shelbourne had been turfed out of the league and, sensationally, were now applying to the IFA for permission to defect to the north.