FAI puts brave face on glum figures

DESPITE showing a massive loss for 2008, the FAI continues to insist there are better times ahead for Irish football.

Delegates at Saturday’s AGM in Monaghan heard that the Association retained a deficit of just over €16 million for 2008 – down from a surplus of €4m the previous year – some €5m of which was written off as “exceptional costs” arising from its funding and commitments to the Aviva Stadium development project.

However, citing confidentiality agreements, the FAI would not give any further details of those exceptional costs, nor would chief executive John Delaney be drawn on the precise number of 10-year tickets sold to date under the Association’s controversial Vantage Club scheme.