Bonner exit ‘bolt from the blue’

THE worst-kept secret in Irish sport this week has been officially confirmed with the announcement from the FAI that Packie Bonner is to leave his position as Technical Director when his contract expires on December 31.

Bonner, one of the heroes of Ireland’s Euro ‘88 and Italia 90 campaigns, is the most high profile casualty of a round of cost-cutting and redundancies at Abbotstown. The decision not to renew his contract as head of the FAI’s Technical Department was described by one source as “a bolt from the blue” for the Donegal man who, contrary to some reports which suggested that he might take up a position with UEFA, does not have alternative employment immediately lined up. Nor is there any substance to speculation that Bonner might enter politics and stand for election as a Fianna Fáil candidate. Instead, with eight years behind him of successfully heading up a large department in a major organisation, Bonner hopes to use that experience in “another meaningful professional role in Ireland or Britain.”

And while it seems that Bonner’s preference would be to remain working in football, it’s understood that he is not limiting his future career ambitions to sport.