10 entrusted to find Trap’s successor
Athlone native McCaul is a former chairman of Athlone Town and former League of Ireland chairman elevated from FAI Vice President to President in succession to David Blood in 2010. His four year tenure will end next summer.
Due to take the senior position at July’s AGM in Athlone, Fitzgerald is steeped in junior football from his long spell with the Munster Football Association. A long-time acquaintance of Chief Executive John Delaney’s father, Joe, Fitzgerald is familiar with the corridors of power within the game and his elevation to the post of presidency is thought long overdue in his native Cork.
Cody edged out former acting-CEO Kevin Fahey in 2004 to replace the departing veteran Des Casey. Another to emerge from the Munster FA pool, the former insurance manager had represented Cobh Ramblers on FAI council since their entrance to the League in 1985. The opinion of this wily operator is one Delaney is known to place plenty of trust in.
A retired Garda inspector who was based in the border area during the Troubles, Murray became one of the coveted officers at the Waterford-hosted AGM of 2005. The FAI’s challenging financial state has meant his tidings to delegates at recent AGMs has been less rosy that his first few years. His background is League of Ireland, having represented Monaghan United on the FAI’s council.
The golden boy of Irish football, just 45, has lasted much longer than his older predecessors Bernard O’Byrne, Brendan Menton and Fran Rooney. Since his appointment in 2005, Delaney has been the public face of the boardroom but, after the debacle that was Staunton’s appointment, he took an arm’s-length approach to Giovanni Trapattoni’s recruitment. How he deals with the new search may define his tenure.
One of the rising stars, Naughton won his seat in 2010 in succession to Paddy McCaul. Naughton, formerly of Galway United, is considered far from conformist and ensures the league’s many issues are kept high on the agenda. His professional background is as industrial relations negotiator with the HSE. Now operates a private consultancy firm.
After impressing Delaney with his prowess as part of a steering committee to implement the Genesis report, this school teacher wasn’t long waiting for promotion. Conway represents the schools at the tip of the pyramid, not to be confused with the much larger schoolboys section, who don’t dine at the top table.
The term survivor is now one of endearment, rather than criticism, for the ex-President. Corcoran has outlasted many of the blazers over the last 20 years and continues to be wield power — doing so, of course, in his own inimitable, polite way. When John Delaney threatened to quit in 2003 after Corcoran spoke of long-fingering the Genesis report findings, few would have forecasted the pair still together a decade on.
If any one of the top brass epitomises the function of a modern-day board member, it is the Inishowen stalwart.
The soft-spoken Ulsterman remains a loyal confidante of Delaney’s and his stature in the northern football sphere is much appreciated in the capital.
Recognised for his adeptness on rules, the talents of the Co Kildare-based building society manager were soon identified by Delaney, and his presence at the top continues the FAI’s long link with the United Churches League (UCL).
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