Grassroots overhaul may take 15 years

Irish football may have to wait up to 15 years for an overhaul of the grassroots system, according to FAI High Performance Director Ruud Dokter.

The Dutchman made the stinging declaration yesterday as he provided an appraisal of his findings since taking on the daunting challenge of modernising the game on August 1.

Anyone expecting Dokter to deliver tangible yields in the lifetime of his current contract — such as a flow of technically better players for the senior ranks — are sadly mistaken.