Niall Quinn: FAI needs to change focus

Given his rounded experience in the game as player, administrator, legend of Irish football and, in his current role as media personality, someone who can usually be relied upon to offer a thoughtful opinion on the issues of the day, it’s hardly a surprise Niall Quinn is periodically touted as a future chief executive of the FAI.

Asked straight out yesterday if he would ever consider the position, he gave what was, initially, a straightforward reply. “No, because what I can’t do is the politics of being a CEO of a sports organisation,” he said.

However, further discussion revealed Quinn is critical of what he seems to regard as the FAI’s trickle-down theory of how the game should be developed in this country with, he argues, too much reliance being placed on the fortunes of the senior international team and not enough on protecting and developing the young talent. But, if a different vision prevailed, then, said Quinn: “I would be very interested.”