Shane Ross ‘happy’ to meet Noel Mooney

Shane Ross has said that he would be “very happy” to talk to Noel Mooney whose appointment as interim FAI general manager has been strongly opposed by the Sports Minister. That was about the only upbeat note struck yesterday in the increasingly frosty relationship between Government and the FAI, with the association later making it clear that it is standing by its on-loan Uefa man, meaning Mooney is set to begin his six-month spell as, effectively, the acting chief executive in Abbotstown, on Monday, as scheduled.

“I’d be very happy to talk to him if he wants to talk to me,” the minister said yesterday. “He hasn’t looked to talk to me. I’ve talked to the FAI about his appointment and I’ve talked to Uefa about his appointment. I’d be happy to talk to him but I have no plans. I haven’t asked to meet him and he hasn’t asked to meet me.”