FAI expect to name new Ireland manager 'in the next short while'

PROCESS CONTINUES: Recently elected FAI President Paul Cooke. Pic Credit: Ryan Byrne, Inpho.

The FAI expect to have a new men’s team manager appointed in the not-too-distant future following a board meeting.

Tony Keohane, chairing his first in-person meeting of the 12 directors, was reluctant to divulge details as talk of negotiations with prime target Lee Carsley has emerged.

“We had a good update from the executive and we’re getting into the details,” he said in Abbotstown.

“I’d expect it (the appointment) in the next short while. I don’t want to give an absolute time because these things are a work-in-progress but in the not-too-distant future."

President Paul Cooke added: "There's no timeline at the moment. We will have a manager as soon as we identify the appropriate candidate and they accept that role. Numerous people have been identified."

That leaves it unclear as to whether the association will have Stephen Kenny’s successor in place for their stated target date of the Uefa Nations League draw in Paris on Thursday week.

Neil Lennon is understood to be the back-up option if the FAI don’t succeed in finalising agreement with Carsley, the former Ireland midfielder currently in charge of Euro U21 champions England.

“It’s just speculation at the minute,” ex-Celtic boss Lennon told Sky Sports on Tuesday night.

“It’s a job that interests me, there’s no question about that. There is a process in place. We've just got to wait and see what the outcome of the process is going to be.

“I think I’m at the age now where it might suit me. I enjoyed the club set-up obviously. Ireland is Ireland. It’s a big job for myself from a personal point of view. I think there’s huge potential in the squad.”

Prior to the 4pm summit, new members of the board were onsite to undergo their standard director training. This was a hot topic during the governance crisis of 2019, with Sport Ireland adamant courses were at the disposal of sporting bodies to undertake training under the auspices of Irish Management Institute in areas such as financial and fiduciary matters.

Appointed to the board at their AGM in December were new Chairman Tony Keohane and Nixon Morton, a veteran legislator from the FAI Schools wing.

Dave Moran and Tom Browne both made comebacks to the top table after respective hiatuses of 30 and 12 months.

They had a lot to digest aside from the priority item of sourcing a new manager for the engine that fuels the entire Irish football landscape.

Marc Canham is also involved in another project that some would argue is superior in importance – the Football Pathways Plan – which is to be unfurled publicly on February 22.

That’s the latest blueprint to devise a pyramid system for the game. His predecessors in similar roles, Packie Bonner and Ruud Dokter, also unveiled strategy documents but this is the first version sculpted by the man recruited from the Premier League coaching lead’s post in June 2022.

He’s already highlighted the need to develop links with educational institutions as part of player development – citing the success at senior level of Belgium and Croatia for tangible comparisons – but the financial restrictions that go with an organisation still burdened by €44m of debt means difficult choices are inevitable.

Already, wordage like realignment and repurposing have been floated in anticipation of what’ll be decreed in terms of allocating resources. For instance, the annual budget of around €500,000 towards funding high performance coaches has been questioned when the onus since Brexit is on national league clubs to develop players from early to midteens.

In that context, they will take encouragement from the words of Sports Minister Thomas Byrne. He was crediting the FAI will implementing 159 of their 164 governance reforms (98%), with the four not delivered within the timeframe originally set out.

“The recommendations were put in place to protect Irish football and to protect the interests of the Irish public,” said Deputy Byrne, before indicating extra grants might be forthcoming.

“My Department will be engaging with Sport Ireland to consider the need for further support for the FAI beyond the term of the Memorandum of Understanding.”