FAI 'on schedule' for April announcement of new manager

Jonathan Hill's position as FAI CEO was discussed at a board meeting on Wednesday.

FAI Chief Executive Jonathan Hill. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

FAI President Paul Cooke has refused to comment on the future of Jonathan Hill after the chief executive’s position was discussed as part of a scheduled board meeting today.

Hill’s future is under the spotlight after his calamitous appearance before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on February 22 when his version of events around the receipt of €12,000 of in lieu of untaken holidays was widely ridiculed by members.

Furthermore, Cooke’s refusal to express confidence in the former England FA commercial director indicated a fractured leadership at a time they are in desperate need of state support to fund their ambitious 15-year €863m facilities and investment strategy.

"It was a scheduled board meeting where we discussed various matters,” Cooke told RTÉ after the four-hour meeting at Abbotstown.

"The meeting went very well. It was supposed to be last night but obviously we couldn’t meet last night with an important game at the Aviva. Normal business went on."

Ireland's Adam Idah attempts a bicycle kick during a defeat to Switzerland. Picture: ©INPHO/Tommy Grealy

That normal business included an update to the 14 directors on the search for a men’s team manager. John O’Shea took caretaker charge for the double-header friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland but the plan is to have a full-time, different boss, unveiled once the women’s Euro qualifiers against France and England are completed on April 9.

Cooke added: "We’re on schedule for an April announcement. The (precise) timing is not certain at this moment in time.

"We’ve narrowed the process well down. It will be revealed in April.

"We would be comfortable that the candidate will fit into our plan and processes going forward.

"The intention is that the manager will start as soon as possible."