Jonathan Hill's fractious reign ends with a whimper as FAI confirm departure

Hill will leave the Association on April 30th and an interim CEO will be announced in due course, followed by a structured search for a full-time successor.

FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Jonathan Hill’s tumultuous three-and-a-half-year tenure as chief executive of the FAI is over.

The FAI board this morning confirmed his departure, flagged for April 30, but it’s understood holidays and notice may consume his final fortnight in office.

Hill succeeded John Delaney as permanent chief executive in November 2020 but has been under significant pressure since a calamitous appearance before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in February.

He became embroiled in controversy after a Sports Ireland commissioned audit by KOSI discovered Hill had received €11,500 payment in lieu of untaken holidays, a breach of the company’s handbook.

Unpaid benefit in kind tax of €8,000 on commuting expenses from the workbase he maintained in London was also settled in arrears.

Initially he denied to staff and politicians at the Joint Oireachtas Committee in December that he "pushed for it" but admitted at the second hearing in Leinster House a “throwaway” remark of "Can you negotiate the same for me please?" lay behind redacted emails in correspondence with the then financial director.

Another email included his reply of “perfect” to Alex O’Connell finalising the payment, a departure from the norm that had been granted to one junior, departing employee.

Once President Paul Cooke revealed under questioning at the hearing that his confidence in the CEO was challenged by these events, trouble brewed and Hill’s position appeared untenable.

Inquisitive politicians dismissed Hill’s version of events; Alan Dillon particularly scathing by branding it a “cock and bull” story.

Chairman Tony Keohane, who stated upon his ratification in December that the 61-year-old's pay saga wouldn’t happen under his watch, agreed with Dillon’s assertion that the FAI’s reputation was damaged by their fractious visit to Government buildings.

This came at a time the FAI were awaiting initial feedback from their plea to have over half their €863m, 15-year facilities plan funded by the exchequer.

Cork City owner Dermot Usher recently bemoaned the scrutiny on the FAI’s governance as a distraction for clubs seeking much-needed grants to modernise stadia.

It was generally and eventually accepted in the senior echelons of Abbotstown that a new supremo was essential for trust to be regained from their biggest stakeholder and funder.

Hill has also been ridiculed for the protracted search to source a new men's team boss, having set a desired date of the February 8 Nations League draw in Paris as his start date.

He was joined by director of football Marc Canham on the headhunting team, along with board member Packie Bonner, and they are due to belatedly announce the new permanent manager later this week, 145 days after relieving Stephen Kenny of his duties.

It’s believed the former English FA commercial director had another two years remaining on his contract and the payoff is sure to come under the spotlight from various quarters.

The initial discrepancies uncovered by KOSI centred on Hill’s remuneration breaching conditions laid out in the Memorandum of Understanding.

This was the blueprint agreed in January 2020 in return for the €20m bailout that avoided the FAI entering insolvency – one of the terms being that the CEO’s salary doesn’t exceed that of a government department general secretary.

Hill’s salary spiked to €258,000 by the end of his third year, the incremental increase of 23%, more than double the average granted to staff at the 240-strong association.

He refused to answer a question at the PAC on whether the FAI’s contribution to pension pot was converted to cash. Hill was immersed in controversy even before this latest mess first came to light last November.

His decision to remain based at his London home, rather than relocate to Dublin as had been agreed at his appointment, rankled with staff and the broader constituents of the game. Rarely was he seen at Friday night League of Ireland matches.

Considering he was selected ahead of OCI President Sarah Keane primarily due to his track record of hatching commercial deals with the English FA and Wembley Stadium, the lack of team sponsor until recently also drew flak.

Hill had presented a litany of excuses for his inability to land a successor to Three, the telecommunications firm that hung up on their 10-year partnership amid the corporate governance crisis of 2019.

It is known a number of contenders, including Circle K who opted for a subsidiary package, were close to buying the portfolio but instead it went to an existing sponsor.

Sky had taken on the women’s sponsorship brief in 2021, striking gold for their modest investment with World Cup qualification a year later, and they last month agreed to expand their reach across both senior teams.

That there was no formal event to announce the four-year deal indicated that Hill’s presence was continuing to present an image risk to the FAI.

He had refused to clarify some of the explanations he expressed to PAC, merely winking at the cameras as he ignored reporters walking up Kildare Street.

It wasn’t the only sight that drew comparisons with his predecessor.

Unsurprisingly, none of the items that have tarnished Hill’s tenure were acknowledged in a carefully-worded statement confirming the parting.

Independent chairman Keohane commented: "Jonathan joined the association during a difficult time in the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic and helped the association navigate an extremely challenging period.

“On behalf of the Board of the FAI, I want to thank Jonathan for his hard work and dedication over the past number of years and wish him well for the future.

“Not only did Jonathan guide the association and the game through an incredibly difficult pandemic period, but he led the transformation in the association and leaves us with a robust organisational structure, a vastly improved financial position and a blueprint for the future success of football in Ireland.

"We are grateful to have benefited from Jonathan's experience, leadership, hard work and commitment and we wish him well in his future ventures."

Hill himself provided his summary of feats: "Since 2020, the FAI team and the wider football community have embraced what has been a radical transformation process for the Association and I'm proud of what has been achieved.

“We have developed a new, dynamic senior leadership team, a clear strategic vision, a bold plan to address football's wider infrastructure needs and a stable and growing financial platform for further and sustainable growth.

"A notable step forward was the 2021 Equal Pay agreement which has been a vital catalyst for the rapid rise of the women's senior national team over this period, culminating in a historic first World Cup appearance in Australia in 2023.

“Our successful bids to host EURO 2028 and the UEFA Europa League Final next month are testament to the progress delivered by the FAI staff and their incredible commitment and hard work.

“I firmly believe that the future is bright for Irish football."

Cooke, the highest-ranking official elected through football channels, supplied the briefest of eulogies: "Jonathan has worked incredibly hard in creating the solid foundations for growth and I am sure the Board, executive and staff can now build on those foundations to create real change for the largest participation sport in the country. I wish Jonathan every success in the future."

The FAI Board has since confirmed the appointment of David Courell as Interim Chief Executive Officer, and this phase, emphasise the FAI, will be followed by a structured search for a full-time successor.