Buffeted by turbulence, what the FAI need now is quiet calm
Marc Canham and Jonathan Hill before the UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Staff at the FAI could see the humorous side of Jonathan Hill’s tumultuous three-and-a-half-year tenure as chief executive ending with a holiday.
The FAI board yesterday confirmed his departure for April 30 but annual leave entitlements will occupy his final fortnight in office, away from the office.
Hill succeeded John Delaney as permanent chief executive in November 2020, yet has been under mounting pressure since a calamitous appearance before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on February 22.
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 HR handbook he approved.
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, exiting 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 was 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 appointment 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 the fractious meeting with politicians.
This came at the juncture 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 an obstacle for clubs seeking much-needed grants to modernise infrastructure.
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. Canham is now expected to be the one belatedly unveiling the new permanent manager.
It’s believed the former English FA commercial director had another 18 months remaining on his contract and the payoff is sure to come under the spotlight from various quarters. Provision for severance was believed to be a clause within his long contract.
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 cumulative increase of 23% more than double the average granted to staff at the 240-strong association.
Pointedly, 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 OFI 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 unspooled 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.
His final media engagement was at the Paris draw nine weeks ago.
Following the bruising PAC session, he refused to clarify some of the explanations delivered on the day, 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.
There was no formal address to staff by Hill, just an email from Keohane mirroring what the banal press release contained. Cooke’s contribution was restricted to one paragraph, referring to solid foundations.
Right now, the FAI’s tremoring house badly needs the gusts to subside and for the family to finally show unity before they seek external support.
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