FAI wants State to subsidise annual €10m academy plan

The worry is how much more ground is lost while the FAI struggle to convince the political classes of their qualification to put taxpayers’ cash to proper use.

WORKING ON IT: LOI Development Manager Will Clarke, left, and FAI Assistant Director of Football Shane Robinson. Pic: Tyler Miller, Sportsfile

The FAI want the Irish football constituency to lobby their politicians during the election cycle to subsidise their €10m per-year academy plan.

Damien Duff has been the prime proponent of the vision, citing the development of teen talent as the priority over the farce that is the elusive search for a senior team manager.