€10m per year would transform academies in Ireland says Marc Canham

“Will we get all of that? Not sure," he cautioned.

GRANT HOPE: FAI Chief Football Officer Marc Canham is hoping to secure more funding. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

While the FAI are hinging their state support hopes on positive conversations with the Government, they must be speaking different languages.

For well over a year, the plea to be patient for academy funding has revolved around the softly, softly approach. History has proven, however, that the best prospect of promises converting into action is during the run-up to an election.