Former Minister for Sport Michael Ring joins FAI committee amid concerns for academy funding

FAI COMMITTEE: Former Minister for Sport Michael Ring has joined the FAI’s National League Committee as the crusade for academy funding had entered abeyance. Pic: Conor McKeown

Former Minister for Sport Michael Ring has joined the FAI’s National League Committee as the crusade for academy funding had entered abeyance.

The veteran politician recently retired as a TD after 30 years, during which he served as Minister of State for Tourism and Sport from 2011-2016.

The National League Committee is chaired by another former ex-minister, Dermot Ahern, since 2021 and oversees the running of the League of Ireland, both male and female.

It consists of club representatives, FAI board directors and independent members proposed by the board, including newcomer Ring.

All concerned with hope his arrival breaks the deadlock on Government funding of the academy system.

Last year, Ring was instrumental in setting up a meeting hosted by his Fine Gael colleague Paschal Donohoe, where an FAI delegation outlined the case for state aid to the Minister for Public Expenditure.

That plea for €8m in annual grants was lodged late last year but since the election and change of Government, new Minister Patrick O’Donovan has ruled out any monies being forthcoming as a matter of “urgency”.

The stance has triggered alarm among the national clubs desperate to subsidise the coaches and facilities necessary to instigate a development system acutely lacking in the post Brexit era.