Marc Canham calm amid the backlash, still hoping government delivers for football

Unless government funding materialises to subsidise facilities and staff for a football academy system, FAI director of football Marc Canham is in the firing line.

FAI director of football Marc Canham before the UEFA Nations League B/C Play-off 2nd Leg match between Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Marc Canham attempted to explain the FAI’s controversies as reactions to normal events but the chief football officer is operating in abnormal times.

League clubs rebelling against a national programme by refusing to release their players for centralised coaching certainly isn’t a routine occurrence.