The rise and fall of Marc Canham during his tenure at the FAI
LEFT HIS MARC: Marc Canham during a media briefing for the FAI's Football Pathways Plan at Aviva Stadium. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Marc Canham made no reference to his impending departure as FAI’s chief football officer during this morning's weekly staff meeting.
It’s understood a remote board meeting held immediately afterwards, called last night, ratified his notice to resign.
News of his reign coming to an end following a handover period was communicated to staff, just minutes before the official news was publicised at 11.07am.
Chief executive David Courell will address the 250-strong staff at a Townhall meeting on Wednesday. He is also due to hold a pre-scheduled update briefing with the media on Thursday.
While many in Irish football predicted his departure, the timing has still come as a surprise.
He moved from his role as the English Premier League’s director of coaching to join the FAI in June 2022, initially as director of football.
He was upgraded to a new title of chief football officer in September 2024, with both the President and Chairman of the association denying this arose from the risk of him leaving for a job in the UK.
His job description covers a wide brief, from domestic and League of Ireland through to international football and the latter area is where he courted most controversy.
Vera Pauw contended his review of her tenure as women’s team manager, leading to her release within two months of a first World Cup, lacked independence.
The decision to eventually appoint Eileen Gleeson as her successor also proved contentious as despite her contract not being renewed in December she remains on the payroll without a role. It provokes memories of the Robbie Keane arrangement at a time the FAI is scrutinising its cost base.
Perhaps most regrettable for Canham over his near three-year era was the saga of filling the men’s team vacancy.
Two FAI deadlines of February and April 2024, the second set by himself, were missed.
The nine-month wait was eventually ended through Heimir Hallgrimsson’s appointment six weeks ahead of his first competitive campaign, the 2024 Nations League series.
As well as the public backlash, Canham has shipped flak on the home front.
Glacial progress in convincing the State to financially assist the growing need for the development of an academy system in the post-Brexit era has attracted the spotlight on his leadership.
It was telling that he wasn’t part of the delegation who recently met with Government ministers responsible for sport.
His initiative to establish a centralised coaching system, whereby the best 250 players aged 14-17 assemble at Abbotstown to be trained during 45 days of school holidays, was rejected by the League of Ireland’s Premier clubs. The initial planned bloc for this Easter period was cancelled.
Further afield, his resurrection of the summer football concept as part of the Football Pathway Plan continues to polarise the country’s constituents.
An attempt by his predecessor Ruud Dokter to synchronise the underage game with the LOI summer season was tested in 2018 but ultimately overturned by most leagues.
The FAI is losing the battle to sell the switch concept to the majority of 70% of leagues operating the traditional season, leading to threats of breakaways.
Canham was forced to recently deny he was working remotely from his homeland of England but specified “relocation” in his parting statement.
“I don't look too far," he pointedly said during his last press briefing on March 24.
“In terms of our plan and our vision, it's 12 years and there are loads of things to do but, in terms of my own self, I don't look too far in the future in terms of that respect.
"I really, really enjoy the role, working and living in Ireland. I enjoy working with the people in Irish football and around the FAI. I genuinely believe in what we're doing and I have a lot of confidence in myself, a lot of confidence in our plan and a lot of confidence in what we're trying to do and believe it will be a success.”
The former Colchester player (42) is sticking around for now to facilitate the handover, with his assistant Shane Robinson, expected to deputise on an interim basis.
A recruitment process, involving a headhunting company, will get underway to source his permanent replacement.
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