FAI staff instructed to reapply for jobs as cuts bite

A view of the inside of the Aviva Stadium. Pic: Dan Clohessy/Inpho

The FAI have instructed 100 staff to reapply for jobs as they look to shed 60 positions from their workforce of 255.

While the association indicated a reduction in headcount of 45 to the Government in recent correspondence, a Townhall meeting held on Thursday delivered worse news.

An email issued to a selection of staff afterwards warned employees they were in danger of being made redundant.

“I appreciate this news may be stressful and unsettling to you,” wrote HR Director Aoife Rafferty.

Siptu, which mainly represents development officers, said they opposed compulsory redundancies.

Services Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: “What has been attempted at the FAI today are the actions of a rogue management team attacking workers, as well as the core purpose of the organisation.

“The proposed job losses are massively skewed towards football operations at the FAI. With a ratio of seven to one between staff in roles supporting grassroots football schemes across the country being cut as compared to all other functions. 

In the commercial and business sections of the organisation staff, even though there are much less roles being cut, have been told that they will need to reapply for different roles within the FAI.

“None of these measures have been discussed with staff and none of the new roles’ terms and conditions of employment have been supplied. Of course, management in the organisation is not intending on downsizing, despite its central role in creating the crises in both finances and public trust at the FAI.” 

Recently published accounts confirmed the FAI is still carrying €42m of debt. Expanding their men’s tournament drought to a decade, as is likely after the World Cup qualifying fixtures against Portugal and Hungary on November 13 and 16, has choked their cashflow.

However excessive spend on consultants, especially public relations, marketing and legal, has brought financial decision making under scrutiny.

The FAI’s underage team managers - including Colin O’Brien on his way to the U17 World Cup in Qatar and Women’s U19 boss Dave Connell - are amongst those potentially being cast aside.

After the Cork and Dundalk educational training board courses were recently abruptly binned, the rest of the regional programme will be phased out over the academic year.

Previously known as the FÁS football course, Roy Keane and Ireland’s match winner in Belgium on Tuesday, Abbie Larkin, lead the graduate alumni.

The transition year course - one of the only full-time football curriculums for fourth-year pupils - also perishes.

These cuts come just seven months after the FAI unveiled a five-year educational and development strategy.

Today’s briefing at the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown proved a baptism of fire for John Martin, the new director of football, who fielded a litany of questions from perplexed staff.

The option for employees to participate remotely failed miserably due to technical problems.