Dave Connell felt the FAI chill but zest for game still burns

Long-serving coach Dave Connell is one of 40 employees to depart the FAI under its ‘transformation programme’.

Republic of Ireland head coach Dave Connell after the UEFA Women's Under-19 European Championships Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Germany at Jonava City Stadium in Jonava, Lithuania. Photo by Evaldas Semiotas/Sportsfile

If Dave Connell was in doubt about his decision to quit the FAI after almost 20 years, they were torpedoed by the manner of his exit.

The association’s headquarters, surrounded by green space in Abbotstown, can be a gloomy backdrop most of the time but returning his car, laptop and fuel card on a cold, dark December evening to an empty building compounded the deflation.