FAI chief shows his sunny side
MAYBE it was the weather, or perhaps the warm after-glow of his recent elevation to UEFA’s inner circle, but John Delaney was in a sunny mood yesterday as he held court in Kilkenny Castle.
The FAI chief executive rarely grants audiences to daily newspapers these days, as his aversion to discussing subjects not of his liking is well known, but he chewed the fat with old foes and cracked one-liners about hacks getting the AGM accounts next month before him.
Briefly, I spied glimpses of the youthful Delaney, who used to sit for hours with journalists over pots of tea and map out his ambitions and dreams for Irish club football, and the FAI, some 20 years ago.
Back then, he ran a logistics company and was a voluntary club officer for Waterford United; today he’s the long-serving FAI CEO on a generous salary of €360,000 a year, plus expenses. In addition, he enjoys a further six-figure top-up from his UEFA gig.
As Delaney’s profile and monetary well-being has risen, there has been the on-going paradox of the FAI’s financial position.
The FAI accounts for 2015 showed that €22m has been paid in interest and charges on loans taken out to pay for their share of Aviva Stadium — imagine how much watering that sum would have done the grassroots.
‘2016 was the last year of the interest charges outside of mainstream banking. 2017 is the first year that we’ll have a clean year of a low interest rate. So that’s a positive for the association,’ said Delaney.
While the Aviva has provided a grand stage for Irish football since it opened in 2010, it remains a considerable millstone around the Association’s neck as the FAI accounts for 2016, will show the FAI owes €34m in stadium borrowings – the same amount as in 2015.
The FAI was unable to clarify last night if that €34m figure included the €11m UEFA windfall from the finals of Euro 2016.
Even so, Delaney pointed out the stadium debt had been reduced from €70m and added: ‘If the association wants to reduce the debt to zero by 2020, it is well within our compass to do.
‘The decision the association will make is: will we bring the debt down to zero or will we use the funds to further develop the game?
‘That’s a decision we will make, particularly after we know whether we qualify for the World Cup, and where we are in certain other sponsorships and naming rights.
With the stadium naming rights up for renewal in 2020, plus UEFA’s centralised TV revenues, there is cash flowing in to the FAI’s coffers, but the amount which finds its way to the League of Ireland pool is a comparative trickle.
As recently as 2008, the champions received €250,000 from a €2m pool but last year Dundalk got €110,000 out of a €475,000 kitty.
Some clubs feel dismayed at the FAI’s attitude to the league but Delaney believes the majority are eager to work with the FAI to find a way forward.
‘Some of the clubs are thinking more about what they can do themselves. In the past, it used to be what is the FAI doing? It has to be “what’s everybody doing?”’
Delaney has sought strategies from all 20 clubs, 16 of whom have replied, and is planning to approach the government for more support.
Delaney defended the FAI’s decision to approve the friendly between Manchester United and Sampdoria in the Aviva on August 2, even though Dundalk could be playing in the Champions League that night.
‘I hope it becomes a positive problem and Dundalk need the Aviva. If so, then we’ll work with UEFA,’ he said, adding he ‘wouldn’t rule out’ playing games at the Aviva on successive nights.
‘It’s positive to have Manchester United coming to Dublin so kids can come and see them. I don’t know why anybody would see that as a negative,’ he added.
Delaney believes another plus is the redevelopment of Dalymount Park which is likely to be completed in 2021. There was a hint of caution when Delaney was asked about New Balance replacing Umbro as the kit provider for Irish teams from this September — the change was imposed by Dublin sportswear firm Toplion, which has the FAI contract until 2020.
‘Toplion came with a proposal about New Balance. We’ve supported it and that’s their decision.’
It is well within our compass to reduce the debt to zero by 2020