WE CAN PAY IT
O’Neill’s latest wage hike no issue for FAI
THE FAI are adamant they will continue to have sufficient financial clout to pay top wages for the Republic of Ireland manager.
Martin O’Neill’s new contract, which runs until the end of their involvement in Euro 2020, is worth €2m-plus a year, with assistant Roy Keane believed to be on a third of that. Despite the hefty annual outlay of €2.7m from their own funds, chief executive John Delaney believes the price is right ‘for the best management team, in our opinion.’
Asked could the FAI continue to pay the going rate, now that they no longer had the support of businessman Denis O’Brien, Delaney was insistent. ‘Absolutely. We are (paying) now, so I don’t see why we wouldn’t be in the future,’ he said.
The likelihood of another benefactor coming to the Association’s financial aid as O‘Brien did for almost 10 years, is not something the FAI are holding out for, according to Delaney.
‘You never say never but we’re not out for looking for someone to follow that unique support that Denis gave us. At the time it was brilliant of him,
but we’ll stand on our own two feet now.’ The FAI expect O’Neill and Keane to see out the term of their contracts. Following Paul Lambert’s departure from Stoke City as manager yesterday, it remains to be seen if the relegated Midlands club target O’Neill as a potential successor. Four months ago, O’Neill met twice with the Stoke hierarchy amid speculation he was set to leave Ireland for a Premier League return. ‘We expect fully that Martin and Roy will see their contract through this time around, like they’ve done before,’ said Delaney.