Show is over as gravy train runs out of track
APENNY for the thoughts of the grassroots of Irish football today, those volunteers who put in countless hours for clubs, some of whom have even named grounds in honour of John Delaney.
Is Delaney still regarded as that grand fella who sorted them out for complimentary tickets for the next Ireland game and a few free pints?
Through his long rule as FAI chief executive, Delaney made much of how many weekends he spent up and down the land, visiting clubs, pressing flesh, cutting ribbons.
The grassroots were his constituents and he was their ‘go-to’ guy. He looked after them and they looked up to him for he was ‘John The Baptist’. The anointed one.
In times of turmoil, he’d breeze into Clones, Castleisland or Clonakilty and insist all was well, no matter what flames were licking around the FAI’s finances.
Whenever stories surfaced about the FAI’s colossal debts on Aviva Stadium, or staff wage cuts or international players changing gear in toilets, Delaney would shake his head and simply say: ‘Trust me.’
And the believers did, because that was what they wanted to hear. And now? The shine has left ‘Teflon John’, not helped by the juicy details of his FAI credit card spend from the first half of 2016 which emerged yesterday.
Not before time, Delaney’s extravagance has entered the public view and the unchecked scale of his spending is simply staggering.
If you were to take €40,000 as the average spend over a six-month spell, Delaney would have conservatively totted up in excess of €1million on his FAI credit card alone in 14 years as chief executive.
The actual tally will become known because Delaney no longer has the defence of entitlement.
And when the minutiae of his entire spend becomes public, perhaps there will be a shift in the mind-set of the ‘ornery folk among Delaney’s beloved grassroots.
There are none so blind as those that cannot see, but the level of Delaney’s unrestrained profligacy is there for all to witness.
From the pre-Christmas jollies in Ritz-Carlton hotels in Dubai and Manhattan — not much UEFA or FIFA business on there at that time of the year — to the regular cash withdrawals, totting up to €6,100 in six months.
Why would anyone on a salary of €365,000 in 2016, who enjoyed a perk of €3,000 per month for rent, need an extra €6k cash in hand?
It is staggering that this type of spending was allowed to take place without censure from his bosses on the FAI board.
Asked if Delaney had ever reimbursed the FAI for his credit card charges, or offered receipts, the FAI hierarchy refused to comment.
Their silence was as damning as Delaney’s in the Dáil last Wednesday.
Whether it was purchasing tickets for Celtic and Manchester United games, 13 bills at his local pub in Wicklow, fine dining in Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse and Grill, or stopping off at Michael Healy-Rae’s garage in Kilgarvan for a €66 top-up, the FAI picked up the tab. And no one cried foul. Not even when employees of the FAI were being hit by wage cuts of 10 to 15 per cent in 2012, and job losses in 2010.
None of these measures curbed the spending and privileges of ‘Teflon John,’ who implemented the cuts.
The lunacy of the credit card revives echoes of Bernard O’Byrne’s departure as chief executive in March, 2001.
O’Byrne stepped down amid claims he used the FAI credit card for personal use.
While the sums involved were coppers compared to Delaney’s excessive expenditure (and the money was paid back too), there was no backing for O’Byrne from Delaney, then a director of Waterford.
All along these past 14 years, FAI insiders knew what was going on, yet the Delaney expenses were signed off without any fuss, such was his untouchable status as chief executive.
But the gravy train has now run out of track.
Delaney’s departure from the FAI is to be announced today (it was confirmed last night), along with the board members who propped him up for almost 15 years — honorary secretary Michael Cody and honorary treasurer Eddie Murray, who turn 80 this year.
At any time, either FAI veteran could have curbed Delaney’s spending.
They did nothing and slip away with no explanation or sense of accountability.
Others should follow. FAI president Donal Conway has been on the board for 11 years, Paraic Treanor even longer.
Both have been card-carrying members of the Delaney fan club.
So too were many in the grassroots, for whom the arrival of Delaney of a Sunday morning was akin to a local dignitary, a TD or a Bishop.
Say it ain’t so, John, some may plead. Sorry lads, there’s nothing to see here.
Move along, the show’s over.