League gets go-ahead as FAI rancour continues
FIVE months after FAI chiefs signed off on a financial deal to save the association from going under, the National League Executive Committee yesterday approved a proposal to restart the 2020 League of Ireland season.
Sportsmail understands the breakthrough followed a raft of late night calls on Monday from parties, inside and outside the NLEC, to get a deal over the line. Not everyone was pleased with the break of the ball behind closed doors yesterday, chiefly the Premier Division clubs, who met last night. As it stands, from July 31, teams can play on their home turf; there will be champions, European qualification, promotion and relegation. And the Extra.ie FAI Cup is set to tie a bow on the 2020 calendar, with a final in Tallaght Stadium probably the last Friday of November. Interim deputy CEO Niall Quinn was rolled out yesterday on FAI TV to endorse the deal, which indicates his status as the ‘face’ of the League of Ireland in the FAI hierarchy. Applications for the post of new League of Ireland director closed on Friday and it will be intriguing to see if Quinn has gone for the job, and the reaction among clubs should he get it. Not all Premier Division clubs are on the side of the former Irish international, who knows he has hearts and minds to win. This column has shone a light on the industry and commitment of chairman Roy Barrett, interim CEO Gary Owens and Quinn towards making Irish football better. They have a view of a way forward which may not be shared by the affiliates but it’s a view they believe is right. They can argue, with some justification, that the FAI has been infighting for 100 years and needs thorough reform and strong leadership. Meanwhile, in a wee corner of the dressing room, two time bombs tick away — the six versus six split between independents and football appointments on the FAI board, and the cull of all FAI Council members with 10 years service. These riders in the Memorandum of Understanding signed on January 30 hold the key to releasing funds from Sport Ireland, yet they haven’t a prayer of ratification at an EGM. This is something the FAI hierarchy cannot ignore for much longer. A call by FAI chiefs to newly-appointed Sports Minister Catherine Martin, and her No2 to be decided today, for a congratulatory chat might not go amiss. Because if those clauses aren’t defused, there will be trouble ahead between the suits and the blazers. And the resuming of the league on July 31 will become a sideshow.