FAI has until the end of August to set AGM date

UNDER FAI rules, the Association has until the end of August to reschedule the AGM, not September as outlined by CEO Gary Owens in letters sent to FAI Council members and to AGM delegates.

Under FAI Rule 27.1 it states ‘the AGM shall be held not later than July 31st each year’ although ‘in exceptional circumstances the Council may defer the AGM for one month.’

This year’s gathering was due to take place on July 25 in Galway but has been put back because of restrictions and to allow time for the annual accounts to be completed.

In his letter to the FAI Council, Owens is seeking approval of the appointment of Grant Thornton as the Association’s new external auditors.

He says it is ‘proposed to hold the AGM in September’ once the accounts have been finalised and signed off by the FAI board.

A year ago, the FAI held their AGM in July but adjourned the presentation of the accounts.

Meanwhile, a senior civil servant, Robert Watt, is expected to be named as the fourth independent director on the FAI board. Watt is secretary general at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Already, Roy Barrett, Liz Joyce and Catherine Guy fill three positions as independent directors on the 12-strong board.

That number is due to swell to six under the shall print of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 30 as part of the FAI bail-out agreed with the government, Bank of Ireland and UEFA.

While the rank and file of the FAI seek an urgent review of this key clause, Owens is pressing ahead with ‘implementing the recommendations’ of the MoU.

He reminds Council that the terms of the financial package agreed in January requires the Association to commit to a number of governance reforms.

He points out that the new strategy of the FAI is to rebuild a reputation that has been ‘seriously damaged.’

Owens says an EGM ‘is the next step’ for the FAI.