Read Garrett Kelleher’s letter to FAI board members in full

This is the letter sent by St Patrick’s Athletic chairman Garrett Kelleher to three FAI board members – Paul Cooke, Martin Heraghty and Dick Shakespeare – on Monday asking them to intervene in discussions to restart the FAI as the current administration had ‘failed and failed badly’

Martin, Dick, Paul,

IWRITE to you as chairman of St Patrick’s Athletic FC and in your roles as board members of the FAI.

I am deeply concerned with the performance of current executives namely Gary Owens and Niall Quinn.

When they and Roy Barrett put their hands up 6 or so months ago, most people’s attitude was ‘fair play’, they are inheriting a difficult and complicated association fraught with multiple legacy problems.

In the intervening period, with the advent of Covid-19, matters got even more difficult with the necessary abandonment of football just 4 weeks into the domestic league.

At the outset, a number of committees were set up to monitor and exchange information between the FAI, PFAI, NLEC and the Premier Division Clubs loose association, the PCA.

Over the last 13 weeks, St Patrick’s Athletic have participated in all NLEC (National League Executive Committee) meetings, PCA meetings, Covid-19 meetings along with the various Strategy Group and Strategy Sub-Committee meetings.

ALL these meetings have been minuted by St Patrick’s Athletic representatives be they Anthony Delaney, Tom O’Mahony, Brian Dalton or myself.

The minutes of these meetings clearly demonstrate a series of continual misleading representations by both Gary Owens and Niall Quinn to the clubs where they speak about high probability of delivering UEFA, FIFA, Streaming, Government and or other third party funding.

As we all know as of this afternoon, zero has been delivered.

Last Friday, a PCA call was convened by Gary Owens to address the PCA with the FAI’s financial proposition from a total pot of €1.7m.

The clubs were given a range of what they were likely to receive with the European clubs being differentiated from the remaining 6. The average for non-European clubs was €125k and for European €130k.

We were called subsequently and advised of what we would receive, ie approx. 30% in early July and 70% in November or December.

We were also advised that the FAI were considering abandoning the ‘quadrangular tournament’ arranged between the four European clubs. The FAI’s purpose for this tournament has varied in representations to clubs from preparation for Europe, testing to trial for Autumn Internationals …. to getting ‘the jump’ on the IRFU.

You will all be aware of the timing of the various announcements and press releases by the FAI press office; in times of emergency, it is understandable however late Friday or Saturday evening is not the time when one would expect the press office of the national association for the biggest sport in Ireland to be making announcements.

The media statements by the Deputy CEO in many instances have been illadvised at best, and inappropriate.

Last Friday I raised three questions with Gary Owens : I asked about the press reports of last Wednesday in the following day’s media where it was reported that the board of the FAI rejected a proposition for €2-2.5m from the executives to recommence football. My question’s purpose was self-evident … where were the board on matters?

If the board rejected the request what did that mean in the context of our ongoing meeting and the financial proposition put to the clubs? Gary Owens told us all that one couldn’t believe what one reads in the newspapers and that it was entirely untrue. I suggested that he seek a retraction from those media outlets. The clubs need to know directly from the board what their position is now. I asked Gary to give us an update on conversations with Government. He didn’t. As you will know, any lobbying done would be the subject of FOI if requested so there is no need not to divulge. The purpose of my question was to see if we could perhaps assist as a group of clubs. The 19 LOI clubs have very strong relationships across the political divide at all levels to the highest level in the land, you will all be well aware of that. We could have collectively lobbied in the appropriate way our representatives. It may have had an impact!

I asked what cash the FAI currently has and does it have the €3.4m which is the basis of the financial proposition. He did not share what the cash situation was but confirmed the FAI had access to the funds. As part of this question I asked him when we were going to receive the funds committed. He initially said he did not know to which I responded that I found it very poor that he would get on a call with the clubs and speak about money, looking for a response next Monday and not be able to say when the funds would be paid.

I said that clubs would reasonably expect funds immediately a deal was agreed. Later in the call he offered that the money would be paid when the Solidarity and European prize money comes in to which I responded ‘why not pay the clubs the €1.7m now from your €3.4m as it’s highly unlikely you will have to pay all of that out day one and the FAI bridge the money until Nov/Dec?’

I am of the firm view that, albeit their intentions may be well meaning and they may have spent a considerable amount of time and effort over the last 6 months, Gary and Niall have failed and failed badly.

Football is too important, and the domestic game is at a critical juncture where any more wrong or naive moves made by the executives could do even longer lasting damage. They have lost the confidence of St Patrick’s Athletic, I can’t speak for anyone else.

I would like the three of you to consider, with your collective League of Ireland experience, stepping in to the breach now and working with the 10 or 19 clubs to figure out a way to try and get football up and recommenced. It would be in the best interest of the game if you did so with your experience and the regard you are collectively held I think we may have a fighting chance of finding a workable solution.

This is not about personalities … and cannot be. The CEO or Deputy CEO (if there is one in the future) should never be a household media figure!

Gary Owens asked me at the end of our heated exchange what I would do to which I responded I don’t know as I don’t know what damage has been done.

Over the weekend, I have learned about attempts by others to help financially which have been rejected and have reached out to UEFA and other association reps. Much damage has been done!

Kind Regards

Yours Sincerely

Garrett