Why FAI’s shuffling of pack has caused stir in Abbotstown
THE one-year anniversary of the publication of the FAI’s Governance Review Group report passed over the weekend.
It already has a historical feel to it. That was the product of a partnership between Sport Ireland and the remnants of the old John Delaney board.
The headlines were primarily about reforms to council and the board structure which have since been altered by the memorandum of understanding with the Government around January’s rescue deal.
If that has caused controversy in blazerdom, then the latest changes to the FAI structure have generated a stir in the corridors of Abbotstown.
While this week should bring some clarity around the League of Ireland picture, the staffing situation was also discussed at board level last night.
What is happening here?
With a view to improving governance and managing costs, the FAI have undergone a restructuring of the workforce. Candidates are applying for a variety of new positions and there will be departures on a voluntary basis in the cases where individuals cannot be redeployed. But there was a commitment to protect lower-paid employees so most of the scrutiny is falling on the executive level where the top table is being trimmed.
Who is overseeing these changes?
It is known that Roy Barrett, the chair of the FAI’s independent board, is keen on a reform of the FAI at all levels, from the council to the workforce itself, but it was Gary Owens, the interim CEO, who addressed staff last week. A human resources consultant, Yvonne Clancy, was brought in to assist Owens with the review.
Who is most affected?
The heads of communications and facilities will no longer be classified as a member of the executive. Meanwhile, FAI staff have been asked if they are interested in the following four roles: League of Ireland director, chief operations officer, head of grassroots, and commercial & marketing director. Fran Gavin (whose role had broadened to competitions director), Rea Walshe, Tom O’Shea and Mark Russell had filled a version of the respective positions but will have to go through a process to retain them if they choose to go forward.
Is Stephen Kenny on the executive now?
Yes. He will fill a new position of international football director which creates a slightly unusual dynamic. As the U-21 manager, Kenny’s brief also included overseeing the other underage teams but this is new territory for an Irish senior manager; they have tended to operate away from the rest of the workforce.
Kenny was always likely to be a different type of appointment, especially as he is based at home and very interested in the development of the game here, but the FAI will still have to explain how this works. If results aren’t going well for his team, it would overlap with the other business of the Association.
Where does Niall Quinn stand?
He is nearing the official end of his stay as interim deputy CEO. There is no place for the deputy CEO on the executive. FAI employees were sent correspondence on the new roles and it’s believed there was an early suggestion that the League of Ireland director could fill in as a deputy CEO if the CEO was unavailable. But this was not on the final version sent out to employees yesterday evening.
It has all raised eyebrows given that Quinn has been tipped for the League of Ireland position; all the chat in football circles is that the position appears to fall in line with areas that he has expressed interest in.
There is no momentum behind other internal candidates, while the FAI declined to comment when asked if external people could be considered.
One name that has been mentioned in recent dispatches is ex-League of Ireland player Ciarán Foley, another member of Quinn’s Visionary Group, along with Owens and Roy Barrett.
What is the League of Ireland brief?
The director will be expected to manage all stakeholders and “work interdependently with the Grassroots, High Performance and Commercial leads”. They will also be involved in the new League of Ireland Working Group which Quinn has participated in. Certainly, he would be well placed for the job description. In the circular to staff, the rank and file were told that the senior leadership roles were “open for internal selection” using an “independent competency-based process for which employees who feel that they meet the experience and competency requirements of a role may express an interest in”.
What are the issues here?
Board members have expressed some concern about the speed of the process and the specifics of Kenny’s function have also been mentioned – although Owens has presented details.
The position of Owens is a discussion point considering he is apparently mulling over whether to apply for the full-time post of CEO.
That is viewed as a key appointment for the post-Delaney FAI, and a number of senior figures with a long-term association with Irish football have suggested to the Irish Independent that the new CEO should really have some say in such an important longterm strategy move considering it may impact upon their success or failure.
While the new FAI decision-makers are understood to be confident they are doing the right thing, they can expect more questions to be asked of them in the coming weeks.