Bonner’s a safe pair of hands for Irish football
IT remains to be seen whether Jonathan Hill can dampen the flames of controversy surrounding his bumper CEO salary, payments in lieu of holidays and commuting expenses.
Hill knows he has explaining to do on December 13 when the FAI face the Public Accounts Committee in Leinster House.
The revelations over Hill’s pay have prompted the state to hold fire on watering the FAI’s grassroots with €6.8million in grant aid due for 2023.
That’s not good for the optics, for Irish football, or for Hill’s reputation.
The CEO returned to his London home on Thursday after a week which saw the departures of Stephen Kenny and his backroom staff from the Republic of Ireland senior men’s team.
The breather may give Hill time to reflect on his future as the head of FAI’s executive. If he feels he’s becoming more of a hindrance than a help, he might consider his options.
Should the FAI find themselves looking for a new CEO, in addition to new managers of the men’s and women’s senior international team, there is a stand-out candidate within their ranks already: Packie Bonner.
The Irish goalkeeping legend has been on the FAI board as an independent director since May 2021.
He is the chair of the International and High Performance Committee, and his opinion will carry influence on who succeeds Kenny – either Lee Carsley or Chris Hughton looks set to be appointed.
Bonner, 63, is the CEO the FAI is crying out for.
He has an unimpeachable reputation of integrity and decency after 45 years on the front-line of football.
Aside from his 642 games for Celtic, he served the Irish team from 1981 to 1996 and was later their goalkeeping coach, a term which included the 2002 World Cup finals.
He was the FAI’s technical director from 2003 to 2010 and is currently a senior technical advisor to UEFA.
Bonner would bring an immense presence to the position.
Whether it’s in Leinster House, at a sponsor’s function, or a dressing room, Bonner is known by all, and would command respect.
As a player in the great team built by Jack Charlton, Bonner was always seen as a safe pair of hands. He may just be what the embattled FAI needs right now.