Pressure mounts on Hill after FAI emergency talks

JONATHAN HILL’S position as FAI CEO is under growing scrutiny after two emergency meetings of the FAI board this week.

The Yorkshire native is due before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday when he can expect a grilling from politicians over the circumstances which led to him accepting a secret payment of €12,500 in lieu of holidays not taken in 2022. The FAI’s failed attempt to postpone their appearance has twitched the antennae of the PAC that the Association may have something to conceal.

The FAI have been asked to provide all emails and correspondence relating to Hill’s payment, as well as detailing how the FAI spent the €33.7million they received in state Covid funding.

When the FAI were last in Leinster House on December 13, Hill stated on the record that he had never pushed nor asked for the money.

Following their botched, and illadvised, effort to adjourn the PAC hearing, the FAI board of directors held an unscheduled meeting on Friday.

It is understood that Hill, who was at his desk in Abbotstown on Friday, was not involved.

They also met on Monday last. The 60-year-old Hill has been CEO since October 2020 after succeeding John Delaney.

Meanwhile, Neil Lennon believes a decision on the new Republic of

Ireland manager is ‘imminent.’ The former Celtic boss has emerged as a leading player for the vacancy after FAI talks with Lee Carsley broke down over terms.

‘It (a decision) is imminent, whether that be today, tomorrow or the next couple of days,’ he said.

‘What the decisions is I don’t know myself but I’m pretty sure that there will be a result soon.’