Job losses at the FAI will be minimal, says SIPTU
SIPTU members on the FAI staff have been assured that job losses will be less than feared as part of the rescue plan to ensure the survival of the association which has debt of almost €70million. SIPTU rep Denis Hynes revealed last night that ‘redundancies will be minimal’ against a back-drop of ‘a bumpy road’ ahead for his members in FAI employment, most of whom are on the coaching coal-face. It is understood that those in the firing line will be middlemanagement employees, and higher. All 210 FAI staff will get paid next week. After meetings chaired by Minister for Sport Shane Ross at Leinster House yesterday, the path is clear for approval of the FAI’s rescue plan from the key stakeholders, the government, UEFA and the banks. ‘Our delegation was hosted by the minister after his meeting with Bank of Ireland, which he was positive about,’ said Hynes. ‘Assurances were given on the payment of monthly salaries due to staff next week. ‘There is a sense of realism about the bumpy road ahead arising from the mistakes of others in the past. ‘We are more hopeful than before that the ongoing situation will have minimal impact on jobs. ‘Of course, there are no guarantees but there is an air of optimism. I will be at the FAI headquarters on Thursday to meet with the workers and key management staff.’ Ross remains adamant he won’t write a cheque for the €18m which the FAI needs to continue trading for the next three years before standing on its own two feet. ‘We’re nowhere near the end game,’ he cautioned, but added ‘we’re moving forward in an atmosphere that is unprecedented since the independent directors were appointed, The next step is for
Roy Barrett (FAI chair) to prepare the outline of a solution, which we hope to have next week and which will be put to all parties.’ The FAI will hold an EGM at the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown on January 25, the day Donal Conway stands down as president. Gerry McAnaney has put himself forward to fill the interim vacancy which continues until the AGM in Galway in the summer. Any other candidates will be known today amid speculation last night that board member Martin Heraghty may be a late runner in the race. Meanwhile, Limerick FC return to the High Court today to resume their case against the FAI over their exclusion from the League of Ireland.