Delaney’s new role with FAI under fire
»»TD’S outrage at new position »»Ex-chief’s pay drops by €240k
FIANNA Fail yesterday questioned how John Delaney got another top job in the FAI.
The under-fire 51-year-old took a €240,000 pay cut in his move to a newlycreated position.
But TD Robert Troy asked: “If his actions were not becoming of a CEO why should he take up an executive vice president role within the FAI?”
JOHN Delaney came under more pressure yesterday after it was revealed his job move at the FAI will see his salary slashed by €240,000.
The 51-year-old is set to earn €120,000 in his newly created role as executive vice president.
And the association said its underfire former boss will lead a delegation to a meeting with the Oireachtas Committee on Sport as planned.
But Fianna Fail’s Robert Troy yesterday asked if Mr Delaney’s actions “were not becoming of a CEO, why should he take up an executive vice president role within the FAI?”
In a statement, the association said: “As regards John Delaney’s salary in his new role as executive vice president, the FAI can confirm the salary is
substantially less than he previously received as CEO.”
An FAI spokesman told RTE News that Mr Delaney will head the delegation to the Oireachtas on April 3, saying: “Nothing has changed there.”
Meanwhile, reports yesterday alleged the association has been paying €3,000 monthly rent for a five-bedroom mansion used by Mr Delaney since 2016.
An FAI spokesman said they could not comment about the property in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow – where Mr Delaney lives with his long-term partner Emma English – because of “contractual issues” involving staff.
The claims about the house, rented from former RTE star Grainne Seoige, comes after Mr Delaney was engulfed in controversy last week over a €100,000 loan he gave to the FAI in 2017. Deputy Troy added: “There are major questions to answer over the bridging loan provided by the chief executive of the FAI to the organisation.
“[On Saturday] we learned that John Delaney has side-stepped from his role to a new executive vice president position. The larger question remains.
“The uncertainty around the loan must be answered and I expect John Delaney to come before the Oireachtas Committee in early April or sooner to answer this, explain the remit of the new role, and if his actions were not becoming of a CEO, why should he take up an executive vice president role.
“When before the committee I expect the FAI are able to explain whether adequate corporate governance structures were in place or are in place.”
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday told RTE’S The Week
In Politics: “There’s definitely questions to be answered.” Mr Varadkar also pointed out that despite the organisation not being a Government body, it does get “quite a lot of” State funding and he believes “everyone” is looking for answers.
He said: “We’ll want to be sure any Government money the FAI has received has actually gone on programmes that we’ve paid for.” The Taoiseach, who was Sports Minister between 2011 and 2014, added he was completely unaware these type of financial transactions were taking place.
Fine Gael TD Noel Rock, a member of the Oireachtas Sports Committee, has lodged a complaint with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement over the FAI’S management of its accounts. He told Newstalk’s On The Record with Gavan Reilly: “Based on what I’ve seen, the documents that I’m investigating in line with the Oireachtas committee hearing... it’s very apparent to me there are issues around
We’ll want to be sure any Government money has gone on programmes we’ve paid for
LEO VARADKAR YESTERDAY
record-keeping, there are issues around trans- parency, there are issues around the loan from John Delaney to the FAI.”
The association will begin the recruitment process today for a new chief executive, with interviews expected in late April and an appointment ratified in May.
The FAI said Mr Delaney’s new role will include responsibility for UEFA and FIFA matters.
Chief operating officer Rea Walshe will act as interim CEO. It is unclear what salary she will receive.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Sport Fergus O’dowd described the FAI announcement as “very significant”. Meanwhile, Founder of Inner City Helping Homeless Anthony Flynn said: “Considering the country is currently facing an immense housing and homelessness crisis, the public accounts committee should be immediately reviewing monies provided by the State to the FAI.
“Three thousand euro a month is being paid to rent a home for the FAI’S former chief executive whilst families are in completely unsuitable emergency accommodation across the country.”
FOR years there have been concerns about the way the FAI has been conducting its business and the dramatic departure of its chief raises further questions.
While John Delaney might be gone from the top job, he moves into a post that did not exist two days ago, leaving the Association open to accusations it was created for him.
The disclosure that the FAI had been paying €3,000-a-month rent on a plush mansion at a time when it was in financial difficulties is also a cause of concern.
But the €100,000 bridging loan Delaney provided to the FAI is the most troubling.
It raises serous corporate governance issues and has led to Deputy Noel Rock, who is also a member of the Oireachtas Sports Committee, lodging an official complaint with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.
The FAI and Delaney must explain how this unusual transaction took place before the Oireachtas Committee on Sport next month.
While Delaney can not be blamed for Ireland’s performance on the field, the reality is that during his tenure the national team has plummeted down the FIFA world rankings.
The appointment of a new chief will be welcomed by fans but there is a general consensus that more radical changes to the FAI are needed if soccer here is to be revived.