Fresh delay over Delaney deal reminds FAI of their diminished independence
ANOTHER day, another delay. It’s only a few months since senior FAI figures were expressing the wish that their new board could be in place by September’s visit of Switzerland. We are now in October, and waiting for confirmation of the four independent members that will join the 12-person top table.
In every scenario, the fresh faces will inherit the mess that was left behind by the old regime.
But there was clearly an ambition that some loose ends would be tied up so they could get on with business.
The situation with John Delaney was a significant loose end, and that’s why there was satisfaction around Abbotstown that they got a deal done, even though they became resigned to the fact there would be a cost.
With the Sport Ireland-commissioned audit from KOSI due next Monday, a timeline on the autumn/ winter phase of crisis management was taking shape.
Until yesterday, that is.
The Sport Ireland letter to the Oireachtas Committee confirmed the KOSI report would be delayed “in light of developments in recent days” and demonstrated that the Delaney issue isn’t going to go away that easily.
It is worth remembering that the genesis of this saga for the FAI was a court ruling that allowed the ‘Sunday Times’ to publish an initial story on Delaney’s bridging loan to his employer, essentially agreeing that it was in the public interest.
The commentary on the confidential settlement struck with the ex-CEO has illustrated that government figures want to know more given all we have learned since March.
Much as the FAI will argue that their employment issues are in-house, there is a lot riding on winning widespread approval for how they negotiate every aspect of their rehabilitation process.
The Sport Ireland letter, penned by chief executive John Treacy, described FAI matters as an issue of “vital importance”, and that’s why they had granted KOSI’s request for additional time.
In other words, all eyes remain fixed on the FAI. Sport Ireland and Minister Shane Ross should be severely questioned for their approach to Delaney when he was ruling the roost.
But they feel under pressure to take a hard line because of strong public sentiment and that is why the FAI will continue to feel the squeeze.
This latest KOSI request may not mean too much ultimately other than pushing out the date for the next landmark date, although members of the Oireachtas Committee did interpret it as significant.
FAI sources have indicated that details of Delaney’s departure package will become clear when the AGM resumes in November.
That’s too long a wait as far as the
outside authorities are concerned, with KOSI obviously curious about arrangements as their remit included an exploration of HR matters.
The primary function of their work was to check that State funds were being used properly. But the brief went beyond that to assess internal control measures.
It’s anticipated that support from UEFA will be assisting the FAI in paying Delaney what he is owed, just as financial backing from Europe’s governing body is helping the Irish association with other cash problems.
But the optics of State funding being frozen is dreadful for the FAI, particularly with regard to getting the wider public back on side, and that’s why they have to accede to requests for more information on
That’s why the FAI cannot complain if they feel they are being closely man-marked
what happened over the last week.
Capital projects are also being held up by the impasse with government, and that is problematic for important proposals at Dalymount Park, the centre of excellence at Glanmire in Cork, and stadiums for Drogheda and Finn Harps.
There’s a lot at stake and that’s why the FAI cannot complain if they feel they are being closely man-marked.
Interim boss Noel Mooney will leave in November because the government wouldn’t stand for a longer stay.
There’s a strong feeling that Donal Conway may have to cut short his final year as president for the same reason.
A year of strife has diminished Irish football’s independence.