Jonathan Hill on . . .

Damien Duff’s exit

“We had a long and open discussion about a whole range of issues. He took a decision that at that particular point in time he did not feel comfortable in the role. He took his own decision to move away from it. I don’t think there was a single issue in relation to that, there was a whole range of issues. Obviously, I’ll keep them private to the conversation I had with Damien but it’s clear he had historical issues with the Association, and the running of the Association. Genuinely speaking, he wants what’s best for Irish football and I think he felt that was the right thing at the time, the right decision for him to take.”

The ‘Videogate Investigation’

“When we became aware, initially from a newspaper within the UK media had got a story and then an Irish newspaper then got the story as well, I feel comfortable the right thing to do was establish the facts. The reason why we did that was because we wanted to know before we took it to the board and said, ‘Look, these are the facts of the matter and this is what should happen’. In reality that took us 48 hours to do. Unfortunately I couldn’t be there to do it myself because I was here in the UK because of Covid. Gary Owens talked to people.

“I was then able to watch the video myself. I watched it and when I sat in front of the board, obviously I was the only English person on that call, I could say that on a personal basis I was not offended by the video at all. Given all of the other conversations we had, the board listened, debated and said there was no case to answer and we move on. And genuinely I think we must move on from it now.”

The players’ view of Videogate

“You would have to ask the individual players. I think everyone accepted that motivational speeches are part and parcel of the world of sport and football so I don’t think that element of the issue was a surprise to them, that Stephen used that technique. In relation to the whole process, I suspect that they and all of us would rather none of it happened. I accept that. We all accept that and if I am honest I am a little bit frustrated that at the end of February, a good three months after the whole issue I think was dealt with and we moved forward, is still being discussed.”

Minimum expectation from World Cup 2022 campaign

“We are as positive and optimistic about the campaign as Stephen is. It’s much harder than qualifying for the Euros. What we do want is for Stephen to be as prepared as he can be. Clearly injuries, and other mitigating circumstances around the back end of last year hopefully will not come back. We won’t have suspensions, Covid issues, family bereavements. I genuinely believe that was a really tough period for Stephen. Let’s hope he has most of the players for the games against Serbia and Luxembourg and we’ve a reasonable start, because I genuinely believe we can qualify from that group. I know Stephen believes we can do (qualify). You’d expect him to because he’s an ambitious, committed, professional coach.”

Robbie Keane

“Robbie remains an FAI employee. I haven’t had the opportunity yet to sit down and talk with him, I will do that. Robbie is a legend in Irish football and I look forward to having an open and honest conversation with him about the situation. I am open to all different possibilities in relation to Robbie. But Robbie will tell me where he is currently, I hope, when we get the chance to chat.”

Champagne Football

“I have read excerpts of the book. I genuinely believe that I have absorbed all of the important elements of the book as much I have absorbed all of the important elements of the legacy issues and stories that have been told to me across the board really in relation to the Irish football community.”

Turning away betting sponsors

“We debated the issues openly and in the end the board, after an open debate, decided that it was not something the board wanted to pursue and I was supportive of that decision. We will not have a betting partner.”

Being different to John Delaney

“I don’t know

John (below), so I cannot answer that question in terms of a comparator. I am, hopefully, a reasonably straightforward, straight-talking Yorkshireman. I like to think that I have an open and collegiate approach to doing business. I’m not afraid to take decisions and I think I have a solid understanding of the world of football.”

World Cup 2030 bid hopes

“I think it’s absolutely credible. I think the decision to have a joint approach is the right decision. Because we know that the English FA has already had two attempts to host the World Cup since it last did in 1966. So I think it needed to change the narrative slightly, and I think, incorporating the other home nations and, in particular, incorporating the FAI into the proposed approach, I think is very sensible. I believe that if we have some strong and inspirational Irish voices within that process, particularly within the UEFA element of the process, I think that that will be extremely beneficial and powerful to the bid.”