[Article] FAI risks losing access to complex

thejollyrodger

I hope the government keeps the pressure on the FAI. Also the "future stadium" should not have a track around it and one or 2 of the E.L clubs should have access to it.

FAI risks losing access to complex
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1285722&issue_id=11681

FAI chiefs risk losing access to a €110m world-class sports complex if they continue to defy the Government. The complex includes state-of-the-art training, medical and accommodation facilities.

An attempt by the FAI to persuade Sports Minister John O'Donoghue to compromise in the row over a new chief executive was rejected last night.

The FAI sent what it considered to be a conciliatory letter to the minister yesterday indicating its willingness to publicly advertise two key posts but appealing for more time to restore stability to the association.

Still deeply angered by the attitude of the FAI, the minister dispatched a reply stating it had still failed to meet the Government's requirement that the two posts must be advertised by January 1 next.

As the row deepened last night, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern underlined how serious the situation was and urged the FAI to listen to what the minister was saying.

Mr Ahern said he was "fed up" dealing with the consequences of the internal rows and management upheavals in the strife-torn football body.

He totally backed Mr O'Donoghue who earlier warned the FAI that if it continued with its refusal to advertise the posts of chief executive and financial controller, the Government would have no choice but to examine its relationship with the association and plans for future funding.

Mr O'Donoghue insisted his request was reasonable as the Government had put €70m of State funds into soccer and hundreds of millions more were at stake in the re-development of Lansdowne Road and the Sports Campus project.

Within the next few weeks he will bring proposals to Cabinet to proceed with a 3-5 year development plan for the campus at an estimated cost of €110m. All the major sporting bodies have been consulted and the campus will include:

* Athlete accommodation, up to 5-star hotel standard.

* A sports science block.

* A state-of-the-art medical centre.

* Gyms, weight rooms and other top class facilities.

* A range of specially-designed synthetic and turf training pitches, including all-weather and floodlight facilities.

* Provision for a future 15,000-20,000 capacity stadium.

The Government has already indicated to the FAI that it was willing to facilitate the Association in moving its headquarters to the Abbotstown campus.

Mr O'Donoghue spelled out yesterday that the entire relationship with the Government would be at risk if they continued to ignore his request.

The FAI decision earlier this week to appoint honorary treasurer John Delaney as interim chief executive officer for 12-18 months is regarded as a snub to the Government.

In its letter to the minister yesterday, arguing in favour of Mr Delaney's appointment, the FAI said crucial human relations issues within the Merrion Square HQ needed to be sorted out before it could adhere to his wishes.

"We are baffled as to why there seems to be a problem with the way we are implementing the Genesis Report. We always assumed the Sports Council was keeping the minister informed of our progress," said one FAI source last night.

Brian Dowling and
Gerry McDermott