The Football Association of Ireland is to undertake a number of cost-saving measures, including redundancies and a salary reduction of up to five per cent amongst senior members of its 183-strong staff in light of the present economic situation.
It is believed that technical director Packie Bonner’s contract is unlikely to be renewed, along with 12 other staff members including head of referees Pat Kelly.
The association will also announce reductions in ticket prices before the end of the year in response to disappointing attendances at the first couple of matches at the Aviva Stadium.
The FAI are reckoned to have debts in excess of €50 million after the refurbishment of Lansdowne Road, while their sale of premium level tickets and corporate boxes has not generated the incomes they had planned for.
In a statement this evening the FAI say they have risen their staffing levels from 58 in 2003 to a present level of 183 and that it will be “implementing cost reductions to ensure that it remains efficient and continues to deliver on its mandate to grow and develop football in Ireland”.
Staff were briefed today on a package of measures “which will restructure its operations while continuing to resource its core areas of focus across the game”.
Savings are being sought in three areas including salaries, reductions in staff levels and restructuring. Junior staff will be exempt from salary reductions while other staff will face salary reductions of up to five per cent.
The statement continued: “Under the package, redundancies will also be made across various levels and departments in a manner that will enable the Association to continue to deliver its core programmes and focus on providing value for its stakeholders including affiliates and Government bodies. A re-alignment of responsibilities in some areas will take place in the coming period along with reductions in ticket prices for international matches to be announced before the end of the year”.
Commenting on the measures, FAI chief executive John Delaney said, “The sustained deterioration in the economic climate has, in common with other organisations, raised challenges for us as an Association. Although we have already achieved significant cost savings in overheads and put in place numerous strong sponsorship agreements in 2010, we now have to implement further measures.
“While no one wants to see any staff leaving the organisation or salary reductions, we need to continue to operate within a prudent business plan which will ensure that the improvements achieved for Irish football in recent years can be maintained.”