The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) may lose at least €300,000 in State funding over its failure to fill key posts within the organisation as part of its restructuring plan.
Yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was told that the Sports Council of Ireland was unhappy at the lack of progress over the creation of four new director posts within the organisation.
The senior positions, including directors of finance, performance and football operations, had been recommended nearly two years ago in the Genesis report.
The Genesis report is a report which was commissioned by the FAI following the Roy Keane controversy in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup.
In March of this year the council approved extra funding of €300,000 for the FAI to fill the director positions.
Yesterday, the chief executive of the council, Mr John Tracey, told the PAC that the Genesis report was "the gospel according to the FAI", and that its failure to implement the final recommendations in the form of the new posts was a serious concern for the Sports Council.
He said a total of €500,000 out of an entire annual grant of €2 million to the FAI had yet to be paid, and a portion or all of this could be withheld if the board of the council decided to do so.
Mr Treacy said that, following a meeting with senior FAI officials, he had particular concerns in relation to the current proposals by the FAI.
The football organisation was planning to fill the positions of director of performance and director of football operations.
Some of the responsibilities of both positions were currently being taken care of by the Republic of Ireland soccer manager, Brian Kerr and Packie Bonner, the FAI's technical director.
The responsibilities of the proposed director of corporate affairs were currently divided between two employees.
Of most concern to Mr Treacy was the fact that the FAI did not intend to advertise for a new finance director, and intended to promote somebody from within the organisation.
While complimenting the FAI for implementing various other aspects of the Genesis report, he said the proposed director of finance was "a very critical role", and urged the FAI to reconsider its position.
"The council has made it clear to the FAI that it is not happy with that."
He said 75 per cent of the overall grant allocation to the FAI of €2 million for 2004 had been paid over.
The remaining €500,000 was still in the council's account, according to Mr Treacy, and it had the option of not providing the remaining money.
He said it was a matter for the board of the Sports Council of Ireland, which would be discussing the issue at its meeting next month.