SOCCER: John Delaney will be officially unveiled as the interim chief executive of the FAI at a press conference in Dublin this morning.
The former Waterford United director, who was offered the post two weeks ago in the wake of Fran Rooney's departure, confirmed to a meeting of the association's board yesterday he would be accepting it and he will start immediately.
In a statement issued by the association last night, FAI president Milo Corcoran welcomed Delaney's decision, observing that Delaney "brings to the position of CEO a wealth of experience and knowledge from within football and a very successful track record as a businessman.
"I know," he added, "that John will enjoy widespread respect not just from within the football community but from the world of business also, as he deals with the issues and challenges which face the association in the immediate future."
Chief amongst those issues are the association's as yet unsigned sponsorship deals with eircom and FIAT, the strained relations with the Government, the technical development plan and the move to Abbotsown.
Delaney has previously expressed confidence that the sponsorship deals can be quickly sorted out, although the association's inability, so far, to reach agreements with the squad's biggest stars in relation to image rights suggests that the problems with eircom, in particular, might drag on for a while yet.
Relations with John O'Donoghue, the Minister for Sport, and the rest of the Government have thawed considerably since the association's very public climb down on the issue of when the chief executive's post might be publicly advertised.
Delaney, who is almost certain to be a candidate for the job when it is advertised, was the one who eventually provided assurances that it would, in line with the Minister's request, be opened up to public competition before the end of the year.
The process of filling the vacancy is, however, expected to take three or four months after which, if unsuccessful, Delaney may well end up working alongside the appointee for a period. He is, in effect, then likely to be in Merrion Square for at least the next six to eight months and possibly for a good deal longer.
His elevation to the full-time post, meanwhile, will prompt another reshuffle at officer level, as he will have to resign his current position as honorary treasurer.
Among the front runners for that post at present are Frances Smith of the women's FAI, Ray Gallagher of Sligo Rovers and Bill Attlee of the referee's association. It is not yet clear when any election might take place.
Already back on board, meanwhile, are public relations advisers Conroy O'Rourke, who departed earlier this year after having apparently fallen out with Rooney. John Byrne is expected to be reappointed to his former post as Development Officer this week.
"I never had a difficulty, nor did the Government ever have a difficulty, with the appointment of John Delaney on an interim basis," said Minister O'Donoghue on RTÉ television last night.
"I would certainly hope that the position will be filled on a permanent basis at the earliest possible date and we would certainly expect that it will be advertised by the end of the year as we have been given a commitment to that effect by the FAI. John Delaney is, in my view, a short-term appointment and I don't have a problem with that."
