The FAI has signed a four-year sponsorship agreement with Ford who will provide a fleet of 50 vehicles to the association. The cars will be mainly used by the organisation's steadily expanding number of Regional Development Officers, reports Emmet Malone.

The deal is valued by FAI officials at around €2 million all of which will be in product form. There is considerable optimism within Merrion Square, however, that the company will become involved in backing another area of the association's activities in what would be a separate deal.

Ford, which replaces FIAT as a FAI sponsor, has a long history of football-related marketing deals across Europe and is a major backer of the Champions League.

Speaking at yesterday's press conference to announce the squad for next week's European Championship qualifier against Germany in Stuttgart, the FAI's chief executive John Delaney said that he looked forward to a "fruitful partnership" with their latest corporate partners.