SOCCER:PFA of Ireland chief executive Fran Gavin will this morning be unveiled as new Director of the FAI Eircom League of Ireland. The Dubliner enjoyed a successful career as a player with a number of Irish clubs having initially had a spell with Derby County in England and was at the time a prominent member of the players' union.
He went on to become the organisation's first full-time official working closely with sister organisations like England's PFA as well as the world wide umbrella body FIFPRO to improve its standing and mount a number of significant campaigns on issues mainly relating to employment rights and conditions.
Recently Gavin successfully concluded negotiations with the association over the union's aim of winning approval for standardised contracts between clubs and their players.
Although he previously applied for and failed to get the job of Eircom League general manager, he appears to have forged a strong working relationship with leading FAI officials during talks on the contract issue and has now landed what is seen as a key post in the reorganisation, revamping and rebranding of the senior club game here.
The association has also appointed former Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and Limerick goalkeeper, Noel Mooney, as promotions manager of the new league. Mooney, who has already taken up his post in Merrion Square, will also be officially unveiled today. As well as managing a greatly increased marketing spend for the league he will oversee a network of promotions managers at clubs around the country, the recruitment of whom has been financially supported by the association.
Meanwhile, Galway United manager Tony Cousins was last night handed a €1.1 million budget to beef up his squad for the club's 2007 Premier Division campaign - and new signings could be announced as early as tomorrow.
The champagne corks popped in Galway on Monday night after the FAI announced that United had gained promotion to the top flight, but the board of the club have already moved into top gear as they plan to establish themselves as a Premier Division club.
"We have given Tony a budget of €1.1 million, which is €500,000 more than we had planned for if we didn't get Premier Division status. In recent weeks, we set out two budgets, one for Premier and one for First Division, and we are delighted to have to roll out the larger one now," said United chairman John Fallon.
And they expect an immediate return when season tickets go on sale this week at the special pre-Christmas price of €150 in the club offices and at selected outlets around the city. "Last year, we sold 450 season tickets, while this year our target is 1,000. That's what we need to sell to stay within our projected budget for the year," he said.
Cousins yesterday met with the United squad from last season and it is inevitable that he will sign a number of players as the club sets about proving the FAI right in their controversial decision to promote them.
