John Delaney fled to Kerry to escape the financial turmoil which led up to him resigning from the FAI.
The former chief executive, who earned €6million in basic salary, is licking his wounds after quitting as executive vice-president last weekend.
The Irish Mirror has learned he has spent time on the Wild Atlantic Way and at a holiday home in the Caherslee area of Tralee.
He has been pondering his future during long walks on Fenit Beach with family members.
And there was plenty of sympathy for the former FAI supremo as the local soccer fraternity rallied around him in recent days. Assistant secretary of the Kerry District League Kieran O'Regan said: “It’s a pity what has happened to John.
“He has been a great friend to us in Kerry, helping us to develop the game here.
“We regret what has happened to him. John supported initiatives here in Tralee and in Castleisland.
“John Delaney has been a good friend to us and we don’t forget our friends. He is always welcome in Kerry.”
Mr Delaney pumped huge amounts of FAI money to develop the game in the region and is hugely popular in the Kingdom.
That fondness was summed up by Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae earlier this year when reports of alleged financial regularities at the FAI began to surface.
The South Kerry Dail deputy told him: “You will get the mother of all welcomes when you get to Kerry because your reputation and respectability will precede you.”
Mr Delaney received a pay-off worth nearly €500,000 when he signed a confidential deal late last Saturday night.
He still retains a position on the Executive Committee of UEFA, European football’s governing body.
That role, worth €160,000-a-year is now in doubt as the President of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin has promised that under his tenure, members of the Executive Committee must hold a senior executive position with their own national association. As well as fighting to hold on to that well paid job in UEFA, Mr Delaney still faces three crucial hurdles at home.
The first is a report conducted by consultancy firm KOSI commissioned by Sport Ireland which was set to be delivered to the national sports body next Monday but has been delayed.
The FAI have also commissioned a report by consultancy firm Mazars to “conduct an independent and in-depth review of all matters”.
Most seriously for Mr Delaney is an investigation by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement which is continuing.
The results of that probe are not expected for months.
