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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Gavin Quinn

John Delaney reveals that workload was the reason for his move to new role in FAI

FAI Executive Vice President John Delaney says workload was the main factor in his move to the new role after leaving his role as CEO late last month.

The 51-year-old's new role comes after protests against his involvement with the association and Ireland fans continued to let their feelings known last week when sections of fans threw tennis balls onto the field during their Euro 2020 qualifier with Georgia.

Last month, Delaney confirmed he gave the FAI a €100,000 loan to help it through what he said was a short-term cash flow problem.

The FAI then said the “bridging loan” was given in April 2017 and repaid in full to Mr Delaney in June of that year.

The association is currently under review by Sport Ireland and the body is due before the Oireachtas committee to discuss governance, oversight and scrutiny.

Sport Ireland claim they did not know about John Delaney's €100K loan to the FAI 

Delaney's new role means that he is no longer a director and can only attend board meetings in a non-voting capacity.

And on Tuesday evening, Delaney claimed that the role demanded the work of three people as the workload prompted him to move to the newly created role.

Speaking on the Tipp FM podcast, Delaney said: “It really was impossible for one person to do the three jobs.

“I’ve been trying to attend functions and games every weekend and run an organisation with a €50 million turnover and 200 staff.

“Then there’s a huge international dimension to the job. I’m on the board of the Uefa.

“We have a feasibility study along with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for a World Cup bid.

“Meetings take place in England next week and that’s making significant progress.

“That’s why the FAI commissioned an independent report to split the duties.

“There’s the generation of revenue in other parts of the world like the United States and Australia which we’ve never really looked at.

“I’m giving a flavour of what’s ahead for me. I know there’s a lot we can deliver internationally over the next few years in terms of funding and hosting major tournaments.”

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