Paul Cooke has today been named as the executive lead of the FAI following a meeting of their interim board.
It follows the news yesterday that John Foley had opted not to take over from Noel Mooney, who completed a six-month secondment with the FAI and is now returning to UEFA.
Cooke was voted in as vice president of the FAI at July's AGM, but now effectively steps into the shoes left vacant by ex-CEO and Executive Vice President John Delaney .
Waterford native Cooke is best known for his successful career in newspaper publishing, having worked for the Sunday Business Post and Irish Daily Star.
And according to a statement from the FAI, Cooke will now answer to current chairman of the board Donal Conway.
The statement said: "The Board of the FAI met on Monday night to discuss the interim CEO position in the wake of John Foley’s decision not to take on the role.
"The Board agreed that the most pressing matter is the appointment of the four Independent Directors and the Independent Chairperson.
"The Nominations Committee and the FAI have yet to be supplied with the names of the preferred candidates for the Independent Director roles.
"In the meantime, the Board has decided that vice-president Paul Cooke will act as the Executive Lead for the next couple of weeks as the FAI awaits the appointment of an Independent Chairperson.
"In the interim, Paul Cooke will be based in Abbotstown and will report directly to the chair of the Board, currently President Donal Conway, ahead of the appointment of the Independent Chair."
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