Sport Ireland chief John Treacy claims that the FAI can transform itself in two to three years.
That's approximately the timeline that it took the Olympic Federation of Ireland - formerly the OCI - to perform a root and branch reform after the disgrace of the Rio Games in 2016.
And it is Treacy's belief that the deepening crisis within the association will not hold up the process to appoint a successor to John Delaney as FAI chief executive.
"I'd say it will proceed as quickly as possible," said Treacy.
The Sport Ireland CEO is confident that Delaney, who was appointed to a new role as the FAI's Executive Vice-President on March 23, hasn't stepped foot in Abbotstown since Monday evening - when he voluntarily stepped down.
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"I don’t believe he's on the National Sports Campus anymore," said Treacy.
"We're dealing with a number of board members - and they are on what they're saying is a ‘reform agenda’.
"We're supporting them around that. It’s the board members who need to lead this and that’s who we can work with.
"FAI board members have responsibility, no one else.
"The people we are meeting with, they are basically saying they need to make sure they put a structure in place now that will work for the future.
"We have people working with them to try and put that together.”
Following two resignations from the board on Monday, the eight that remain have pledged to step down before the AGM in July.
Treacy acknowledges that they could put their names forward again.
But he added: "You need to remember the clubs, the leagues, the members that are on the (60-strong) council have a responsibility as well.
"It’s the organisation itself and the clubs and the membership that needs to take that responsibility seriously.
"What has happened can never happen again. They need to clean it up. The reform agenda and the corporate governance group are meeting this week and will get on with it in terms of making recommendations.
"They can be made fairly quickly in terms of what the board should look like post-July. They'll obviously be talking about having the right expertise that any board - in any sport, in any walk of life - would require.
"People knowing the sport is important - but from my experience of national governing bodies in sport, independence is really important.
"I know from many NGBs, you see the leadership and the independence coming through. When you have that independence, it adds for a stronger board in terms of their corporate responsibility”.
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