Six Point plans, Euro 2028, a Satellite CEO and another White Elephant

What a week it’s been at Abbottstown.

We’ve had Six Point Plans, Euro bids and the news that we are now going to have a CEO who will work from home… The latter being a “non-issue”, they say.

Euro 2028

After a tiny bit of soul searching, I’ve gone from completely hating the idea, to being rather torn.

Forgive me if you don’t spot me dancing in the streets with the news that we are going hell for leather on yet another European Championship bid. With the current state of Irish domestic football, how could I be? Or any football fan in this country. I don’t want to get dragged into another one of those Us (LOI Fans) vs Them arguments. But just feast your eyes on the League of Ireland and ask yourself, how has this gone on for so long? How have those who are tasked with nurturing football in this country, be it the FAI, Government, Sport Ireland etc. been allowed to sit back and watch the domestic game rot.

It’s ludicrous.

For me, the FAI’s sole attention MUST be focused on lifting Irish football out of the muck and into the 21st century after decades of neglect. It cannot afford to be side-tracked with another white elephant.

FAI CEO Jonathan Hill (Image: Irish Times)

On a positive note, I do feel, perhaps for the first time ever, that there is a real willingness for change in the FAI and those powers that be. Although, as always, time will be our purest judge.

Don’t get me wrong, in terms of the bid I get it. I understand that the FAI with it’s one (partially/temporarily owned) stadium, is not exactly in control of its own destiny with these sorts of things. Sure, when has it ever? England, who could easily host the Euros on its own despite the absolute shit show of the Euro 2020 final last year, only need us and its other neighbours as a charm offensive. Nothing else. So, when they come knocking, it’s hard to resist, right? Because we aren’t hosting anything like this on our own anytime soon, if ever.

Also, with regards to transparency I was a tad bemused with a section of an excellent piece written by Gavin Cummiskey in the Irish Times. FAI Chairman Roy Barrett was asked about transparency and the cost of the Euro 2028 bid:

“All I can do is, give you assurance, we’re not lacking transparency, we have a very transparent operation around the board and I’m entirely satisfied that the amount of money that we’re putting into the Euro 2028 bid is not meaningful in the overall scheme of things. And it has substantial, potential benefits.”

Under a million Euro?

“I am not going to give figures.”

Roy Barrett (Image: Independent.ie)

That above, is the sort of thing the FAI need to cut out if people are to get behind the organisation.

Football is the most played sport in the country, sorry GAA fans but it is. You don’t have to sell the game to the people of Ireland, you just need to build a place for them to buy it.

Six Point Plan

1. . Transforming football facilities and infrastructure: By building a best in class fit for purpose organisation

2. Driving Grassroots football as the heart of the game: By Embracing Digital Technologies

3. Nurturing Football Pathways for All: Building a Trusted and Respected brand

4. Developing the full potential of football for Women and Girls: By Driving Investment to achieve our strategy

5. Framing the future of our League of Ireland: By Developing a collaborative and inclusive culture

6. Building for International success

I was quite impressed by the latest round of strategic planning from Abbottstown. Whereas some organisations may need a new coat of paint and perhaps a few new windows, that’s not quite the case for the FAI. Thanks to the spectacular failure to act on a fair chunk of 2002’s Genesis Report, Irish football needs an entire Dulux warehouse.

For obvious reasons, there was a fair bit of apathy flying about upon this strategic unveiling last week. Which came to the surprise of absolutely no one. It’s the FAI’s job to convince even the most jaded of Ireland fans that change is on the way and that can only be remedied by action. I genuinely believe that this is the last chance saloon for the FAI, it’s now or never.

FAI Headquarters (Image: The 42)

As an optimist, I genuinely believe that the game has a bright future in Ireland. It may need some tweaking, but I firmly believe that we are on the way to achieving the change that we so badly need.

Jonathan Hill not living in Ireland

Now, I wrote about this earlier in the week and had a bit of a mixed reaction, which is fair enough.

For me, I feel that the CEO of the Football Association of Ireland should be based in Ireland. To have the main man in charge literally phoning it in, seems ludicrous to me. As stated above, Irish football is in a state. It’s also a very unique problem in World Football. We need to have a man on the ground building relationships with local teams etc.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, as Thomas Magnum would say. Didn’t the other bollox do that and look what happened there? Yes, he did. It was smart. It was cute and it worked, just ask Michael Healy-Rae. Unfortunately, that particular chap didn’t quite use it for erm, shall we say the betterment of the game?

The FAI’s reasoning is, you don’t need to have a CEO shaking more hands than a mayoral candidate and yet again, I get that. Thanks to technology and the pandemic, most business meetings can be conducted over a Zoom call with the same affect. Fair enough. However, if Jonathan Hill doesn’t deliver the goods, you better believe that critics will be using this as a stick. I’ve got mine at the ready.

Hill is reluctant to relocate (Image: Irish Independent)

There is also the small matter of a Director of Football and a main sponsorship deal for the Men’s team that have yet to materialise. The previous being the main argument for a satellite CEO, allowing the DOF to work closer on the ground. Read that sentence back after a few pints..

Well, at least we’re finally being spared a shirt without a wretched sponsor, so that’s something at least! Although, with the FAI in the hole to the tune of €65m the association needs to find another revenue stream and quick.

I found the explanation of a poor campaign being the main cause of failing to find a main sponsor laughable. We know why most companies failed to touch the Irish football team with a barge pole, it had nothing to do with Stephen Kenny.

David, The Green Machíne Podcast