The belated FAI Accounts for 2018 have been published today and provide for some sorry reading. Revised accounts for 2016 and 2017 were also presented and they also made for negative enlightenment. Coupled with the withdrawal of John Foley from the interim Chief Executive position following the departure of Noel Mooney who has returned to his UEFA position, it has not been a pleasant week for the FAI.
The recently appointed FAI Vice President Paul Cooke has taken up the position of Executive Lead on an interim basis until such time as the four new independent directors are appointed to the FAI Board. Cooke is a Chartered Accountant and the former Managing Director of The Star and the Sunday Business Post. Cooke, a noted critic of John Delaney, was elected unopposed to the FAI Board earlier this year in the then role of Treasurer, a position since abolished following publication of the Report relating to Governance Reforms. The announcement of Cooke‘s elevation was accompanied by the notation that he would be reporting to Donal Conway the current Honorary President of the FAI.
In further news, Donal Conway confirmed that he would be stepping down from the Honorary President position with effect from the EGM scheduled for the 25th January 2020 and nominations to fill the position will be required by the 28th December 2019, the revised date for the AGM.
It was further indicated that the appointment of the four new independent directors was progressing and confirmation of their identity would become known when the individuals concerned have completed their own due diligence enquiries.