Irish Football News Updates…30/01/2020

FAI set to receive significant funding – 30 January 2020
Minister for Sport Shane Ross has confirmed that the Football Association of Ireland is set to receive significant levels of funding as part of a refinancing arrangemet set to save the organisation. The Minister together with Minister of State Brendan Griffin met today with representatives of the FAI, UEFA and the Bank of Ireland at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Sport Ireland Funding has been restored and will double to €5.8m per year until 2023. UEFA and the Bank of Ireland will also contribute unspecified amounts. Amongst a series of stipulations, a sum of €800,000 will go towards the development of the male and female domestic leagues. The Government will aslo provide an interest free loan of €2.5m for three years to protect the Aviva Stadium with the funds going directly to the Stadium Operations Company and repayable from 2024 onwards.

Gerry McAnaney elected as FAI President – 25 January 2020
Gerry McAnaney was today elected the new President of the Football Association of Ireland defeating his rival Martin Heraghty by 88 votes to 40. McAnaney represents ‘Football for All’ on the FAI National Council and previously, for many years, represented the ‘Defence Forces’. Heraghty joined the Board in September last representing the Airtricity League and has been prominently involved alongside Paul Cooke during the recent meetings with the Government.

Niall Quinn joins FAI Board – 23 January 2020
The Football Association of Ireland has announced the appointment of Niall Quinn to the role of interim Deputy Chief Executive of the Association.

FAI appoint interim Chief Executive – 20 January 2020
The Football Association of Ireland has this evening announced the appointment of Gary Owens as the interim Chief Executive of the Association. Owens has had a distinguished career in senior management roles in the Financial Services and Technology sectors and has previously undertaken Interim CEO roles with Down Syndrome Ireland and Athletics Ireland.

FAI Corporate Governance – 9 January 2020
The Football Association of Ireland has appointed Roy Barrett as the new Independent Chair of the Association. He will be joined on the FAI Board by independent directors Catherine Guy and Liz Joyce with a fourth independent director due to be appointed shortly.

Roy Barrett is a Managing Director at Goodbody Stockbrokers while Catherine Guy, a Qualified Lawyer, is the recently appointed CEO of Sixt Leasing Ireland and a former Managing Partner of Byrne Wallace. Liz Joyce is the Director of Human Resources at the Central Bank of Ireland.

Airtricity League – 9 January 2020
It has been announced that Shamrock Rovers II will participate in the Airtricity League First Division next season, replacing the defunct Limerick FC.