FAI unveil O’Leary appointment

[A face]

FAI unveil O’Leary appointment


The Football Association of Ireland have announced that Mark O’Leary, the former Group Finance Director of renowned food services company Autobar, will take up the position of Financial Director at Merrion Square.

The new position was created under pressure from the Minister for Art, Sports and Tourism, Mr John O’Donoghue, who had threatened last year to withhold Irish Sports Council funding for the Association until the posts of Chief Executive and Financial Controller were publicly advertised.


Read more at www.eleven-a-side.com (http://www.eleven-a-side.com/offthefield/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=17754)

[A face]

Genesis chief lauds “transformed” FAI


Alistair Gray, the chief executive officer of Scottish-based consultancy firm Genesis, has praised the new-look Football Association of Ireland, which took a further step on the road to realising the recommendations of the firm’s 2002 report when the position of Financial Director was filled this week.

Mark O’Leary, previously Group Finance Director of pan-European vending and food services company Autobar, was appointed to the newly-created post within the Association on Monday.


Read more at www.eleven-a-side.com (http://www.eleven-a-side.com/offthefield/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=17755)

[dcfcsteve]

Genesis chief lauds “transformed” FAI


Alistair Gray, the chief executive officer of Scottish-based consultancy firm Genesis, has praised the new-look Football Association of Ireland, which took a further step on the road to realising the recommendations of the firm’s 2002 report when the position of Financial Director was filled this week.

Mark O’Leary, previously Group Finance Director of pan-European vending and food services company Autobar, was appointed to the newly-created post within the Association on Monday.


Read more at www.eleven-a-side.com (http://www.eleven-a-side.com/offthefield/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=17755)

Anybody notice any difference in the game ? Does everyone in your home town know when you're next game is and who it's against ? Are the bar-stoolers flocking to our stadiums ? Are we leaps and bounds ahead in Europe ?

I know change takes time to happen, but outside of the corridors of Merrion Square I haven't seen a single thing "transformed". I'm not even convinced that things inside have changed that much either...

[Patrick Dunne]

... the FAI get 20% of the gate at all FAI Senior Cup games. They would have taken E4-E5K at Monday nights replay in Turners Cross. Multiply this across 16 ties, plus replays, plus 20 + ties at later stages of the competition. You are talking a substantial six-figure sum.

I wouldn't begrudge them the revenue if there was a decent marketing campaign, or even a few programme covers or posters (not received in Galway this year).

Bring back the "Its not as bad as you think" initiative ! :cool:

PD.

[bigmac]

Can anyone tell us the actual structure between the EL and the FAI. How much control do the FAI have over the league and who is responsible for the running of the competition?

Might be mistaken but I thought that there was some sort of distinction between the two.

[hamish]

I think the LOI was taken under the FAI's umbrella about 14 or 15 years ago - CollegeTillIDie would know the exact time. I remember there was a big debate in the Athlone committee about it at the time and I think we were the only club that voted against it.
Niow it seems there are discusions to make the EL a more or less separate entity again. Could be wrong about that.

[Peadar]

Niow it seems there are discusions to make the EL a more or less separate entity again. Could be wrong about that.

You're exactly wrong!
The FAI doesn’t control the league.
It's controlled by a league committee, comprised of representatives from the various clubs. A bit like the Premiership in England.
The FAI wants to take back control of the league.
I actually think they should be allowed to do so.

[hamish]

You're exactly wrong!
The FAI doesn’t control the league.
It's controlled by a league committee, comprised of representatives from the various clubs. A bit like the Premiership in England.
The FAI wants to take back control of the league.
I actually think they should be allowed to do so.

Yes, but isn't that league committee answerable to the FAI and haven't the FAI the final say with regard to finance/grants along with what the league got from the government. The attitude in Athlone and most LOI clubs back in the 90s was that, when push came to shove, the FAI were in control. Also, can't the FAI dictate the number of appointments/staff that the EL have since they are footing the wage bill. There's certainly no money available from the clubs to pay EL administrators. Maybe the Eircom money helps.

The biggest worry among LOI clubs in the 90s was that the FAI was composed of Junior club representatives who might not be too bothered by the top layer of senior football in the country. Just wondering.