Originally Posted by patsh
So?
TO fix the problem, I believe the following should happen:
1. The Sports Council/Government withdraws ALL funding from the FAI immediately.
2. The Sports Council/Minister should set up an alternative association, run by professional people, who have been given the job after an open competition.
3. All eL clubs should be encouraged to "resign" from the eL/FAI, and join with the new organisation, as well as schoolboys/ladies/junior etc. leagues.
Funding for all those various leagues should be decided by this new body, who will be independant of all clubs and leagues.
Each eL club to be given access to or control over a Fás scheme, to help young -players to stay here, or help them when they are released by cross-channel clubs.
Also, Government gives a guaranteed level of funding for a fixed number of years.
€10 million a year for 3 to 5 years is not an unreasonable amount.
4. FIFA & UEFA should be approached and the situation explained to them, that the FAI does not have the support or funding of the Dáil or the people of the country.
FIFA will go along with a proper organisation which has the support and backing of the majority.
It would probably need a Minister committed to promoting soccer in this country to make this work, but someone with energy and committment could do it, and bring an end, once and for all, to the running joke that is the FAI.