Rooney to remain as FAI chief

**A face** · 04/09/2003, 5:18 PM

Rooney to remain as FAI chief

Under-fire Fran Rooney will remain on as chief executive of the FAI after a compromise was reached at a make-or-break four-hour Board of Management meeting at the Citywest Hotel on Wednesday evening.

Rooney had incurred the wrath of several high-profile members of the Association � including President Fran Rooney, previous stand-in FAI chief Kevin Fahy and eircom League President Brendan Dillon � over several issues, including his style of management and bonus claims.

Irish team manager Brian Kerr and Association Treasurer John Delaney were among those who made it clear that they wanted Rooney to remain in the job.

It was believed that resignations, on either side of the divide, were a distinct possibility at last night�s meeting, but in the end it failed to come to that as Rooney and the other officers agreed a contract at a meeting of the officer board, which took place immediately prior to the Board of Management meeting.

Details of a contract were thrashed out at 3pm, and an agreement was reached by the time the official Board of Management meeting started, shortly before 5pm.

The Board then spent the majority of the evening discussing the previous disagreement, and concentrated on ways in which to avoid such a public confrontation in the future.

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**A face** · 04/09/2003, 9:57 PM

FAI crisis avoided

Fran Rooney's position as chief executive of the FAI remains intact following a Board of Management meeting at the Citywest Hotel on Wednesday.

Rooney's high profile position was in doubt after a row developed over bonus claims and it threatened to result in a number of resignations from Merrion Square.

It left a split, with Irish senior team boss Brian Kerr and treasurer John Delaney given their full support to Rooney, while FAI President Milo Corcoran was said to be seething at Rooney's demands.

However, another crisis with the FAI looks to be avoided after all parties emerged from a long meeting as a united front and a contract was agreed shortly before 5pm.

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