JOHN DELANEY has stepped down as chief executive of the FAI to assume a new role within the organisation. The Abbotstown chief had come under increased scrutiny this week after revelations over a bridging loan made by Delaney to his employers came to light. 4 John Delaney is to assume within the FAI Credit: Sportsfile And now, that the head honcho is to resign to assume a new role within the association. Chief operating officer Rea Walshe will take up the reigns from Delaney on an interim basis. The FAI said in a statement: "The board of the Football Association of Ireland has adopted a review of its senior management structure that will see chief executive officer John Delaney move to a new position of executive vice president with immediate effect. "Chief operating officer Rea Walshe has been appointed to the role of Interim CEO by the Board as the recruitment process begins for a new chief executive officer." 4 Rea Walshe will assume the role of interim CEO Credit: FAI Abbotstown chiefs confirmed that they taking steps on behalf of a report undertaken for a review of its senior management structure. Speaking after the announcement, the outgoing CEO said: "“It has been my absolute pleasure and privilege to have served the Football Association of Ireland as CEO since 2005 and I would like to thank all the staff and everyone involved in Irish football for their support and assistance in that time. “This new role is one that really excites me. For some months now, I have been talking to president Donal Conway, the board and members of our senior management team about redefining the most senior management roles at the Association. “We have improved the League of Ireland significantly, we have introduced underage structures to the League and we have offered our best young footballers a pathway to the top of the game in tandem with our Player Development Plan. “Our grassroots game is stronger now than ever before and we continue to deliver on our Football For All policies thanks to the diligence and hard work of the staff at Abbotstown and across Ireland. “There have been many challenges for Irish football in my time as CEO and I will be the first to acknowledge that but I have always given my best for Irish football and I will continue to do that in this new role. 4 John Delaney during his time as FAI treasurer in 2001 Credit: Sportsfile “This past fortnight has been very difficult for me on a personal and professional level and I would like to thank the Board and my work colleagues across the FAI for their support. "In recent days I have received many messages of support from the family of football, from many of the 2,000 clubs I have visited in my role as CEO and from the world of politics and sport which I am grateful for." “It is time now for a new start and I am really looking forward to serving Irish football as best I can as executive vice president. “I am very proud of my work as CEO with the FAI. Since I took up the office we have improved how we operate as an Association." FAI president Donal Conway commenting on the restructuring said: "The board of the FAI engaged Jonathan Hall to work on this report as, together with the CEO, we have recognised for some time past the need for a review of our senior management structure. 4 John Delaney watches on during Ireland's 1-0 win over Gibraltar Credit: Sportsfile “We have now adopted the recommendations of Jonathan Hall’s report and will begin the process to appoint a new chief executive officer. "John Delaney will take on the new role of executive vice president immediately with the full backing of the board. “On behalf of the board and the members of the Association I want to thank John for everything he has done for the FAI and for Irish football. He has transformed how we operate as an Association. “This new role will allow John to utilise his vast experience and connections in the world of football and will best serve the FAI as we look to the future and our new strategic plan for Irish football which is currently a work in progress." Delaney became chief exec of the Football Association in March 2005 after serving as treasurer from 2001. He was previously involved with League of Ireland side Waterford United. The FAI will now begin the process of hiring their new CEO. Interviews expected to take place in late April and an appointment confirmed in May. Abbotstown plan to unveil the new CEO at the 2019 AGM.<doc-sep>The Chief Executive of the FAI John Delaney is to step aside from his role with immediate effect. He will assume a different role within the Association, that of Executive Vice President with responsibility for all UEFA and FIFA matters including the proposed World Cup 2030 bid with the UK, the Under 21 Euro bid with Northern Ireland and matters pertaining to the Aviva Stadium from an FAI perspective. It is understood that Ireland would host a significant number of games in the World Cup should the proposed bid prove successful. The decision to step aside comes amid controversy around a €100,000 bridging loan which John Delaney provided to the association in 2017 which was repaid to Mr Delaney within a matter of weeks. From Gibraltar, @Corktod reports on John Delaney's 'sideways move' in the FAI and the possibility that his salary may now be cut by two thirds #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/YzWFMCl1me — RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 23, 2019 In a statement this evening, the association said the decision to split the roles was taken in recent weeks following a report into governance at the association undertaken by Jonathan Hall which recommended that oversight functions should be split. The current Chief Operating Officer at the FAI, Rea Walsh, will act as interim CEO starting on Monday next. Th recruitment process for a new CEO with immediate effect with interviews expected to take place in late April and an appointment ratified by the Board in May. It is planned to unveil the new CEO at the 2019 AGM of the FAI in Trim, County Meath. It is understood a full public procurement process will be undertaken until the full time role of CEO is filled. From Merrion Square to Abbotstown - John Delaney's colourful career at the helm of the @FAIreland #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/Nha7tJT2DS — RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 23, 2019 The Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport Fergus O'Dowd has described Mr Delaney's stepping down as "a very significant development". The FAI is scheduled to appear before the committee on 10 April. A statement from the organisation earlier this week said that Mr Delaney would lead the delegation at the meeting. Mr O'Dowd told RTÉ News that the committee will be reflecting on this evening's news and all of the issues that have been raised, at its next meeting on Wednesday.<doc-sep>JOHN DELANEY’S TENURE as chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland has come to an end, with the 51-year-old stepping down from his position on Saturday night to take up a new role as Executive Vice-President. In a lengthy statement released shortly after Ireland’s 1-0 victory against Gibraltar, the FAI confirmed that a recent review of its senior management has resulted in a reshuffle. It sees Delaney’s 14-year term as CEO end with immediate effect as he takes up a newly-created role which includes responsibility for “all Fifa and Uefa matters” and “all FAI tournament bidding projects” among other duties. Chief Operating Officer Rea Walshe has been appointed to the role of Interim CEO by the FAI Board as the recruitment process begins for a new CEO. “Jonathan Hall Associates was engaged to review senior management structures and the role of CEO as the Association plans for the launch of a new strategic report for the period 2020-2024 and ahead of its centenary in 2021,” the FAI statement read. Delaney was in attendance at the Victoria Stadium on Saturday night as Ireland faced Gibraltar. Source: James Crombie/INPHO “The report recommends that the FAI considers creating a new role of Executive Vice-President and starts the process of appointing a new Chief Executive Officer in order to put itself in the best position possible for the strategic period ahead.” At a meeting on Friday, the board of the FAI unanimously adopted the review and unanimously voted to appoint Delaney to his new role. Neither Delaney, as Executive Vice-President, nor the new CEO will be members of the FAI board, although both will attend meetings of the board. The responsibilities of the new Executive Vice-President include all Fifa and Uefa matters including membership of the Uefa Executive Committee, all FAI tournament bidding projects, international relations and support, the John Giles Foundation, membership of the Board of the Aviva Stadium, planning for the centenary of the FAI and the 50th anniversary of women’s football in Ireland in 2023 and a bid to host the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Dublin,” the statement explained. “The new Executive Vice-President will also work on special projects as agreed by the Board and the new Chief Executive and will be available to the CEO for assistance.” Be part of the team Access exclusive podcasts, interviews and analysis with a monthly or annual membership. Become a Member The FAI hope to confirm the Association’s new CEO at its AGM in July. Delaney held the position of CEO within the FAI since 2005. Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO Delaney came under significant pressure this past week after revelations of a €100,000 loan provided to the FAI two years ago came to light. The Sunday Times last week revealed that Delaney had provided a loan to the FAI due to a cashflow issue arising within the association. He said that the money was repaid in full in June 2017, and that it was the only occasion on which he issued the Association with a loan. Delaney further addressed the loan in a second statement published by the FAI last Sunday, in which he said he acted in the FAI’s best interests. “I acted in the best interests of the Association at a time when immediate funding was needed,” Delaney said. “This loan had no impact on the full financial position or performance of the Association for the year. It was a matter of timing.” Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:<doc-sep>RTÉ Soccer pundit Richie Sadlier believes that the FAI need to provide clarity on why John Delaney stepped down from his role of Chief Executive and was appointed to the new role of Executive Vice-President. The news of Delaney’s move broke after the Republic of Ireland’s in over Gibraltar in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. "I think we need details on why all of this change happened," Sadlier told RTÉ Sport. "We need to know exactly why this was decided, the specific reasons for why John Delaney was removed from his role as CEO, what qualities did he not have, who made the decision and what is he supposed to bring to his new role." The decision to step aside comes amid controversy around a €100,000 bridging loan which Delaney provided to the association in 2017. The loan was repaid to him within a matter of weeks but since these revelations surfaced last week the spotlight has been shining on Delaney. The abrupt nature of a new role created for John Delaney is something the @FAIreland needs to explain, says @RichieSadlier #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/FrzypmqOiv — RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 23, 2019 "He is no longer on the board so what does that mean for his appearance in front of the Oireachtas committee scheduled for next month. "I think after the revelations in the Sunday Times last week it is reasonable to expect him to be in front of that committee to answer questions that need to be answered. "I don’t think it would be acceptable for the committee to meet with a delegation from the FAI that didn’t include John Delaney. I hope the change in roles doesn't mean the Irish public don't get to hear directly from him." The statement released by the FAI on Saturday evening stated that Delaney would not be part of the board. It said: "The Board of the Football Association of Ireland is happy to meet with the Department to discuss these changes and would also welcome the opportunity to update Sport Ireland and the Oireachtas Committee on Sport on our new senior management structure." The current Chief Operating Officer at the FAI, Rea Walsh, will act as interim CEO starting on Monday.<doc-sep>
John Delaney has stepped down from his role as chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) after 14 years in charge. The 51-year-old will take up a new position as executive vice-president of the FAI with immediate effect. Chief operating officer Rea Walshe has been appointed to the role of interim CEO by the FAI board, as the recruitment process begins for a new chief executive. "The Board of the Football Association of Ireland has adopted a review of its senior management structure that will see Chief Executive Officer John Delaney move to a new position of Executive Vice-President with immediate effect," the FAI confirmed in a statement. "The report was commissioned in February and carried out in recent weeks by sports governance expert Jonathan Hall Associates and their principal Jonathan Hall who is a former Director of Governance and Director of Football Services with the English FA. "Jonathan Hall Associates was engaged to review senior management structures and the role of CEO as the Association plans for the launch of a new strategic report for the period 2020-2024 and ahead of its centenary in 2021. "The report recommends that the FAI considers creating a new role of Executive Vice-President and starts the process of appointing a new Chief Executive Officer in order to put itself in the best position possible for the strategic period ahead. 2:34 Highlights of the Republic's 1-0 win away to Gibraltar in the European Qualifiers on Saturday "The report states: "The new role of Executive Vice-President would be a specific defined role with responsibility for a range of international matters and special projects on behalf of the FAI. It is envisaged that the current CEO would step into this new role. This would allow Irish football to continue to benefit from his extensive football experience and contacts across Europe and the rest of the world." "The report adds: "A new Chief Executive should be recruited to be responsible for all the other issues typically overseen by a Chief Executive of a national association. The new Chief Executive would assume responsibility for leading and managing the executive team at the FAI with appropriate executive support being provided to the Executive Vice-President to carry out the role. Both roles should be clearly defined and would report into the Board. "The new Chief Executive and the Executive Vice-President would need to work closely together in a collaborative manner in line with the updated strategy established by the new Chief Executive and agreed by the Board." Image: Delaney oversaw the recent appointment of Mick McCarthy as Republic of Ireland manager It emerged last week that Delaney provided a €100,000 bridging loan to the Football Association of Ireland in April, 2017. He was called before a parliamentary committee to explain it. Delaney claimed the short-term loan was required to aid cash flow at the time and was repaid in full by the FAI two months later. "I am aware of stories circulating around this loan dating back to 2017," Delaney said. "I confirm that I made a one-off bridging loan to the Association to aid a very short-term cash flow issue. "This is the only occasion on which I provided the Association with a short-term loan." Live Euro 2020 Qualifiers Delaney was appointed chief executive of the FAI in 2005. He has overseen the appointment of a number of Republic of Ireland managers, most recently Mick McCarthy who succeeded Martin O'Neil last November.