Delaney signs on

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Following its meeting this week, the members of the Board of Management of the Football Association of Ireland unanimously asked current FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney, to remain in office for a further five year term to 2015.

John Delaney became Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland in November, 2004. In that time the FAI have enjoyed their fair share of controversies including - most notably - Steve Staunton’s appointment as manager of the National team on January 12, 2006. Indeed the Staunton appointment was made under the supervision of Delaney himself and garnered widespread shock when announced. Shock which was vindicated by Ireland’s subsequently disastrous Euro 2008 Qualifying campaign.

However it is the merger with the League of Ireland and the building of a new purpose built Aviva Stadium which have been the FAI’s most notable successes of recent years. Indeed in May of this year all 22 Airtricity League clubs had voted in favour of renewing the associations merger agreement after it expired at the end of next season. And with the Aviva Stadium set to open its doors to fixtures in the coming weeks, and a new batch of young Irish players knocking at the door of our national team, the FAI are enjoying a rare spell of tempered popularity as far as national football associations go.

“John has presided over the development and growth of all strands of the game and we are delighted to announce that he will continue as Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland for a further five year term”, said David Blood - FAI President.

“John has been instrumental in modernising the Association and has a track record of achievement including the establishment of a nationwide network of co-funded community based football development officers, the transformation of relations with football’s grassroots, the trebling of the Association’s commercial portfolio, the merger with the Airtricity League and the development of the new Aviva Stadium in partnership with the IRFU” said the President.

“I know that I speak for all of the elected members of the Board of Management when I say that John is the right man to continue delivering growth and success for Irish football over the next five year period.”