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Former FAI CEO John Delaney. Gary Carr/INPHO
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John Delaney offers to step aside from the FAI while an independent investigation takes place

Michael Cody and Eddie Murray have also left the FAI Board.

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION of Ireland has today confirmed that John Delaney has offered to step aside from the Association pending the completion of an independent investigation by the FAI into issues of concern to the Board.

Honorary Secretary Michael Cody and Honorary Treasurer Eddie Murray have both voluntarily resigned from the Board.

“The Board of the Football Association of Ireland met in Dublin today. Following that meeting, the sub-committee of the Board met with Executive Vice-President John Delaney”, read an FAI statement. 

John Delaney has offered to voluntarily step aside from carrying out his role as Executive Vice-President with immediate effect pending the completion of an independent investigation by the Association into issues of concern to the Board.

“Honorary Secretary Michael Cody and Honorary Treasurer Eddie Murray have both voluntarily resigned from the Board.

“The Board would like to thank Michael Cody and Eddie Murray for their long service to Irish football and wish them well after their voluntary resignations.”

The 51-year-old departed his role as CEO on 23 March but immediately moved into a newly-created position of Executive Vice-President following an external review of the FAI’s governance.

Wednesday’s appearance before an Oireachtas Committee hearing has accelerated his departure, with Delaney refusing to answer a number of questions relating to a €100,000 loan he provided to the FAI in April 2017, citing legal advice. 

While acknowledging Delaney’s right to cite legal advice, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he didn’t think “anyone would be satisfied” with Delaney’s performance.

Delaney led the FAI for 14 years before assuming his new title of Executive Vice-President last month, following a governance review conducted by Jonathan Hall Associates.

He has come under increasing pressure to consider his role ever since The Sunday Times’ investigation into the €100,000 loan Delaney provided to his employers two years ago.

Sport Ireland decided to suspend and withhold future funding to the FAI last week, while this past week has also seen the PFAI and a number of supporters’ groups call for reform, while two of the association’s sponsors — Three and New Balance — called upon the FAI to adopt the recommendations of ongoing external reviews.

Sport Ireland will tomorrow tell an Oireachtas Committee that they will not rule out a wide-scale, independent audit of the FAI as they wait for the completion of the ongoing Mazars and Grant Thornton reviews. 

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