FAI call the consultants to look at structures

WHILE the full Bastow Charleton report on the running of the FAI moves towards completion, the organisation has already initiated moves to rebuild its structures with the appointment of Ray Cass Consultants as management advisers for the month to come.

The company, which was previously employed to advise on the appointment of a commercial manager at Merrion Square before returning to mediate between then chief executive Sean Connolly and the officers of the Association, has been approached with a view to making recommendations on how the organisation administers itself.

While Bastow Charleton have concentrated on the lack of controls in the area of ticketing arrangements and financial controls, the new consultancy will operate independently and will look at ways that the Association can improve its overall administration in every area as well as making recommendations on the level of staff employed in Merrion Square.

It is expected that Cass will report to the April 26th meeting of the FAI Senior Council which, they say is "a pretty concentrated timescale for an organisation of this size."

The recruitment of outside help comes a day after Bernard O'Byrne was elected to the position of honorary treasurer and the former security officer feels that all of the current moves are steps in the right direction.

"I think that the blowout that we've had recently will be beneficial for us in the long term, although it is a pity that it has all had so much publicity attached to it," said O'Byrne last night. "it has all caused us a fair bit of damage and it may take a couple of years to regain our reputation for being a well run organisation, but, in the long term, I think we can come away the better for the whole experience.

O'Byrne, who also intends to make recommendations to the April 26th meeting, says that some of what needed to be done had already been initiated by outgoing treasurer Joe Delaney prior to his departure and he hopes that by the time the FAI meets for its AGM in July, many of the remaining difficulties will have been addressed.

"Over the past 12 months things had been tightened up in no small part due to Joe Delaney, so I'm not going into a situation that's as bad as it's been painted," he said.

In the National League, meanwhile, a proposal by St Patrick's Athletic that their Cup semi final with Bohemians be played on the evening of Good Friday with their League match following on Easter Monday has been accepted, while Sligo's match against Shelbourne will go ahead on the Saturday evening at the Showgrounds.

The current suggestion, however, that Shelbourne's league match at Cork be rescheduled to Tuesday, April 16th is likely to cause some concern amongst the other title chasers given that City must travel to Derry two days earlier and the timing of the refixed game may come up for discussion again at next Monday's meeting of the Management Committee.

in the League's more immediate future, Shamrock Rovers travel to Oriel Park this evening with Alan O'Neill adding Mark Reid to his panel after suspension, while Eoin Mullen is also fit having recovered more quickly than Frank Bruno from the battering he took on Sunday.

The home side may have a few difficulties in defence where Mick Doohan is suspended and Stephen Napier is doubtful due to an ankle injury picked up in the win over Shelbourne. In their absence Anto Whelan is likely to drop back into defence with Joe Hanrahan switching from attack to midfield, while David Crawley may earn a recall as Richie Purdy moves inside to centre half.