The FAI yesterday announced plans to recruit 15 new staff in line with the implementation of their technical development plan.

The plan, which was launched last June, is the most ambitious undertaking by the FAI. It covers all aspects of the game, from facilities development and volunteer education right through to player and coach development, with the aim of maintaining Ireland's position in the top 12 of FIFA's world rankings.

FAI technical director Packie Bonner admits the plan is a bit of a "monster" but is confident that, with the €6.5 million annual funding in place, Ireland should reap the benefits.

"Anyone thinks if we continue to do what we are doing, things will work out, is wrong. We need to improve everything in the game and it will benefit everyone from the senior international team to the grassroots," said Bonner.

Bonner's technical department has already seen vast improvements over the years with the summer soccer schools quadrupling in the last four years while the FAI continue to be the only sporting organisation active in disabled sports and working in the inner city.

But to sustain improvements made under the development plan, and make improvements at international level, there is a need for a further 15 staff covering all areas of the game.

Advertisements for three new managers of grassroots football, player development and education have appeared in national newspapers while further advertisements will appear in the coming months.

One key area, according to Bonner, is the appointment of a physical fitness/sports science expert to formulate plans that can be used by every club in the country. The role has been given greater importance after moves in England to cut the number of youth teams at clubs, effectively meaning the number of Irish boys joining English clubs has been halved. At under-17 level, just 13 Irish players are based in England and Bonner admits the full-time coaching available to the players in England gives them a huge advantage over their home-based team-mates.

"I think the best players will always go abroad but we need to give them a viable option. We are not looking to take the players away from their clubs, but we want to help them improve through coaching and also physically with a fitness expert."

Bonner stressed the importance of this job insisting that the association could not narrow the search down to just Ireland.

"We can't just look in Ireland. It has a vital role in how we want to go forward," he said.

Other roles to be advertised include new regional development officers, national co-ordinators and administration staff though the pace of recruitment may have to slowed somewhat as the FAI looks for new offices to house all the extra staff.

Bonner said: "We can't bring all the people in tomorrow so it has to be staggered because, firstly there is the budget. Secondly, we don't have the space at present, and thirdly, we have to stagger the introduction because bringing in everyone at the same time would lead to difficulties."