Marc Canham steps down from role as FAI chief football officer

The Football Association of Ireland has to embark on yet another recruitment process after it was announced on Tuesday morning that Marc Canham is standing down from his role as their chief football officer.

Canham joined the FAI in the summer of 2022, initially as director of football when he took over from Ruud Dokter, but after three years he has opted to return to his native England “to explore new personal and professional opportunities for me and my family”.

It was, to say the least, a testing time for the 42-year-old who had previously worked as director of coaching with the English Premier League.

The interminable search for a successor to Stephen Kenny as senior men’s manager, which lasted close to eight months, and the controversy surrounding Vera Pauw’s departure from the senior women’s role, put him in an uncomfortable spotlight.

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That intensified in January when Colin Healy, who had been assistant to Pauw’s replacement Eileen Gleeson, accused Canham of having assured him that his contract with the FAI would be extended, leading him to turn down other job opportunities. Healy was, though, let go by the association.

On the field, the women’s qualification for the 2023 World Cup finals was a rare good news story for the FAI during Canham’s reign, although it ended with an ugly fall-out with Pauw who accused Canham and then CEO Jonathan Hill of interfering in “technical football matters” and undermining her authority at the World Cup. The men, meanwhile, endured a dismal time of it during his time in charge.

Canham’s chief task over the past three years was to develop a ‘Football Pathways Plan’ to boost the game in Ireland, but it’s been less than plain sailing since its long-awaited publication in February.

Only last week there was news of a breakaway group, the Grassroots Amateur Football Clubs of Ireland, being formed in opposition to the plan’s proposal that the season, at all levels of the game, be moved to a January to December format, rather than the more traditional September to June schedule.

Canham and his colleagues have been the subject too of intense criticism from many involved in the League of Ireland, among them Shelbourne manager Damien Duff. ”This league was called the problem child for many, many years,” he said back in February. “But believe you me, the biggest problem child is the FAI.”

Nevertheless, the FAI paid tribute to Canham for his work which, their statement said, “played a pivotal role in helping to shape the future of Irish football”.

“While we are sad to see Marc leave, we fully respect his decision, and I sincerely thank him for his dedication and hard work throughout his time with us,” said FAI President Paul Cooke. “His leadership and hard work in driving forward the Football Pathways Plan has set a strong foundation for the future of Irish football which we all now need to deliver upon.”

“Marc and his team have shaped a clear vision for the game through the development of the Football Pathways Plan.” said CEO David Courell. “This is the first time we have had a clear whole game approach which the Association is committed to delivering on and which we firmly believe will set Irish football up for future success.”

Canham, who will remain in his position while “he conducts a handover”, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time living in Ireland and working in Irish football and I am proud of the work that we have put in place to support its long-term development.”

The FAI said that the recruitment process for a new CFO will commence immediately and details of an interim plan will be confirmed in the coming weeks – to cover the period between Canham’s departure and a new CFO being appointed.