John Delaney avoids questions but gets standing ovation at FAI agm

It may have taken a little longer than in last year's FAI annual general meeting, but John Delaney still received the customary standing ovation from his audience of loyal delegates on Saturday in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Not all of the 125 in attendance rose to their feet to applaud Delaney, 11 years as chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland and still pocketing an annual salary of €360,000, even after taking two pay cuts during a period in which the association racked up debts of €70 million.

Unlike last year’s show of appreciation from his faithful, the standing ovation did not arrive at the end of Delaney’s 20-minute speech, in which love for the county he was raised in featured prominently.

Instead, a specially convened item was created on the agenda for a presentation to be made, thus prompting the reception.

Gerry Tully, from the Roscommon League, began delivering the plaudits, making a curious choice of verb in hammering home his point. "We'd like to thank John Delaney for embellishing the image of Irish football."

Tipperary networking

Delaney had spent the week pressing the flesh around the county he grew up, visiting 29 clubs to dish out free tickets and grants. His pal

Alan Kelly

flanked him on a trip to a club in the heartland of the

Labour

TD’s constituency, Newport.

Saturday’s two-hour gathering was more a presentation than a meeting. Not one query was raised from the floor and, for the third year, Delaney didn’t host a press conference.

More security personnel than media were in attendance, their job to prevent integration between the fourth estate and the delegates. The Football Family, it seems, has to be protected by its governing body.

Delegates left Tipperary informed of the latest refinancing deal, the second in three years, which reduced the liabilities to €40 million. Further details were sketchy.

Bank of Ireland has taken over the debt, but the interest rate wasn’t revealed, other than confirmation it was less.

That’s just as well, given an annual report by US-based Corporate Capital Trust, which held the debt, showed a whopping rate of 6.2 per cent charged during 2015.

Since the debts accumulated from 2010, when the FAI’s premium ticket scheme for the rebuilt Lansdowne Road stadium began to flop, a total of €27 million has been forked out on interest and charges.

Gaining traction in the premium ticket market continues to be a challenge for the FAI.

Their latest initiative, the “Jack Charlton Lounge”, offers entry for two people to every home internationals during the year for €5,000. Part of the pitch is the priority afforded patrons who purchase 10-year tickets “pre-sale”.

Listed among the committee of the venture is Denis O'Brien, the benefactor who stumps most of the wages for senior manager Martin O'Neill and sidekick Roy Keane.

Roll on to next year’s agm in Kilkenny, another of the many counties John Delaney retains an affinity with.