The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has said it will launch a voluntary redundancy programme after its board approved "a significant transformation programme to modernise how football is developed and delivered in Ireland".
In a statement, Irish football's governing body said the redundancy programme will open in the coming days.
Once completed, the FAI will assess progress "against its long-term vision" and progress with a phase of redeployment before confirming the number of compulsory redundancies required.
The FAI expects that that changes will allow the organisation to better align with future strategic objectives, accelerate internal culture change and introduce specialist skillsets, and deliver increased financial sustainability.
The wider transformation programme has been informed by UEFA benchmarking and shaped by external guidance from specialist consultancy firms.
Research conducted by the FAI found that the association "does not currently have the required framework and specific skillsets to implement vital strategies (including the FAI Football Pathways Plan) and to meet the evolving needs of Irish football – at all levels of the game."
"The Association must undertake this process to ensure that all clubs, communities and counties around the country are best served and that Irish football can create a playing culture and pathway to compete as a nation, provide positive participation experiences for all, and continue to develop the game at a local, regional, national and international level," the FAI continued.
The FAI has met with SIPTU officials who represent some staff on multiple occasions, and said that senior leadership are committed to keeping staff fully informed.
A staff meeting took place earlier today to provide further information on the transformation as it gets underway.
The latest FAI annual report, released around this time last year, showed the association recorded a profit & loss surplus of €3.5m from turnover of €62.3m in 2023, up from €54m in 2022.
Net assets increased from €6.2m to €9.7m but its cash balance declined drastically from €10.9m to €1.6m as legacy debts were paid off to reduce the associated interest burden. Bank and other borrowings declined from €50.9m to €43.2m as a result.
Staff costs increased from €12.3m to €15.3m year-on-year as the FAI added more than 20 staff, bringing its headcount to 251, including 10 in management and 241 in administration and operations.
(Pic: INPHO/Tommy Dickson)
