Latest news with #Courell
Irish Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Euro 2028: FAI provide update on status of extra game hope for Aviva Stadium
FAI chiefs are very confident that Dublin will host an additional group game at Euro 2028. With Ireland confirmed as co-hosts, the Aviva Stadium is expected to host four group games and two knock-out games, including a quarter-final. Now there is another group game that is set to be ring-fenced for the Lansdowne Road venue after UEFA was forced to relocate the five games earmarked for Belfast due to the Casement Park redevelopment project not getting off the ground. "I am very confident we will secure an additional game in Dublin," said FAI chief executive officer David Courell. "I think it's an additional group game, still subject to final approval from UEFA. I'm very confident." With the FAI on the lookout for a new chief football officer to replace Marc Canham, Courell confirmed that senior Ireland managers Heimir Hallgrimsson and Carla Ward will report to him for the time being. "The world will keep spinning," said Courell. "We will still be able to continue business as usual. "For clarity, Heimir and Carla will report into me in the intervening period. "A review is something we are committed to, it's not just a Marc Canham thing. It's something we see value in having consistency at the end of each and every campaign. "I hope we'll have someone in to conclude that review. If not, I will lean on the support of the expertise in-house to support me in carrying out that review, simple as." Canham came under the spotlight as the public face of the FAI's prolonged search for a successor to Stephen Kenny as the men's national team boss, and for the choice of Hallgrimsson - who was not a well known figure. Asked if appointing the former Iceland and Jamaica boss was a risk, Courell replied: "It was a calculated risk from Marc, one I believe will pay off. "I think all of us involved in that decision can see the benefits of what Heimir has brought to the team, there's optimism around our forthcoming qualification campaign. "We are confident and comfortable with our decision. Time will tell but early indications are that we were right to hold our nerve, and we stand by that."
The 42
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The 42
FAI confident of one additional Euro 2028 group game following Casement Park
THE FAI REMAIN confident they will be allocated one additional group game at Euro 2028 following confirmation that Casement Park will not host games as initially envisaged. With the UK government reneging on the funding of Casement in time for the Euros, Northern Ireland have been removed as a host FA and the games will be distributed among the other four co-hosts. The FAI initially thought they may get another two games, but the likely outcome is one extra group game is staged at the Aviva Stadium. The final decision on the distribution of games is subject to approval by Uefa. 'I am very confident we will secure one additional game in Dublin,' FAI CEO David Courell told journalists this week. Elsewhere, Courell was asked whether he was unhappy with the optics of a recent article published by the Irish Examiner, in which his predecessor John Delaney was photographed at Mounthawk Park, the home of Kerry FC, to mark the naming of the John O'Regan Stand, christened so after Kerry District League Secretary and former Munster Football Association Chairman John O'Regan. Delaney told the Irish Examiner, 'I gave €5,000 to Castlegregory last summer and I gave €10,000 to Castleisland, and I am giving €5,000 today, out of my own pocket.' Advertisement 'I think Mounthawk FC [sic]. . . Credit to the club for the work they are doing on the ground, who they chose to invite is their decision but that's a matter for the past and I'll leave it there,' said Courell in response to the question. Courell was then asked to elaborate on leadership style. 'Leadership can come in many different forms, and it doesn't mean you have to rule with an iron fist,' said Courell. 'It can be setting direction, taking on board opinions and viewpoints, building consensus and delivering action, and that's the kind of leader I am. I pride myself on my desire and ability to collaborate and communicate. 'We've had different types of leaders. We are in a more modern day where we have a community that will respond better to collaboration than the other, alternative methods.' Courell was speaking following the announcement that Marc Canham is quitting as the FAI's chief football officer. Canham will leave his post in three months time, and the FAI are planning on an interim appointment to the post until the permanent successor is recruited. Canham oversees the senior men's and women's head coaches, but with Heimir Hallgrimsson's contract expiring in November this year should Ireland not qualify for at least the World Cup play-offs, Courell says he will lead the review and subsequent contract renewal decision should Canham's full-time replacement not yet be in the building. 'The world will keep spinning even when Marc departs,' said Courell. 'Heimir and Carla will report into me in the intervening period. A review is something we are committed to, it's not just a Marc Canham thing, it's something we see value in having consistency at the end of each and every campaign. I hope we'll have someone in post to conclude that review. If not I will lean on the support of the expertise in-house to support me in carrying out that review, simple as.' Reflecting on Canham's time in charge, Courell agreed with an assertion that Canham took a risk in announcing in March last year that the FAI would appoint Stephen Kenny's full-time successor the following month, once that coach had completed their 'existing contractual obligations.' Ultimately Hallgrimsson was not announced in April, but in July. Courell repeated the FAI's insistence that Hallgrimsson was their first-choice candidate all along, even if, as Courell has previously admitted, Hallgrimsson was still on the open market in July, shortly before he was unveiled by the FAI. 'It was a calculated risk from Marc, one I believe will pay off,' said Courell. Courell rejected the notion Canham regrets the whole drawn-out process. 'I don't think so, I think all of us involved in that decision can see benefits of what Heimir has brought to the team, there's optimism around our forthcoming qualification campaign. We are confident and comfortable with our decision. Time will tell but early indications are that we were right to hold our nerve and we stand by that.' Meanwhile, Hallgrimsson's hopes of adding more games to the forthcoming June friendly schedule so as to be able to run the rule over a wider pool of players look set to be disappointed. Though the FAI had worked on adding more games to the confirmed double-header of Senegal and Luxembourg, it's understood they were unable to find appropriate opponents at relatively short notice.
Irish Examiner
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Courell confident of extra Euro 2028 fixture as he defends Bonner's role
The FAI are 'very confident' of adding a seventh game to their hosting roster of the Euro 2028 finals. Ten venues across the UK and Ireland were proposed to stage the games but UEFA's decision to strip Casement Park in Belfast of matches due to delays subsequently freed up excess fixtures to be absorbed. It was confirmed late last year that alternative venues in Ireland such as Croke Park or SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh were off the table but Dublin's Aviva Stadium is in line to be granted an extra game. Lansdowne Road was also assigned four group games and two knockout games, including a quarter-final match. Now an extra group match for a tournament which Ireland seem to be assured of participation in, either by qualifying or on a hosting ticket, is on the way. 'I am very confident we will secure an additional game in Dublin,' said FAI chief executive David Courell. 'I think it's an additional group game, still subject to final approval from UEFA, but I'm very confident'. Meanwhile, Courell has defended the contribution made by Packie Bonner, the legendary Ireland goalkeeper part of the FAI board since 2021. Bonner was invited onto the top table as an independent director, chairing the international and high performance committee. Within that role, he's been involved in the recruitment selection of men's and women's managers but Courell denied him being based in Scotland was a problem. A recent media report contended there was unease with the domestic game about the degree of influence Bonner wielded. This is despite the fact that the FAI's General Assembly, of which the League of Ireland comprises almost one third, ratified Bonner's reappointment to the board last September by a resounding 79-4 majority. Neither has there been any formal feedback of dissatisfaction from the LOI committees. 'It doesn't concern me,' said Courell about former FAI technical director Bonner's living in Glasgow. 'If you look at our board, we've 14 board members. There's a really good balance, a mix of skills and background and experience. 'We value Packie's contributions to the board. He has a connection to the association to Irish football, he's worked in Abbotstown and is still active in Uefa circles. 'Valuable contributions are something we should be welcoming to the board table. They are part of a mix of skills and opinions and viewpoints that are factored in before we reach any decision 'Packie and Marc (Canham) in particular were ones that were asking more technical questions to managers around football. It's not entirely accurate to say that Packie was the only person asking football questions.' Asked if Bonner will have an involvement in sourcing Canham's replacement after he departs his chief football officer role in the summer, the CEO said: 'Potentially but potentially not. 'The reality is we've had other board members involved in other recruitment processes.'
The 42
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Landscape of Irish football has changed and Marc Canham's replacement must reflect that
TIMING IS EVERYTHING and Tuesday's announcement from the FAI that Marc Canham will be leaving his role as chief football officer in three months fell nicely. That's because FAI chief executive David Courell had been pencilled in well in advance for a media briefing the following day. The perfect chance to get a swift reaction and follow up to the story of the week. Sceptics who wondered if the date in the diary would be re-arranged at short notice were left disappointed when Courell duly met journalists on Wednesday. He insisted it would be 'irresponsible' to limit the successor options. 'Am I exclusively going to say the search is restricted to these shores? No, we need to make sure we make the right appointment. If that person is Irish, then fantastic. But I am not going to close off, that would be irresponsible of us to do. We have to find the right person for the role.' This was the last in a round of appointments between senior FAI figures and the media. In the first one, held with Canham at the end of last month, he was asked about his future with the association. 'I don't look too far,' he said. 'In terms of our [pathways] plan and our vision, it's 12 years and there are loads of things to do but in terms of my own self, I don't look too far in the future.' Less than one month later – after League of Ireland academy director Will Clarke and grassroots director Ger McDermott had carried out their presentations – his exit was confirmed. Advertisement Sources indicate that Canham feels his true legacy for Irish football won't be felt for years, which will be a handy reference point should he be asked about his achievements in potential job interviews to come. Packie Bonner, based in Scotland but an independent board director who oversees the high-performance element of football operations for the FAI, has been a strong advocate for the work Canham was undertaking. So too FAI president Paul Cooke, who wrote in his programme notes ahead of the Uefa Nations League promotion/relegation play-off with Bulgaria last month about the Government backing for the League of Ireland and academy funding. 'Those two areas deserve State support, I make no apology for restating that aspiration. The League of Ireland is thriving but maintaining that momentum requires Exchequer support now, not down the road, as we look to produce the international footballers, male and female, of the future.' Courell was equally forthright. 'The League of Ireland Academies continue to be a focus for the association and as recent weeks have shown a key point of debate. 'This is entirely appropriate as LOI academies will be the source of players for the Irish international team going forward and will define the next generation of talent, and we're working hard to secure the funding the academy structure needs in this country to produce that talent.' Perhaps Bonner's stance on player development in this country has shifted dramatically since that infamous interview in which he said that Celtic 'should have a club over there. We should have a club in the League of Ireland and run the whole thing'. But setting this context is even more important now as the FAI begins the search for Canham's replacement, and those in power now seem to fully understand the importance of the professional game in this country. When the above is written down in black and white it seems even more staggering to think it was never the case previously. Clarke detailed in his own presentation how the FAI want to provide a refined plan to the Government by 15 August for funding of up to €8 million per year on a phased basis for League of Ireland academies. He said that State support would be for an 11-year period with investment tapering off from 2030. The hope is to secure the money as part of October's Budget ahead of the 2026 season. Courell reinforced that on Wednesday, and it's clear from the public statements made that the remit of the chief footballer officer must now have the League of Ireland and the development of academies at the very core of the job specification. There can be no ambiguity or middle ground, especially when Courell, the person at the top of the organisation, states so clearly that 'LOI academies will be the source of players for the Irish international team going forward and will define the next generation of talent.' The CEO did offer a glimpse into some of the Government's reticence. 'Their nervousness and questions primarily centre around investing into private enterprises. It's not something governments normally do and we want to work with them and clubs to give them the comfort and confidence.' Although such concerns are hard to stomach considering – and this is just one example – the 2025 Budget confirmed State funding of €79.28m to horse racing. What happened next? Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) increased its prize money by €1 million from last year to €70.9m. For Irish football, though, it is absolutely critical to get someone who is capable of looking beyond what the League of Ireland is now and realising what it needs to become for the future of international teams. Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley spoke ahead of his side's Premier Division game with Shelbourne tonight and made it clear becoming CFO is not the kind of career change that he's interested in. 'No. No, my job is this focusing on us winning the title back, progressing in Europe, improving. I'm 40, I'm a manager. I've made no secret of what I want to do in management and that hasn't changed,' he said. Related Reads Dermot Desmond shines a spotlight behind the scenes at Shamrock Rovers 'We're time critical'- FAI detail refined plans for €8m League of Ireland academy funding Grassroots says FAI has 'uncorked overwhelming anger and created an atmosphere impossible to work in' 'It's important to understand the landscape of Irish football and where it is, and more importantly understand where the Government is and the feelings towards everything surrounding releasing that funding, that's really important obviously. I would think it's quite obvious that the person who takes that job would understand the landscape of where everything is.' Closer to home for Bradley, Rovers CEO John Martin will be leaving the club at the end of August and will undoubtedly be someone in the mix to take over from Canham. Especially when you consider the crossover appeal of an operator who is a former player, worked in financial services, and has had dealings with those in the upper echelons of Government when he was one of the key architects in reclassifying Rovers' academy as a childcare provider to unlock vital funds. Such innovative work is continuing behind the scenes at Rovers – and elsewhere around the country – and someone coming in cold to the demands of the environment at the FAI will only serve to halt progress even further. 'We're really good as a nation being open to high quality people, Irish or wherever they're from, so I wouldn't say they have to be Irish but they must understand Irish football,' Bradley said. 'Irish football is like no other. The landscape is completely different to any other country because of the factions around the country. If someone doesn't understand that and thinks they can pay lip service by just washing over it, that's not this country. 'Others might work that way but we're unique in how we operate and all of that deserves to shown respect by the new person. I'm sure decisions have to be made that won't make everybody happy, as before, and that's fine but conversations need to be had and the factions listened to.' Plenty will have their say but what the FAI do next with this appointment is of greatest importance.
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
FAI aim to defuse rancour over summer soccer in political circles
The FAI will attempt to take the sting out of the backlash to their summer soccer change by addressing politicians in Leinster House next Wednesday. Discord against the move from early next year has spread into the political sphere as a growing alliance of leagues have assembled to oppose the removal of choice. They want to retain their right to run the traditional season around the school year from September to May due to fears about dropout rates. Scheduling football directly into competition with GAA has caused particular alarm in the provinces while other concerns apply in urban areas. FAI regional staff are seeking new calendars from leagues but despite the first phase due to commence from underage in January, it's known that six of the top leagues, DDSL and North Dublin, along with Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick have not agreed to the overhaul. 'As I'm sure you are aware, the topic of an aligned football calendar has generated significant discussion in communities across the country,' said FAI chief executive David Courell in an invite to a session next Wednesday at 4pm circulated to Oireachtas members. 'We would like to take the opportunity to provide clarity and context on this crucial element of our Football Pathways Plan and outline how this is a positive development for Irish football'. While in that forum, they're also eager to promote the case for academy investment. An audit of the €8m-per-annum proposal sought for national league clubs nationwide is due to commence shortly, with a report due by August and decision in time for the 2026 Budget in October. 'We will be outlining our vision for the development of Academies, which we believe are fundamental to engage and nurture young talent and strengthen the game at all levels,' continued Courell. 'This briefing will offer elected representatives an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the FAI's strategic objectives and to engage in meaningful and constructive discussions on how we can work together to support the growth of Irish football - which we know has the potential to deliver significant social and economic benefits.'
