DAVID COURELL has been appointed as the FAI’s interim CEO with immediate effect.
It follows the announcement of the departure of Jonathan Hill who will formally leave the Association on April 30.
It is understood he is on holidays for the remainder of the month.
Castlebar native Courell said: “It is an honour to be asked to take on this post and a privilege to continue the positive work being carried out by the FAI.
“I look forward to working with the Board, the talented senior leadership team, the FAI’s trusted partners and our passionate and committed colleagues to progress our collective strategic ambitions.”
Courell, like Hill, is a former English FA employee, who joined the FAI as Chief Operating Officer in December 2021.
Independent Chair of the Board of the FAI Tony Keohane said: “With extensive experience in international sports administration and having spent the last two years as Chief Operating Officer, David has a deep understanding of the workings of the Association and is well positioned to lead the FAI while we undertake a process to appoint a permanent CEO.”
Rumours were rife around Abbotstown on Friday that Hill’s time was up but official confirmation did not come until this morning when staff were informed followed by an official statement.
The Englishman – who took on the role in November 2020 – had effectively been a lame duck since an appearance before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee in February.
Hill offered a new version of events as to how he had been paid money in lieu of holidays not taken, in contravention of FAI guidelines and bringing him above an agreed financial package.
In December, before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Art, Sports and Media, he claimed he had nothing to do with it.
But he then said it was as a result of a throwaway remark had been interpreted as a request, although he did not raise any objection when he was told it had been followed up on.
That prompted FAI President Paul Cooke to say that his confidence in Hill had been challenged by events.
It was widely believed that it was the beginning of the end for Hill but that he might be left in place until a sponsor and a manager for the men’s team were unveiled.
He was still in situ when Sky Ireland announced it would sponsor the men’s team but was absent from the top table, in contrast to when their deal with the women’s side had been launched.
A successor to Stephen Kenny is set to be named this week.
And, in a statement, it was announced Hill – who was widely criticised for not moving to Ireland on a permanent basis – would depart the FAI at the end of the month.
The statement said: “The Board of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is today announcing the departure of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jonathan Hill.
“Jonathan joined the FAI as CEO in November 2020 and has been at the helm of the association for the past three and a half years.”
The FAI’s board independent chair Tony Keohane said in the statement: “Jonathan joined the Association during a difficult time in the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic and helped the Association navigate an extremely challenging period.
“On behalf of the Board of the FAI, I want to thank Jonathan for his hard work and dedication over the past number of years and wish him well for the future.
“Not only did Jonathan guide the Association and the game through an incredibly difficult pandemic period, but he led the transformation in the Association and leaves us with a robust organisational structure, a vastly improved financial position and a blueprint for the future success of football in Ireland.
“We are grateful to have benefited from Jonathan’s experience, leadership, hard work and commitment and we wish him well in his future ventures.”
HIS OWN WORDS
And Hill added: “Since 2020, the FAI team and the wider football community have embraced what has been a radical transformation process for the Association and I’m proud of what has been achieved.
“We have developed a new, dynamic senior leadership team, a clear strategic vision, a bold plan to address football’s wider infrastructure needs and a stable and growing financial platform for further and sustainable growth.
“A notable step forward was the 2021 Equal Pay agreement which has been a vital catalyst for the rapid rise of the Women’s senior national team over this period, culminating in a historic first World Cup appearance in Australia in 2023: Our successful bids to host EURO 2028 and the UEFA Europa League Final next month are testament to the progress delivered by the FAI staff and their incredible commitment and hard work.
“I firmly believe that the future is bright for Irish football.”
And Cooke said: “Jonathan has worked incredibly hard in creating the solid foundations for growth and I am sure the Board, executive and staff can now build on those foundations to create real change for the largest participation sport in the country.
“I wish Jonathan every success in the future.”
With Courell in for now, the Association said there would be ‘a structured search for a full-time successor’.