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Similar to Niall Quinn who followed Gary Owens out the door at FAI in January, it comes out in the same sequence.
The former Ireland striker was considered a welcome addition to the crisis-stricken organization when he was appointed deputy chief executive officer in late January, but the showreel of his finest moments will not come close to his contribution in a green jersey.
Unlike the fanfare surrounding his arrival, the notice of his imminent departure on Monday morning did not even receive a mention on the FAI’s Twitter account or official website.
Talking about phrases like “propaganda” and “naysayers,” especially when talking about his employers, actually meant that the news of his departure was not surprising.
Quinn, long considered the executive director of the FAI in his own right, was distancing himself from his involvement in the organization until a week before his arrival.
Perhaps his reluctance was due to a failed project he embarked on during 2019 called the Visionary Group. Some of his grandiose predictions were scoffed at by the Irish football community, but within fifteen days, three signatories to the plan took on top roles in the FAI.
Quinn was the most strident in downplaying previous ties to new President Roy Barrett and Owens.
“This is not a coup,” he said just a few weeks ago.
Owens and Quinn will be leaving once the new permanent CEO is appointed later this month, while Barrett’s future is uncertain. Barrett was accused by his fellow directors of embarking on a solo career to cede control to outside interests, bringing in six independent directors, as part of the bailout deal.
Confirmation that creditors of the Bank of Ireland recommended his candidacy for the position also endures.
Quinn remained loyal to Barrett amid the pressure he faced in recent weeks. It was in his outburst against the eight FAI football directors who questioned Barrett’s authority to sign the bailout agreement that the “propaganda” charge was dropped four weeks ago.
In his role as a Virgin Media television expert, he classified those seeking answers about Bank of Ireland ties as naysayers.
Sitting next to Quinn on the panel was Brian Kerr, someone whose thoughts on the latest episode would be interesting to hear.
Among the complaints the former Sunderland president voiced about the previous regime was the marginalization of John Delaney from one of the best servants in Irish football.
Quinn, speaking within weeks of entering the marquee, calmed public sentiment for the change by saying, “It would be great to have Brian and we are quite in favor of it.”
Nothing turned out, as high performance director Ruud Dokter had his contract extended and Stephen Kenny was anointed with the title of director of international football.
Quinn was also criticized in talks to restart the Irish League season.
The failure to submit concrete financial proposals left Ireland as the last summer league in Europe to agree on a resumption plan with the clubs.
Garrett Kelleher, owner of St Patrick’s Athletic, spearheaded the reaction: “I am of the firm opinion that although their intentions may be well-intentioned, and they may have put in a considerable amount of time and effort over the past six months, Gary and Niall they have failed and failed gravely, ”he said in an email to FAI board members in June.
“Soccer is too important, and the domestic game is at a critical juncture where any wrong or naive move by executives could cause even more lasting damage.”
They don’t need to worry anymore.
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