02/11/2025
Grassroots under pressure - what is going on at the FAI?
HUGE disappointment for staff and players involved in the FAI/ETB Courses along with other football related Community Development positions after the FAI informed staff that the courses are about to be pulled at the end of the current academic year and along with CDO staff could well face redundancy.
These Community Development Officers also fall under the FAI culling of coaching staff will be 'invited' to reapply for redeployment within the organisation.
By EAMON SCOTT
This represents a seismic change in the national associations strategy as it rolls out what they have termed an 'organisational transformation programme.'
Started in 2003 under the drive of Pa**ie Bonner, the FAI/ETB course has provided an invaluable platform for many household names that have gone on to carve reputations at the highest level.
In recent weeks, staff and members of the Dundalk Course were informed that it was being pulled but the news that all other FAI/ETB Courses nationwide will be met with huge disappointment across the grassroots game where so many players have benefitted and transitioned to a higher level of ability.
The removal of personnel at community level will deprive the game of operatives at a critical introduction area of the game and the rank and file workers have met the news with a huge degree of dismay and incredulity.
In August, the FAI stated they planned to introduce a transformation programme to reduce the employment numbers in the association's Abbotstown HQ and recently an online 'Town Hall Meeting' workers were finally informed of the numbers involved and the areas targeted.
The 'changes' would see a 30% reduction in staff who were catergorised under 'football functions' - in effect reducing from 170 to 113 while those under 'support function' saw a headcount reduction of just nine percent - from 85 to 75.
In what staff were informed as part of this' ongoing organisational transformation programme' it added that their positions may no longer be required within the future structure of the organisation and for that reason they were formally notifying them that their position is at risk of redundancy.
The letter, signed by Aoife Rafferty, People and Culture Director, goes on to state that the FAI will commence a redeployment process in the coming weeks, during which all reasonable efforts will be made to identify suitable alternative roles within the organisation.
The reality is that many will be made redundant and that, sadly, seems to be further abandonment of the grassroots. All the more remarkable in a week where former Irishtown FAI ETB Course member Abbie Larkin scored a vital goal away to Belgium that ensured Carla Ward's senior women's team were promoted to Nations League A.
Another Irishtown course member was Roberto 'Pico' Lopes who recently qualified for the World Cup with Cape Verde and also captained Shamrock Rovers to the Premier Division title. He is on course to complete a league and cup double should Rovers overcome Cork City in the upcoming FAI Cup final.
Suffice to say that these courses, now consigned to the dustbin, have developed brilliant talent over the years. In a former guise when called the FAI/FAS Course a certain Roy Keane passed through its ranks.
Add in players such as Chris Shiels who captained Dundalk to a league title. Enda Stevens, Chris Forrester, Aaron Greene, Kevin Long in Cork while Daryl Horgan was in the Sligo course - but all graduates of these respected institutions of learning and development.
The FAI/ETB courses have been littered with many other players who have gone onto carve careers across-channel and have been recognised for the quality of coaching and the myriad of certificates on offer to the participants.
League of Ireland academies recently benefited to the tune of €3m in Budget 2026 and while welcome injection at that level, it looks as if the FAI have adopted a change in policy which now deems the highly productive FAI/ETB courses surplus to requirement and many talented players who are not part of League of Ireland academies will now be abandoned and that is a dark day for grassroots football.
While the FAI were lobbying for investment in 'for profit' League of Ireland clubs who may well sell on players such as already cross channel bound Mason Melia or Michael Noonan, should the national association have also lobbied for similar Euro for Euro investment across the grassroots game too?
Up to 20 staff will be affected nationwide in the FAI/ETB courses while the current players on the courses will be the last intake.
Add in the work of the Community Development Officers nationwide that the FAI once recognised as invaluable, are now, under the current FAI senior management, deemed surplus to requirements.
Claimed SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser Adrian Kane on foot of the letter to stakeholders: ''This afternoon approximately 100 staff received an email from FAI management saying their roles were being discontinued and they should reapply for work with the organisation."
Currently, the FAI employs 255 staff but Kane added: "What has been attempted at the FAI today are the actions of a rogue management attacking workers, as well as the core purpose of the organisation."
"The proposed job losses are massively skewed towards football operations at the FAI. With a ratio of seven to one between staff in roles supporting grassroots football schemes across the country being cut as compared to all other functions. In the commercial and business sections of the organisation staff, even though there are much less roles being cut, have been told that they will need to apply for different roles within the FAI."
"None of these measures have been discussed with staff and none of the new roles' terms and conditions of employment have been supplied. Of course management in the organsiation is not intending on downsizing, despite its central role in creating the crises in both financial and public trust at the FAI.
"Management has yet to even present its so-called 'transformation programme' to the workers. Serious questions must now be asked of the Government concerning whether it intends to allow an organisation in receipt of major state funding to treat loyal workers in this manner."
While the GAA continue to invest in local development officers, the FAI are abandoning these vital roles at the coalface of the game and while the League of Ireland have enjoyed significant financial
support, the core grassroots area is being left to wither on the vine as a result of these recent actions.
Many leagues under the FAI jurisdiction who have players registered on these courses may well ask questions with the FAI benefitting to the tune of €4 per every player registered ensuring that the grassroots pumps significant sums into the FAI coffers, but apart from FAI Connect and national cup competitions- receive little or nothing back from the national association?
Remarkably, from a business model, it is difficult to understand the FAI's logic in that the ETB picks up most of the bill for the courses in providing facility hire, equipment and contributing to the staff salaries.
The net cost of the courses might be close to €100k. In recent years the FAI have taken approximately 20 staff members, some rumoured to earn more that €140k per annum - one of these salaries would have paid for a course to be run over an academic year.
Commented SIPTU's Robert Purfield: "This plan represents a fundamental attack on the people who actually deliver football development in communities up and down the country. Our members, coaches, development officers, grassroots coordinator and business support staff are the backbone of the game in Ireland. To target them disproportionately while protecting management layers in a so-called transformation plan just shows that this management group does not intend to bring the FAI in a positive direction.
"Management's damaging approach will hollow out the sport at its foundations. Our members are proud of their contribution to building football participation, inclusion and development at every level. They are not prepared to see those gains sacrificed."
In all of the recent culling process, you have to ask where are the voices within the FAI advocating or championing the cause on behalf of the grassroots?
Where are those board members who campaigned on ensuring the rights of the more than significant grassroots cohort are protected while running for office? There have been no public utterances in support of the FAI/ETB staff and pupils, no voice to protect Community Development Offices and that is shameful in its deafening silence. No one, really?
Said one disgruntled staff member: "Unless it is international football, League of Ireland or the women's game, the FAI are doing very little to protect or promote the grassroots of the game and shame on them."
Rumours of discussions within the grassroots of 'ceding' from the FAI and taking hold of their own destiny with a standalone grassroots body will only increase on the back of these management moves, and, no doubt, the upcoming FAI AGM on November 8 could be a very feisty affair!.
FAI/ETB COURSE - AN OVERVIEW
NOTABLE former FAI ETB soccer course members include professional players like Matt Doherty, Sean Gannon, and Abbie Larkin, who have used the program as a gateway to careers in professional football.
Many graduates have gone on to play for clubs in the League of Ireland and abroad, with some also becoming international players, coaches, or entrepreneurs. The program is a full-time, sport-themed education and training course designed to help young players develop their skills.
Examples of former members
Matt Doherty: A graduate of the Cabra center who went on to play for Wolves and the Republic of Ireland.
Sean Gannon: A former graduate who has had a successful League of Ireland career, winning multiple league titles.
Abbie Larkin: A female player who has played for the Republic of Ireland and is a former participant.
Jessica Ziu: Another female player who is a former course member.
Daniel Kelly: A graduate who went from the program to playing in Europe.
Aaron Molloy: A graduate who was selected in the MLS SuperDraft.
What the program offers
Professional development: The course is designed to help players develop skills and progress to professional careers.
Education: Participants can also pursue educational qualifications alongside their football training.
Financial remuneration: Successful candidates receive a training allowance.
Career opportunities: The program has been a successful pathway to professional football, with many players progressing to the League of Ireland and beyond.
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