The FAI gave a presentation at their AGM earlier this month highlighting how a potential source of revenue for academy funding would be the Brexit pot laid aside by the European Commission to provide support to member states most affected by the UK leaving the EU.
Brexit has placed pressure on League of Ireland academies to control player development because our best players now cannot move to English or Scottish clubs until they turn 18.
However, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe confirmed this morning that the FAI were arriving too late to the table to seek funds from that avenue.
“All the negotiations on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve concluded some time ago,” said Donohoe, who is aware of the FAI’s needs having hosted a delegation from the FAI on their academy plans and needs.
The FAI had formally submitted their proposal the week before last, and it was over a longer term period than the two-year timeframe mentioned at the AGM in the context of the Brexit compensation option.
Chief football officer Canham acknowledged today that the FAI should have been aware of that possibility earlier.
“We are happy to accept we may have missed an opportunity there – as an association, not the government – on that specific (Brexit) fund,” said Canham.
“The AGM wasn’t the first time we talked about that fund. But we acknowledge that for the Association it’s been a missed opportunity and we can take responsibility for that.”
Canham says that clarity on what the government are willing to put towards academies is expected before the year is out – it’s unclear if next Tuesday’s budget will deliver certainty.
“Before the end of the year we’ll know where we are,” he said.
“I don’t know what an announcement will look like but certainly our conversation with Government on that specific item, we’ll have a good understanding of where we are by the end of the year.
“We are very proactive speaking to Government regularly on a number of matters, including League of Ireland academies. So I wouldn’t say we’re leaving it and being complacent in any way.
“We believe around €10m per annum would absolutely transform player development and academies in this country. Will we get all of that? Not sure. But we presented different ways you can do that. We think around €10m would help us catch up and accelerate. Lesser money would mean that we might not go at the rate we want to go.
“We might have to be cognisant that the Government might not be the sole funders of that, whatever the figure is, forever,” continued Canham, when asked for timeframes – effectively acknowledging that the state role may be more from a start-up perspective.
“We have to make sure that Irish football – the association and the clubs – contribute to that and it cannot just purely be funded by Government.”
The FAI’s head of grassroots Ger McDermott again referenced how a cut of the betting levy could be utilised as an option, a campaign that the Federation of Irish Sport have also latched onto.
“We’re presenting what we feel are viable options. And there are more than just one,” said McDermott, who also referenced that Sports Capital grant awards in excess of €40m reflected a greater knowledge of how to navigate the political system.
“The Federation for Irish Sport are also positioning the betting levy for all sports. I guess the point I’m making, it’s not for us to say exactly where the money has to come from. What we’ve to do help the conversation along is present the options that we feel are there. Brexit is one. It’s off the table. Betting levy is another one, that is gathering momentum. Other people are saying the same thing.
“Marc mentioned earlier since the launch of the investment strategy around facilities there is a far deeper understanding of the challenge we face. But also from a League of Ireland perspective the opportunity that is there as well. What we’ll continue to do is point to options that can be helpful.”
Ironically enough – in the context of the Brexit/EU route – a delegation from the FAI’s League of Ireland department were in Brussels today to meet Irish MEPs and representatives of the European Commission to gain a further understanding of funding opportunities that might be open to them via those channels. A meeting with UEFA representatives was also a part of the itinerary.
