Analysing the biggest challenge facing new FAI CEO as David Courell appointment confirmed
Former FA and London Olympics official David Courell has served as interim CEO since the departure of Jonathan Hill earlier this year
David Courell knows exactly what he is getting into as he settles into life as the FAI’s latest Chief Executive Officer.
His six-month spell as interim CEO has been eventful - from the emotionally charged reactions nationwide to allegations of abuse in the mid-1990s, made by a band of brave former female players, to the need to ensure that safeguarding is so watertight that such behaviour is a thing of the past.
He was there in the latter stages of the protracted search for a new senior international manager and was part of the process that finally got Heimir Hallgrímsson over the line.
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Then there was the throwback to the bad old days as Dundalk FC flirted with extinction.
The UK government’s decision not to fund the redevelopment of Casement Park might be outside his remit, but the consequences fall in his lap, with the decision creating turbulence for the rest of the Euro 2028 co-hosts.
Securing the best deal for Dublin and Ireland from our neighbours’ misfortunes will be another key priority for the new CEO.
But the biggest and most pressing challenge facing Courell now that he has officially taken over from Jonathan Hill, who was the replacement for John Delaney, is money, money, money.
Courell has apparently seen off the challenges of Swim Ireland chief Sarah Keane and Munster Rugby CEO Ian Flanagan, a former Leicester City commercial director, to land the top job at Abbotstown,
Up to April, when he assumed the interim role, Castlebar native Courell had been working as the FAI’s Chief Operating Officer for just over two years.
Previously he worked as a management consultant with Deloitte. He was Operations Manager for the Olympic Stadium during London 2012 and was Head of Business Management for the English FA.
Since his return to Ireland he has immersed himself in grassroots football, coaching in the Ballyouster schoolgirl section.
Between his financial and grassroots background, he knows just how high the stakes are as the cash-strapped association continues to push for a wider share of the government purse.
There can be no more mess ups like their failure to apply in time for a slice of the Brexit Adjustment Fund, a European offering for businesses affected by the UK’s departure from the EU.
The FAI were hopeful that some of the €10 million per year they want for League of Ireland academies could come from that pot, but conceded last week that they were too late to get their application in.
Funding academies is a top priority for the association and convincing the government to open the cheque book will be key.
Sports Minister Thomas Byrne has already awarded over €45 million to football in Ireland through the recent Community Sport Facility Fund (CSFF) scheme, formerly known as the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme.
He has promised to offer more clarity in the coming weeks regarding the FAI’s academy proposal, which is expected to be dealt with in the new Memorandum of Understanding between government and the FAI.
Minister Byrne is well aware of the fractures within Irish football and bringing all levels of the game onto the same page is going to fall, ultimately, at Courell’s feet.
Helping Marc Canham get his ambitious and necessary Football Pathways Plan over the line is another make-or-break issue facing the new CEO.
When calling for football fans to push politicians - who could be canvassing as early as this month for the next General Election - on funding for football, Courell told the recent FAI AGM: “This is not a handout, but an investment to kickstart an industry.”
He called for an increase in the betting levy from two to three percent, saying that it would bring in an increase of €50 million annually, with the FAI looking for €30 million of that.
The FAI posted a surplus of €3.5 million in 2023, with the Association’s debt dropping from €50.9 million to €43.2 million. It currently stands at around €40 million. This year will be a tougher one financially, however, as glamorous Euro 2024 qualifiers last year helped swell the coffers.
The increase in turnover by more than €8m to €62.3m was also thanks in part to Ireland’s participation at the Women’s World Cup.
Bringing the debt down and setting a target for when the association will be debt free will also be on his agenda.
Courell has seen enough in his near six months in charge to know what he is getting himself into.
It is no exaggeration to say his reign comes during the most pivotal era in Irish football, as the game here continues its slow recovery from decades of neglect.
Whether he is the man to deliver remains to be seen, but he has the full backing of the FAI board, with unanimous ratification of his appointment.
“His tenure as interim CEO has shown him to be a respected and collaborative leader with a deep understanding of what is required to keep Irish Football moving forward into the future,” said chairperson Tony Keohane.
“Along with the rest of the Board and the leadership team, I am confident that under his leadership, we will make real progress in fulfilling the potential of the sport in this country.”
FAI President Paul Cooke added: “We have already seen the benefit that his leadership and guidance has brought to the Association in the past number of months, in particular the positive relationships that have been built upon with key political and football stakeholders.”
And Courell himself said: “While there is a lot to do, we also have a lot to celebrate and build upon.
“I look forward to working with our Chair, President and the Board, General Assembly, staff, partners and our wider community to guide the Association into the future and I thank the Board of the FAI for their ongoing support.”
For the new CEO of the FAI, the hard work starts now.
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