FAI chief Jonathan Hill has defended his decision not to relocate to Ireland from England.
And chairman of the board, Roy Barrett, has dismissed the criticism of the chief executive’s stance as a ‘non-issue’.
Hill succeeded John Delaney as FAI boss in November 2020 but has decided to travel back and forth from London rather than live here.
Quizzed today, Hill said: “As you know, there has been a pandemic. The first six months I was in the job, there was no travel between England and Ireland anyway.
“This week I’m here for five days in the office, it’s my intention to be based in the office and it’s my intention to be in Dublin to do that.
“Off the back of the pandemic, the way in which people work has changed over the last 18 months. I’ve had hundreds of Zoom calls and (Microsoft) Teams calls.
“For me, the most important thing is not where I do my work, it is how I do my work.”
Asked if he has any plans to move to Ireland in the future, Hill said: “At the moment it’s unlikely I will move my family here.
“I have young daughters and a son at a specific point of their education that has been affected by the pandemic, so I think it would be unfair on them to move at this point.
“I will be here and I will be very close to this office so I can be here on a very regular basis.”
Hill was speaking at a press briefing today following last night’s launch of the FAI’s strategy for the next four years.
But some people involved in the game here have questioned why the man tasked with running Irish football is living in another country.
Hill continued: “'I'm comfortable I’ve done everything I could have done in relation to my role to now.
“I think I have worked pretty hard in meeting and talking to people to understand that landscape.
“I am a good listener and I think I have a pretty good idea and the key issues facing Irish football.
“Let’s be clear: those issues are not fundamentally different to the issues facing other football associations.
A relocation expenses fund in the region of €30,000 was tabled when Hill was first appointed.
FAI chairman Barrett said today: “There was relocation as Jonathan didn’t live in Ireland. I am very comfortable with the arrangements in place with Jonathan.
“We have a CEO who has been with us for 14 months, who is doing a very good job and delivering on all of the agendas we have set for him to date.
“He has my full support and the board’s full support. From my perspective it’s a bit of a non-issue, really.
Meanwhile, Hill has outlined what the FAI are looking for as they seek a successor to Dutchman Ruud Dokter as Director of Football.
"I think it is someone who has an understanding of Irish football, of player development,” he said.
“It may not be that we need a specific Irish solution to what are Irish challenges. Does that person need to be Irish? Not necessarily.
“But that will be part of the recruitment process and we will find the best person for the job, but they have to understand the context of Irish football."
