THE Football Association of Ireland was left temporarily rudder less last night after dramatic resignations by four of the five man officer board.
The association's president, Mr Louis Kilcoyne, had been left looking increasingly forlorn and isolated last night following the resignations of his four fellow officers, Mr Joe Delaney, Mr Des Casey, Mr Michael Hyland and Mr Pat Quigley.
Mr Casey the honorary secretary, and Mr Quigley, senior vice president, had announced their resignations simultaneously to a special meeting between the National League clubs and the officer board at 7.00 p.m., before leaving the offices.
In the discussions earlier, which Mr Kilcoyne joined at 7.30, several club representatives suggested that the remaining officers take a similar course of action to Mr Casey and Mr Quigley. Shortly after ten, Mr Hyland followed suit, and soon after so did Mr Delaney.
After the meeting, Mr Kilcoyne said he did not resign and it is believed that he will challenge a motion of no confidence in him at Friday's 52 member senior council meeting.
Issuing a brief statement through the FAI, Mr Delaney said "In light of the decision that Pat Quigley and Des Casey would be granted the right to address the Senior Council on March 8th, and that this courtesy would be extended to me, I hereby tender my resignation as honorary treasurer of the FAI."
Though it constituted an "unofficial" meeting, there had been widespread support for proposals by the Shelbourne representative, Mr Ollie Byrne, and the UCD representative, Dr Tony O'Neill, to appoint an interim management committee to fill the huge vacuum which last night's sudden developments have created.
Earlier, Mr Casey and Mr Quigley had revealed that they had sought the resignations of Mr Kilcoyne and Mr Delaney respectively over the weekend in light of the recent crises which have to enveloped the beleaguered association. Mr Casey said their refusal left him with "no option but to tender my own resignation as vice president, honorary secretary."
