LIKE a drunk in an alleyway, the FAI lurches on from one crisis to another.

The latest Joe Delaney's admission that he paid a shortfall of £110,000 in money accrued from the FAI's tickets for US 94 will merely precipitate more, and it will now be a surprise if the officer board even stagger on to their votes of confidence at the 51 member senior council on March 8th.

Realising the extent of the damage to the FAI officer board, and perhaps appalled by what he inadvertently inherited as stand in chief executive for the departed Sean Connolly, the honorary vice president Des Casey is considering his position.

Speaking before Delaney's admission, Casey had patently been taken back by the fall out from Wednesday night's executive meeting and ensuing press conference, after attempting to piece together the association as its honorary secretary with a number of temporary appointments.

"Will I help or hinder the situation? I don't know what to do. I'm going off to Malta for a long standing engagement I'm not running away which I have to fulfil. I work in the same building as Finbarr Flood and my integrity is just as important to me as it is to him."

"As far as I'm concerned I've nothing to hide but there's wider considerations because there's one's family and extended family, and the aggravation and embarrassment for people. I'll probably wait until March 8th. I'll wait and see.

However, another week could prove a very long time in the affairs of the FAI by the time Casey returns. If Casey doesn't distance himself from the officer board, he runs the risk of being brought down in a sinking ship.

If he resigns as well, it may prove a fatal blow for at least one and probably three of the remaining officers. A crippling punch was delivered on Thursday by the resignation of the Shelbourne chairman Finbarr Flood from the executive.

Delaney has now perhaps usurped Kilcoyne as the most vulnerable to an inevitable blood letting, with Michael Hyland next in line after Delaney's revelations yesterday. His"personal" statement was released through the FAI (see panel).

In his statement Delaney said he purchased tickets at the 1994 World Cup to barter for extra tickets for the FAI and Irish fans. This, he pointed out, was a common practice at major championships.

While it is undoubtedly true that bartering tickets is common practice at major championships contributing to the Republic of Ireland fans ultimately outnumbering Italians in the Giants Stadium at their World Cups opener - the statement leaves a number of questions unanswered.

Crucially, it doesn't say when the shortfall was met, nor how many tickets were given to the agent, Tio Marcos, aka George the Greek. Even allowing for his personal wealth, it doesn't satisfactorily explain why Delaney felt obliged to personally meet the shortfall. Why not give it to a deserving charity?

Furthermore, in response to questions concerning the alleged shortfall on Wednesday night, claimed to be £200,000, Kilcoyne said there had never been one, "not now nor ever".

Casey cited minutes of a finance committee meeting last November. No audited accounts were produced. No figures. They "didn't know" how many tickets or how much money went through the so called ticket tout, George the Greek, whom they now admitted was a tout. No one accepted responsibility.

Now Delaney has accepted responsibility but not, it would appear, to the point where he will resign. Nor is there any sign of collective responsibility yet. However, if the five officers persist in standing together they could ultimately have left themselves with only one option to fall together.

Like a dog with a bone throughout the whole controversial saga, accordingly Finbarr Flood's stature has risen rapidly within the game and among fellow executive and full council members. From messenger boy to managing director in 40 distinguished years at Guinness Ireland, and now vice chairman of the Labour Court, Flood has a certain gravitas. He has become a significant player in Irish football.

Support for his stance has swelled from the grassroots of the game from the Leinster FA executive delegate Charlie Cahill, to a host of National League clubs around the country.

The officers may have their supporters on March 8th, such as UCD's Dr Tony O'Neill and Bray's Eddie Cox. However, clubs such as Shelbourne, Bohemians, St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers will vote against one or more of the officers if they don't resign in the interim.

Looking at how the numbers add up, at least 12 and probably more of the 22 clubs (seven of whom didn't vote for Kilcoyne two years ago) represented on the 51 member full council will not pass motions of confidence in some of the officers.

If the officers survive en bloc an immediate casualty will be the merger between the FAI and a disgruntled National League (flourishing despite, rather than because of the merger). This comes up for renewal at the League's AGM on May 25th.

But first the saga rumbles on. If not served up beforehand, the club representatives and others on full council will come looking for a head or two on March 8th. Thus far the officer board have been an immovable object but the force that is swelling up against them is looking irresistible.

What next?