John Delaney refuses to discuss unrelated topics at Sports Council funding event

FAI chief executive John Delaney yesterday refused to take questions on any topic other than the Irish Sports Council's annual funding.

GAA director general Páraic Duffy and IRFU chief executive Philip Browne were with Delaney in Croke Park as it was announced that €7.4 million in funding was to be shared between the three bodies.

Both Duffy and Browne addressed a range of issues affecting their respective sports; Delaney, however, refused to do this.

Off the record, before speaking on it, the 47-year-old assured reporters he would be available for interview at the FAI AGM launch on May 21st in Sligo or Leitrim.

Strict parameters

Operating within these strict parameters, the FAI’s chief executive was asked if the age of austerity was finally over for Irish football.

“We continue to put money in all the time to be honest with you,” said Delaney.

“We have found cleverer ways of doing it. I mean the [Abbotstown] campus is going to be open in May or June.”

Is it?

“Yeah, absolutely,” he continued.

“There are six pitches there. Floodlights are on three of them. A goalkeeping area with fencing. Dressing rooms. Coaching centre. Education centre.”

No onsite accommodation though, but Delaney confirmed Abbotstown would be the training base for Martin O’Neill’s senior squad. “Oh, it will yeah. I think come the autumn, it will yeah, definitely.”

Since you mention it, does that mean vacating Ireland’s current training pitches at Gannon Park?

“I wouldn’t go as absolute as that yet,” Delaney said.

Elite academy

“Leave it at this, and we’ll cut [the four minutes 45 seconds interview] now, why would we build an elite academy and not use it for our senior international players?”

So that’s a yes? “Up to you to interpret that now.”

Earlier Delaney said he was a “huge admirer” of the Sports Council, and not just for the €2.7 million investment for 2015.

“In short, they get it. They understand sport. It is not tokenism.

“When you come with a problem, they understand it and work with us and they know we are not asking for ourselves – we are asking for our sport.”

Roll on May 21st. Definitely maybe.