The FAI are holding their AGM in Sligo this Saturday. John Delaney is down in the west and appeared on Ocean FM, where he discussed a number of issues including the speculation surrounding Martin O'Neill and the despairing talk about the development of football in Ireland.
Most interestingly, Delaney gave very short shrift to the pessimistic talk about the number of players coming through and the accompanying criticism of the FAI.
Some of those comments are ill-informed. Some of those people who do comment on the development of the game I've never seen at an emerging talent programme, at our underage international matches or at grassroots events.
There is a huge amount of energy and work taking place. And the funny thing we do in Ireland, Niall, we're very black and white, had we beaten Scotland, you wouldn't have heard any of those comments. Suddenly, we get a draw and there's devastation. Come September, if we win our two matches, there'll be huge expectation going into October.
I know we're doing the right things. We've just launched a new player development plan at schoolboys level and there's been a tremendous reaction to that. And that's about more touches, more fun, more flexibility, less competition, 5 v 5, 7 v 7, 9 v 9, giving the kids more time on the ball, enjoying the ball.
Early on in the interview, he touched on the Martin O'Neill-Leicester business and discussed how he learned that O'Neill was intent on staying with Ireland.
That was never going to happen. It's funny, Martin O'Neill came into to see me on Friday.... And we had a quick discussion about the Leicester thing. And he said he's staying. And we said 'we want you to stay'. And that's done. And I was driving down the road later on to Waterford Hibs' 75th dinner. And I was listening to the radio and Emma my partner was with me, and we were hearing that 'Roy Keane was now the manager. How would I deal with that? We weren't going to qualify and Martin was at Leicester', and she said to me 'Are you sure you were at that meeting?'
Elsewhere, John Delaney attributed his interest in women's football to the birth of his twins, a boy and a girl who are aged twelve now.
He was also inevitably asked about whether he harbours any political ambitions...
Naturally, Emma English was prominent, although, in fairness, one texter was keen to know...
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