Niall Quinn dismissed as "accusations from naysayers" suggestions that there was a conflict of interest in FAI chairperson Roy Barrett being recommended for the position for the association's biggest creditor, the Bank of Ireland.
"It's my understanding that there were a whole host of people recommended to Amrop for that role. They're the headhunters that would be putting that position together," Quinn, the FAI's interim deputy CEO, told Virgin Media.
"In terms of Roy's selection, the negotiations which was were between the Department of Sport, Sport Ireland, the banks, UEFA - there was a big collective at that time - it made zero difference.
"To suggest there was a conflict of interest was wrong.
"He went and got as great a deal as we could possibly get and the fruits of that will come because the alternative was unthinkable.
"He satisfied government - which was very important - because if you look at the deal as it was, without government backing there was no point.
"I just feel his work, other than in tabloid headlines from the naysayers, often gets overlooked but he's been a brilliant independent chairman to get the deal, to settle it down, to bring the result that we got on Monday night to give the game a shot going forward. I've no doubt he will kick on from this."
Put to Quinn by presenter Tommy Martin that there is a need for the FAI to appear "whiter than white" given how the association was previously run, the former Ireland international said:
"When people make noise like that and try to build it up to be something bigger than it is... we can get carried away sometimes with headlines.
"Amrop had a ton of recommendations. One that a bank came up with and threw a name at, I think they threw others as well.
"To throw that, at this point, is the last cry from the naysayers. It's nonsense in my opinion and we move forward."
Quiz: Can You Name The Most Expensive Irish Footballers?
