The Football Association of Ireland have announced this evening that Roy Barrett will step down as Chairperson of the FAI.
Roy Barrett took over the role just over three years ago at a difficult time for Irish football, following the controversial John Delaney era.
He guided the FAI through a very chaotic period, with financial issues and the future of Irish football under the spotlight. Speaking at the time of his appointment, Roy Barrett made clear his intentions to help Irish football through this difficult time.
"I have decided to take on the role of Non-Executive Chairman of the FAI at this critical time because I believe the organisation has an important role to play in developing the game at every level in Ireland.
There is a serious job of work to be done to address the very significant failures which have beset the organisation in terms of its governance and its finances. The new Board will now deal with this task with urgency, working collaboratively with its stakeholders.”
As part of the FAI's bailout they received from the Irish government, one of the terms agreed was at least 40% female representation on the board by the end of the year.
Alongside independent director Gary Twohig, Roy Barrett has taken the decision not to seek ratification as a Director of the FAI at the AGM on January 21st.
In a statement made this evening, Roy Barrett acknowledged the progress that has been made during his time as chairperson, and outlined his hopes for the future.
“My intention to step down from my position provides a clear opportunity for the Board, to ensure that at least 40% of the Directors are female by the end of 2023, as required by the Constitution, and the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Government.
This is something that I feel very strongly about, and I am convinced that this is in the best long-term interest of the FAI and the game of football in Ireland. I have been Chairperson for the last three years and, whilst there have been many challenges, I am pleased with the progress that the organisation has made over the period.
We now have much greater financial stability, we have a new CEO and management team which I am increasingly impressed with and there is a clear direction for our sport in Ireland, as evidenced by the 2022-2025 Strategy we approved last year.
Similarly, relationships with the key stakeholders of the FAI have been repaired and there is a lot of support there for the game and its development. This is a good point for me to step aside and let others continue on with the journey. I will continue to fulfil my role and responsibilities with the same energy and enthusiasm until a replacement is found.”
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