It would appear the FAI are exceedingly unhappy about the row in the press that followed their €5000 grant to the League of Ireland clubs.
Derry City and St. Patrick's Athletic very publicly fired the cheque back at them, dismissing the figure as derisory. At the time, the FAI did their damnedest to play up the fact that St. Pat's representative Frank Kinsella was "central to the Strategic/Business strategy process agreement."
Now, the FAI are making clear they don't want to work with Frank Kinsella anymore. Neil O'Riordan of the Sun tweeted out a letter which was sent to the League of Ireland clubs last week.
Kinsella was part of the delegation from the PCA (Premier Clubs Association - the representative body of the LOI clubs) alongside Martin Heraghty of Sligo Rovers, Tim Murphy of Cork City and Senior Counsel Michael Cush.
The FAI now say they would have "difficulty continuing the progressive process" if Mr. Kinsella was present.
While the FAI acknowledge the positive contribution of Mr. Cush, Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Heraghty, the board have lost confidence in Mr. Kinsella. Mr. Kinsella commented on the meeting of the 27th of July that the funding was welcome. Subsequently, without notice, his club released a damaging statement to the press. As a result, the FAI would have difficulty in continuing the progressive process which has been experienced with other members of the PCA, if Mr. Kinsella was present.
Here's the letter FAI sent to all League of Ireland clubs last week. Note attempt to isolate St Pat's pic.twitter.com/AKIsYlpfwb
— Neil O'Riordan (@noriordan) September 1, 2016
Elsewhere, the played up their achievements in helping clubs develop their infrastructure since they assumed control of the League in the mid-noughties. However, our own John Dodge pointed out a relevant common denominator here. Not one of the facilities listed is owned by the actual clubs themselves.
From that FAI letter tweeted by @noriordan. The common factor among these developments? Not one owned by a club pic.twitter.com/BsiO1D94kR
— Dodge (@seidodge) September 1, 2016
