TDs from the Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport fear the FAI's financial situation means job losses will be part of the process of the association becoming 'transparent and professional'.
Off The Ball spoke to members of the committee responsible for oversight of the FAI and Sport Ireland, after the FAI's appointment of three directors on Wednesday.
The appointments of Roy Barrett as the new Independent Chairperson, alongside Catherine Guy and Liz Joyce as independent directors has generally been welcomed at a time when the association are under pressure from government to reform.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross greeted the arrivals as commitment to "the necessary governance reforms" and an indication that "the old guard have been excised."
What now for the FAI?
However, while the appointments have generally been greeted as a positive development, members of the Committee believe that the trio have a lot to do to regain public trust in the FAI, as the Social Democrats' Catherine Murphy explained.
"The new executive board has a mountain to climb but, using the OCI as an example, it can be done," said Deputy Murphy, welcoming the appointments of the directors as also addressing a gender imbalance on the board.
Murphy believes that the main issue for the incoming directors will be cash flow - and that this will likely entail job losses at the organisation.
"Given the extent of the debt, the human resources side will likely involve some cost-cutting and restructuring.
