Former Republic of Ireland and St Patrick's Athletic manager Brian Kerr has welcomed the financial rescue package that the new board of the FAI has agreed with the Government, UEFA and Bank of Ireland.
Kerr managed the national team between 2003 and 2005 and previously led the Under 16's and 18's to European Championship glory before taking up a technical director role with the Association.
Funding of €30 million will be provided by restoring state funding of €2.9 million, doubling that to €5.8 million over four years and there will also be a €7.5 million loan made available to service liabilities on the Aviva Stadium.
Speaking at the launch of a football policy document by Labour Senator Aodhán O'Ríordán, Kerr is happy Irish football has been saved and disaster has been averted:
"It's a very satisfactory situation. I think anyone that has a feeling for Irish football has a sense of relief about it. It's a good day and great work done by the new people that have come in and the people that were there just before them; Paul Cooke and his group who obviously put the wheels in motion and got things going; and now Roy Barrett, Gary Owens, Niall Quinn around it - and the new independent directors. It's a good day."
Brian Kerr has been involved in Kieran Lucid's plans for an All-Ireland League and despite opposition from the Irish Football Association, the Dubliner believes there is still hope something can come from it:
"Reaction has been very good. The Hypercube consultants that came from Holland had some startling information in relation to where we are in the true co-efficient of European football. Clubs both North and South are at quite a low ebb. I think that was reflected in the results last summer, where out of the 14 matches our four clubs played - our results were three wins, four draws and seven defeats. Cork went out to a team from Luxembourg. That's quite poor. If we want to get away from that, we need something radical to happen."
Kerr says the realisation of an All-Ireland League will have to come from the ground up:
We still have a tough road to travel, but if people want it to happen, I think they have got to find their voice and get out and support it and let other fans know that they think it's a good plan. They have got to let their clubs and their Associations know that they would like it to happen. It will only happen if the clubs want it to happen, the Associations agree that it can happen and that they put the case to UEFA that it can happen."
Brian Kerr has not been involved with the FAI since 2005, but he would be amenable to talking to the new board about assisting with the new vision of the governing body:
"If and when they choose to think that it's appropriate to ask me would I be interested in doing a particular role or helping out in some way, I am open to that discussion. But it's not for me to promote myself. I don't feel I have any divine right to be approached."
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