At the FAI EGM yesterday evening, 78 recommendations that were put forward by the Sport Ireland/FAI Governance Review Group were passed by a margin of 116 to two.
FAI President Donal Conway has described this as "a resounding, clear message that they [members] want reform, they want it to start now, they want it to start immediately and they want it to continue.”
“It was almost unanimous across the board, the support for reform…it was a really well attended EGM; really, very well attended compared to other EGM’s we have had over the years.”
“Reform is a word… our members have really taken hold of. [It's a] change in culture, change in the way the organisation is run. They voted for reform at board level.
"Our members came here today well informed, wanting to put their marker down that we adopt this and let's move on.
“There’s been a team of people, myself included working since our difficulties started in March. It's been challenging, it's involved a lot of hard work and the result today makes it all worthwhile, the signal that today's resounding vote sends out."
“We move on to the AGM now, post-AGM we will have eight football board members and then we quickly get our four independent directors, we’re going through that process at the moment.”
Conway also confirmed after the meeting that he will stand for re-election at the AGM next weekend, despite objection from Minister for Sport Shane Ross.
"My standing for presidency is not anything to do to rebuff or thwart Shane Ross or anybody else for that matter, the members ultimately make a decision on leadership, if that's what the members decide we move on with that."
When asked about former CEO of the FAI John Delaney, Conway said he was not in a position to deal with that 'issue', saying "it will be dealt with in a different atmosphere."
"Today is about reform, about the resounding success of that document, about the adoption of that document."
To players, parents, coaches, volunteers, fans, all the stakeholders, I think today was an expression by the members...today was a clear message from the members that we want a top-class organisation going forward that can promote association football in this country."
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