The relationship between the FAI and the PFAI has struggled to recover from the episode of April 2017 when the women’s senior team withdrew from training in protest over working conditions.
Since then, according to Stephen McGuinness, General Secretary of the PFAI, dealings with the FAI have soured and all communication has broken down with it’s CEO, John Delaney.
And fresh concerns over remuneration have surfaced again – this time with footballers of the League of Ireland – and it is a lack of communication that is seemingly preventing progress from taking place.
The FAI shared a press release communicating their plans of providing a €300,000 assistance fund for clubs on wages – with the PFAI expected to cover half of the money.
“I think Fran has a role to play as Director of Competitions but I think this is above that. I think we’re at a situation when there’s funds of this nature being set up and when there’s been issues for so long – I think it’s time for John Delaney to step up,” McGuinness told OTB.
McGuinness claimed the PFAI only became aware of the plans for an assitance fund after the press release was submitted by the FAI.
But despite the ongoing situation, Delaney continued to push the issue in the direction of Gavin when he spoke to OTB.
“There’s a structure in the FAI. We have different departments. Fran Gavin deals with the PFAI and he’ll give you a day-to-day workings that have been going on for the last period of time,” Delaney said.
“There is not a day that I don’t deal with a League of Ireland matter but Fran Gavin’s job is to deal with the structure and operational matters.”
Gavin, Director of Competitions, dismissed the idea that PFAI were unaware of negotiations over the proposal of an assistance fund for players’ wages.
“That’s the PFAI. If that’s their attitude that’s grand,” Gavin told OTB.
“The position is to get comfort for the players. The PFAI gave it a cautious welcome – which is good to hear – and I think they realise it’s the right thing to do and we have the means to support this.”
Players of Bray Wanderers and Limerick have since seen their wages arrive following the intervention of the FAI but the relationship between the organisation and the PFAI remains tense.
James Hopper
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