Ever since the public row between the FAI and PFAI over this €300,000 emergency wage fund began, I’ve been asking myself two questions.
Why did it happen? And what happens next?
How the two most important associations in the Irish professional game have allowed things to get this far, only they can answer.
In fairness to PFAI General Secretary Stephen McGuinness, he has been front and centre and happy to answer any questions in relation to the issue and has said the women’s international team strike threats last year led to a further strain in the relationship.
Sharing tracksuits, changing in toilets and being treated as "fifth-class citizens" were some of the complaints made by the girls in green in April of last year.
They were perfectly entitled to air their problems publicly after the FAI failed to act.
It took a press conference with 12 members of the squad in Liberty Hall to bring things to a head.
Despite all of this, the FAI refused to deal with the PFAI, who the players had asked to represent them in the discussions.
Eventually, SIPTU got involved.
They came to an agreement which was acceptable to all parties, and having refused to train on the Wednesday of that week, they did play the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia a few days later.
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The relationship between the FAI and their CEO John Delaney - and the PFAI’s Stephen McGuinness and Ollie Cahill - was clearly damaged by those events.
It’s been widely reported that the PFAI asked for meetings with the FAI recently, in relation to wages unpaid for almost two months to both Limerick and Bray Wanderers players. But no meetings took place.
Those wages have, incidentally, now all been paid in full by the respective clubs.
It’s important to remember here that the FAI and PFAI offices are both in the same building in Abbotstown, and would be less than a one minute walk away from each other.
They also share a canteen, meeting rooms, a car park and toilets but it seems not even a casual chat was had, instead all correspondence seemed to be carried out via the media.
Delaney was asked this week why, as CEO, he hadn't got involved.
He failed to answer any real questions and pointed reporters in the direction of FAI Competitions Director Fran Gavin, who did admit that the relationship between both parties had been damaged.
It’s hard to believe that no meetings took place, despite the fact that players with two of the ten Premier Division teams (one fifth) had not been paid for a significant period of time.
Everything will now be brushed under the carpet as the issues have been "sorted" but what happens the next time the PFAI are required to get involved in something?
€300,000 fund or no €300,000 fund (which the FAI will now pay in full), there will be many more occasions when intervention is needed.
But if they didn’t talk after recent events, it seems unlikely they will talk in the future unless their relationship improves.
So what does the future hold?
I’d love to be a fly on the wall in FAI HQ in the coming days and weeks just to see if even the word "hello" is muttered if Gavin/Delaney or McGuinness/Cahill pass each other in the corridors.
The FAI have completely alienated the players representative body, and I can’t see that relationship being repaired.
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After all, the main person who needs to be involved in any resolution talks is Delaney himself, but that seems very unlikely to happen.
So effectively, the players are the ones stuck in the middle.
The FAI have constantly used the term "it’s about the players" in recent weeks, yet the next time there is an issue involving these same players, the association are unlikely to want to deal with and speak to those representing the footballers.
In short, it’s a total disaster.
Part of the PFAI’s Mission Statement reads: "PFA Ireland is the sole representative organisation for all professional and semi-professional players playing in the FAI League of Ireland.
"PFA Ireland is a democratic, player-driven organisation. Equality and solidarity are key concepts."
The key words there are - "players playing in the FAI League of Ireland".
It will be difficult for them to complete any missions in the current environment.
Their address reads:
Room 214, Players' Union Offices, FAI HQ, National Sports Campus, Abbotstown, Dubin 15.
The FAI website says... FAI Headquarters, National Sports Campus, Abbotstown, Dubin 15.
Their Contact Us section also reads: "The PFAI are also based at HQ."
Part of the FAI's mission statement says: "In fulfilling our primary role as the governing body, our job is to provide the professionalism to enable the game grow and prosper at every level and to support the members in fulfilling their ambitions."
It also talks about values and respect.
So it’s time they practice what they preach; meet the PFAI, have an adult discussion and move on.
Funnily enough, it might actually help the players, who are supposed to be the most important people of all.
