The FAI has announced the appointment of a board of directors for the newly established Global Ireland Football Foundation (GIFF), a fundraising entity tasked with attracting investment to improve facilities.
The body will be formally launched in March, and will operate independently of the FAI, with its own governance framework, separate legal structure, and independent board.
The FAI says GIFF "will engage with private individuals and corporate partners in Ireland and around the world to attract new investment into grassroots football in Ireland".
Colin Ryan has been appointed chair of the board. He is the chief strategy and corporate development officer at US tech company Qualcomm, and the founder of Clipper Street Capital Limited, a technology and media advisory and investment firm, through which he holds a minority interest in Salford City FC.
Ex-Leicester City CEO Susan Whelan, Shamrock Rovers co-owner Ray Wilson, current chair of the FAI board Tony Keohane and the association's president Paul Cooke join the board of directors.
Nichola Mullen has been named the director of development. In an FAI press release, Mullen is described as "a highly skilled leader in strategic fundraising, organisational growth and community impact".
In June 2023, the FAI published its strategic analysis and vision for the next 15 years, in which the organisation said it requires €863m to modernise facilities and standards in this country.
At its AGM back in November the FAI said it had "rephased" its debt after reaching an agreement with its three main lenders to extend the timeframe for repayments.
In 2024, the association said it was aiming to be debt-free by 2031. However, that target has been revised.
With a windfall coming in 2028 when Ireland will be co-hosts of the Euros, the FAI says it is now looking to have debts (which stand at €38m) cleared by 2036.
