Football News

Stephen Bradley says he understands why the Irish Government is reluctant to fund Irish football when trust levels are so strained.

A recent visit to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee by the FAI proved an unmitigated disaster, as the controversy regarding an erroneous holiday pay deal for their chief executive hijacked plans to justify claims for their €863m, 15-year facilities plan to be subsidised by the exchequer.

The FAI last week announced the departure of CEO Jonathan Hill with two years remaining on his contract.

“We've all been banging the drum and need to keep banging it,” Bradley, manager of Shamrock Rovers, said about the quest to modernise facilities and fund an industry to develop players in the post-Brexit era.

“I don't know the ins and outs with the Government but they need to be comfortable handing over money to the right people.

“To be fair to the government, you've got to be very comfortable on where you are handing that money to and understand that it's going to get spent in the right way. I understand that.

“You've got to understand their point of view as well. I hope it is because it's the one thing holding this league back.”

Bradley, chasing a record-breaking fifth title in a row, noted the investment in stadia unveiled by Kosovo, one of the smallest and newest of Uefa’s 55 member nations.

“They've committed €200m to stadiums,” he highlighted.

“In ten years’ time, we'll be wondering why they've gone ahead and we're still stuck. We need investment.

“Crowds are good. I believe the teams are good. Managers are good. We need help with facilities, everyone across the board.

“Like you see with the bad pitch at Tolka Park against Shelbourne on Monday, this doesn't help anyone. The pitch killed