Roy Keane has claimed another victory in his battle against the Irish FA when the FAI’s general secretary, Brendan Menton, resigned yestreday.
Menton quit following the publication of a damning report on the FAI’s role in the organisation of the Republic’s World Cup campaign in Japan and Korea last summer.
The report echoed many of the criticisms made by Keane after his public bust-up with manager Mick McCarthy before the World Cup. Keane complained about the team’s unprofessional preparations in Saipan and was sent home by McCarthy.
Menton’s departure follows only a week after the resignation of McCarthy who claimed that media criticism, particularly from supporters of Keane, had made his position untenable.
“My decision was made on the future needs of the association,” Menton said.
The report, by independent consultants Genesis, recommends the complete overhaul and modernisation of the FAI administrative structure and the creation of a new position of chief executive.
“I felt for personal and professional reasons this was a job for someone else and not for me,” Menton said. The FAI executive accepted all the recommendations made in the report. FAI president Milo Corcoran said:
“We need a fresh start. I can assure you that we have the commitment to put that report into operation. “It is a shock to us but we have a lot to learn. We will commit that report into action.
“Costs don’t come into it. We will put the football first.”
