FAI announces interim CEO to replace Jonathan Hill

The FAI has moved quickly to announce an interim Chief Executive Officer, in place of Jonathan Hill, who announced earlier today that he will leave the association at the end of this month. 

The Board of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said it was pleased to announce the appointment of David Courell as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), it said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

Mr Courell, from Castlebar, County Mayo, has served as Chief Operating Officer of the FAI since February 2022. 

Commenting on David Courell’s appointment as Interim CEO, Independent Chair of the Board of the FAI Tony Keohane said: “With extensive experience in international sports administration and having spent the last two years as Chief Operating Officer, David has a deep understanding of the workings of the Association and is well positioned to lead the FAI while we undertake a process to appoint a permanent CEO. Along with the rest of the Board, I am confident he will continue to keep Irish football moving forward during this interim period.”

Following the announcement of his appointment, David Courell commented: “It is an honour to be asked to take on this post and a privilege to continue the positive work being carried out by the FAI. I look forward to working with the Board, the talented senior leadership team, the FAI’s trusted partners and our passionate and committed colleagues to progress our collective strategic ambitions.”

Mr Hill had come in for criticism following an an appearance by him recently before a Dáil committee. 

He was heavily criticised by members of the Public Accounts Committee in Leinster House in February of this year following his explanation of a payment of €11,550 he received from the FAI in lieu of holidays not taken, which was against the FAI's own staff rule book.

A successor to Stephen Kenny has yet to be announced, despite recent statements that a new manager of the Irish men's team would be in place by early April.