FORMER Athletics supremo John Foley is in line to pick up the baton at the FAI when Noel Mooney returns to UEFA at the end of this month.
The ex-Athletics Ireland chief executive is favourite to land an interim role at the helm of the association pending the appointment of a full-time CEO.
It is understood that Mooney – who has previously ruled out applying for the role on a permanent basis – will not return to the FAI in the foreseeable future.
Well-placed sources have told the Irish Sun: “The name John Foley keeps coming up for a temporary position. He’s an exceptional administrator and highly regarded within the FAI.
“He is certainly one who fits the bill and is being strongly talked about. There is some serious preparatory work to be done for the next full-time chief executive and he’s a man who could do it.”
Sports Minister Shane Ross has been adamant that Mooney – someone close to Delaney – must have no involvement in the interests of severing ties with the FAI’s shambolic past.
In June, the former FAI employee was appointed as general manager in Abbotstown on a six-month secondment from UEFA.
It was a move which angered some as he was seen to be close to Delaney and the FAI old guard.
In July, Mooney was asked if he saw himself staying on and he said: “If you asked me today with all the noise that is out there, then I’m not sure that I would even apply for it.
“My first child comes in six weeks’ time. In my role in UEFA I cover 55 countries, that’s tough.
“There is part of me that would like to move back to Ireland but I would say it is extremely unlikely I will apply for the role.”
Last month he insisted: “I’m really quite aware of what I have to do, I have to fall on my own little sword. It is the right thing to do for Irish football, to let the Government get what they want as well. If that’s what they want me to do, that’s fine.
“It will be very difficult to hand over the baton because I love what we do and I think we’ve got a great chance.”
Asked whether he would stay on temporarily, he added: “I haven’t discussed it yet. I’d have to discuss it with UEFA, and I’d have to discuss with my partner more significantly.
“There is not a lot to discuss because I’m going back to UEFA at the end of November. It’s up to the FAI board to decide what they want to do. It’s not my decision.”
Foley – who is close to Sport Ireland boss John Treacy – recently acted as interim chief executive of Cycling Ireland.
Like Mooney, he also has historic links to Delaney, who finally left the Association in September after five months on gardening leave following a series of damaging revelations about its finances.
Foley was appointed to the FAI’s National League Executive Committee in 2007 where he served alongside Delaney.
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At the time he was CEO of Waterford Crystal, where he earned almost €700,000 a year, while Delaney’s uncle Redmond O’Donoghue had an annual salary of more than €1m in the same role at parent company Waterford Wedgewood.
In a statement, the FAI told the Irish Sun: “The Board of the FAI is currently looking at the appointment of an interim CEO. No final decision has been made.
“Noel Mooney will be returning to his UEFA role on the last day of November as he has confirmed on a number of occasions.”