'I understand how important it is for any football nation to have a creditable, modern, fit-for-purpose Association'
Jonathan Hill - July 2021
Jonathan Hill has stepped down as the CEO of the FAI after a few years of turbulence when he sought to guide the troubled Association through choppy waters.
Instead Hill found himself in hot water in the wake of the payment in lieu of holidays not taken fiasco, and his subsequent attempts in the Oireachtas to explain the series of events.
At that hearing, FAI President Paul Cooke said his confidence in Hill “has been “challenged” by what happened.
“The Board of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is today announcing the departure of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jonathan Hill," the terse statement from the beleagured Association has said.
In July 2021 Hill called to the MDL in Navan and met some well known local soccer personalities including Gary Rogers and Timmy Clancy as well as a group of youngsters who were part of a Soccer Summer School run by the FAI.
He was not long in the job at that stage and spoke to the Meath Chronicle about his hopes and aspirations in the job.
"I understand how important it is for any football nation to have a creditable, modern, fit-for-purpose Association running it, that's part of the challenge, but also part of the opportunity."
Hill also commented on the facilities available to local soccer folk at the MDL, outside Navan. "As a facility this is brilliant, this is first class. I would like to see this replicated across the while of Ireland."
In some respects Hill was following in the footsteps of another Englishman who travelled over over Ireland to take up a job in soccer.
Back in 1986 Jack Charlton took over as Irish manager. Sometimes referred to as "a gruff Yorkshireman" Charlton was, in fact from Ashington in Northumbria.
He did, of course, play all his club football with 'the pride of Yorkshire' Leeds Utd, the club Hill also supported since he saw them play at Elland Road against Manchester United in the late 1960s.
From then on he was hooked on Don Revie's great team - and football. His interest in the game brought him into the role in which he replaced John Delaney at the helm of an FAI that's deep in debt. Now Hill too has moved on.
The FAI board discussed Hill’s future before the March friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland and while he stayed on at that time, there was a real sense his reign was nearing the end.
A series of meetings were held over the weekend and the outcome was today's resignation.
The FAI have confirmed that Hill will leave his post on 30th April, with an interim CEO to be appointed before a ‘structured search’ for a permanent successor gets underway. Irish fans that search won't take as long as the quest to find a new manager for the Republic of Ireland senior team.
Alongside Director of Football Marc Canham and Packie Bonner, Hill has been one of the three headhunters searching for a new Ireland manager.
The length of the process and the various twists and turns the FAI have followed in finding someone to replace Stephen Kenny has attracted much criticism.
The terse FAI statement today read: “The Board of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is today announcing the departure of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jonathan Hill.