Former Cork City player Derek Coughlan argues that the rebirth of the League of Ireland has to be a priority for a reformed FAI. However, it urgently requires major investment so our domestic league can accommodate the talent coming through. A long opening statement from the FAI president Donal Conway went into serious detail about the work they do and how they submit report after report to Sport Ireland. The whole system now needs to be turned on its head so that the senior domestic league is at the forefront of the association’s efforts. With the obvious change in the player pathway in Irish football — and given the integrity of the two men behind this vision — we must give it serious consideration.

Source: Irish Examiner April 16, 2019 23:02 UTC