Full coverage: FAI

Whatever about the super elite, new transnational football leagues for disadvantaged European cities could happen very quickly. The top clubs in the League of Ireland need to get their skates on, as the current model is not working here.

The furore about top-up payments to CEO Jonathan Hill dominated the FAI’s appearance at an Oireachtas committee this week. Sadly, however, the real problems within Irish football run much deeper and will be much harder to remedy than repaying €20,000.

The football manager who deviated from the norm of Ireland players being told of their limitations had tried to inculcate in them a belief that we could beat the best. In the end, we could not beat New Zealand.

Back in 2013, two Irish businessmen sought to replicate the model of a Swiss trade finance firm. Almost a decade later, it has collapsed. This is the story of tax breaks, unregulated loan notes, and a disastrous deal with the former kit supplier to the FAI.

The failures of the old FAI are known to everyone but Irish football needs constant exposure to new ideas as it tries to stand on its own two feet.

His time as Ireland manager ended in disappointment. In this episode of Experience, he talks to Dion Fanning about John Delaney, being viewed as an outsider and the mistakes he made.

Roddy Collins's life has been a story of adventure, resilience and, sometimes, bluster. In this week's episode of Experience, he talks to Dion Fanning about never being afraid to risk everything and standing up to John Delaney.

On Tuesday, the FAI pulled the plug on JACC's most lucrative business contract. Now it's facing the wall with debts of over €13 million and serious allegations about stock transactions and handling creditor claims.

The struggles for all Ireland managers are real but those who live here deal with the suffocating nature of the world of Irish football.

In international football, only a change of manager can cater to the football supporter who wants his whims and fantasies catered for and cares nothing for reality.