The FAI has confirmed that chief executive John Delaney will step down from his position as head of Irish football’s governing body. In a statement released tonight, the FAI announced that Delaney will move to the position of Executive Vice-President with immediate effect.

The announcement comes amid controversy over a €100,000 “bridging loan” Delaney gave to the FAI back in April 2017, a loan which the FAI confirmed was repaid in full two months later, though the loan was not stated in the FAI’s 2017 accounts. Sport Ireland, the statutory authority which is responsible for the distribution of State funding to Irish sporting bodies, then requested “urgent clarification” on the loan.

Chief Operations Officer of the FAI Rea Walshe has been appointed interim CEO from Monday morning, with the FAI adding that a recruitment process has begun to fill the role on a permanent basis.