Breaking Jonathan Hill leaving his position as FAI chief executive officer

Jonathan Hill, the chief executive officer of the Football Association of Ireland, will leave his post at the end of the month.

He has been in charge of the football body since November 2020.

An interim CEO will be appointed by the FAI which will be followed by "a structured search for a full-time successor", according to a statement issued this morning.

Hill was heavily criticised by members of the Public Accounts Committee in Leinster House in February following his explanation of a payment of €11,550 he received from the association in lieu of holidays not taken, which was against the FAI's own staff rule book.

He repaid the money and another €8,000 benefit in kind he received for commuting expenses after an audit found his salary had breached the limit of a General Secretary of a government department, a stipulation agreed under the terms of a government bailout of the FAI in 2020.

Hill apologised and claimed that it was an "unintentional breach" of the bailout agreement.

Sport Ireland temporarily suspended funding to Irish football following the audit but that grant aid has since been restored.

Hill was the first permanent CEO appointed to the FAI following the governance issues which emerged during the John Delaney era.

He took over during the Covid-19 crisis and oversaw Ireland’s successful bid to co host the 2028 European championships along with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

He led the growth of the women’s game culminating in Ireland’s first appearance at a Women’s World Cup and promotion to League A of the Nations League.

He finally attracted a title sponsor to the men’s team after a long absence but the association is yet to appoint a manager for the men’s international side following Stephen Kenny’s