WATCH: John Delaney ‘very welcome’ to Limerick amid storm of ongoing controversy 

THE EMBATTLED former chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) was “always a great man to bring out the cheque book”, according to a local Minister of State who welcomed him to West Limerick. 

John Delaney, who stepped down from his former role at the helm of the FAI amid a series of escalating financial controversies over the last number of weeks, was the special guest of honour in Clounreask, Askeaton on Saturday night.

His trip to Limerick marked his first public appearance at a club level since the news of the €100,000 ‘bridging loan’ he provided to the FAI first broke in the Sunday Times. 

But any fears that his presence might spark a hail storm of tennis balls, in a protest mimicking the demonstration during the Euro 2020 qualifier, were allayed as he was warmly welcomed at the grassroots football event. 

The event, which marked the official naming of the Desmond League home base as the Mick Hanley Park, was also attended by several local public representatives. This included the Minister of State at the Department of Finance Patrick O’Donovan and Fine Gael TD Tom Neville. 

"First of all, John you are very welcome to West Limerick,” Minister of State O’Donovan said, addressing the attending crowds. 

“John was always a great man to support the clubs,” the former Minister of State for Tourism and Sport added. 

“I hope you will still be able to do that, and always a great man to bring out the cheque book so there's a lot of clubs here tonight John now and I'm sure that you won't let them down."

Speaking at the event, Fine Gael TD Tom Neville said:“It's great to have you here John, to welcome you down to the grassroots of football.”

Dressed down in a scarf and jeans, Delaney joked with the crowd that he “was dressed a bit like an executive vice president, no longer as a CEO – I don’t have the suit on.” 

“I’m delighted to be here,” he said. “First of all can I recognise the presence of Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Tom Neville and councillors.”

”First and foremost, the support of Government has been essential to the development of clubs around Ireland.”

“I have visited 2,000 clubs around the country, I know them intimately -I’ve worked very hard with them,” he added. “When you row a boat, if you row on your own you get nowhere. If you row against people, you don’t get anywhere but when you row together you get where you want to be.” 

In recent weeks, it has emerged that Delaney was receiving an annual salary of €360,000 while he was the chief executive of the FAI. This has reportedly been reduced to €120,000 in his new role. 

He also receives a UEFA Executive Committee salary of €160,000 and a further €300 in expenses while on committee business. According to the Sunday Times, Mr Delaney had also been living in a house rented by the FAI for €3,000 a month in addition to his executive salary. 

Several people attending the event in Clounreask commented that Mr Delaney seemed “sheepish” when he arrived to the base. However, the warm reception he received from volunteers at the event is said to have boosted his confidence. He was later hosted at a ticketed event at the Rathkeale House Hotel.

This week, Limerick FC Chairman Pat O'Sullivan came out in full support of the former chief executive. 

“Whenever possible John has attended club events and presentation nights, anniversary dinners and dedicated a lot of his time to attending Limerick FC matters, often taking up family time to be at a particular event to recognise a landmark occasion in Limerick,” Mr O’Sullivan said. 

“His election to the UEFA Executive committee is a testament to the high regard he is held within the game in Europe and while this is a great honour for John, it is also recognition of the game and our National Association.”

“All in Limerick FC are very grateful for John’s and the FAI support and contribution to the game in his time as CEO and fully believe he is the person to continue his work with UEFA and FIFA matters in his new role as executive vice president.”

John Delaney is expected to appear before the Óireachtas Committee on Sport next week.