The Sports Minister has called on the FAI to reconsider its appointment of former employee Noel Mooney as its interim general manager.
Mr Mooney previously worked as a marketing executive at the association before joining UEFA in 2011.
It was announced earlier this month that he would take up the post as interim General Manager for period of six months as the association continues its attempts to reform.
Speaking at the Irish Football Stakeholder’s meeting at the Mansion House in Dublin this morning, Sports Minister Shane Ross said he does not believe the appointment of a former employee is “consistent with the drive for reform with new independent faces.”
He said the Government wants to see “people who are completely new, fresh and independent of links with the past.”
“It doesn’t help matters that Noel Mooney has been appointed,” he said. “Of course it doesn’t help matters at all.”
“But that is a decision which the FAI has certainly provisionally made and I hope it is one which they will change their minds on.”
Mr Mooney is due to take up the post next week.
Minister Ross also said he expects all members of the FAI board to honour to keep their promise and step down next month.
His comment come amid reports that some members plan to put themselves forward for re-election.
Shane Ross says he expects to see an entirely new board next month.
“The board of the FAI wrote to Minister Griffin and me a few months ago and said that they were going to step down,” he said.
“As far as I am concerned that is still the situation and that would be what we expect of them.”
League of Ireland managers, current and former players and FAI staff are taking part in the forum in Dublin this morning.
The event aims to examine the future of football in Ireland, amid the ongoing controversy over the FAIs finances and governance.
The association has come under intense scrutiny since it emerged former CEO John Delaney handed it a €100,000 bridging loan out of his own pocket in April 2017.
Mr Delaney subsequently moved into the role of Executive Vice President but has since stepped aside to allow an internal investigation to take place.
Sport Ireland has suspended funding to the body while the inquiry is ongoing.
With reporting from Kacey O'Riordan at the Mansion House
