When the end came for John Delaney at the FAI it happened in the shadows of a late night emailed press release on a day dominated by action from another sport.

The FAI statement confirming his resignation ran to just over 100 words and brought to an end a 14 year career at the helm of Irish football.

Negotiations over a settlement and an exit had been undertaken by Donal Conway and Paul Cooke and they were most likely pushed harder in the past week as UEFA had to confirm again that their Executive Committee Member had not been present whan a raft of important decisions were taken.

UEFA has played a key role in the financial stabilisation at the FAI necessitated by a suspension of funding from Government through Sport Ireland.

The embarrasment of having him continue to serve and draw a salary was clearly becoming untenable hence this statement:

The Board of the Football Association of Ireland announces the resignation with immediate effect of Executive Vice-President and former CEO John Delaney.  This follows talks between the parties. The FAI will fulfil certain notice and pension obligations as agreed between the parties.  

Mr. Delaney served as CEO of the FAI from 2005 to March of 2019 during which time the FAI became partners in the new Aviva Stadium. In 2017, he was elected to the UEFA Executive and in March of this year, he moved to a role of Executive Vice-President of the FAI.

Both parties have agreed to make no further comment.

The demand now is that the settlement package be published, which it likely will be as an update to the financial accounts due to be presented at the reconvened 2019 AGM in November.

The number is understood to be a significant six figure sum, though less than the widely reported €500,000  most of it is believed to be in the form of pension contributions

Regardless of whether the number is made public or not, the end of his reign does mean that the Association can move forward unencumbered by his still being involved.

The first of the reports into financial activity and management at the Association is expected to be published in the coming weeks, possibly as early as October 7th, and that will answer a number of questions over the way in which Delaney ran the Association in recent years as well as what level of oversight was undertaken by the Board.

Getting back to compliance with best practice in relation to governance will be the priority of the Board that was elected back in July but the question of Delaney’s status is no longer one they will dread and deflect.

The selection of four independent Board members is expected to be announced shortly, another hopefully positive step towards righting the ship.

In the meantime the game goes on.

The next U21 International at Tallaght Stadium is already sold out and the game for the Republic of Ireland Women’s National team against Ukraine at the same venue and in the same week is heading in the same direction.

All across the country yesterday morning games took place involving teams of boys and girls, men and women, most likely oblivious to the machinations at Board level.

Football is bigger than the problems that have engulfed in in 2019.  It will survive, albeit with a new cast of actors calling the shots.

For the first time on Saturday night it could be said with confidence and a signed document, that this future would not contain any hand, act or part of John Delaney.