O'Byrne survives League bid - March 13,
2001
Under-fire FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne has survived the first bid to oust him. Last night's meeting of the 22 Eircom League clubs debated a motion calling for O'Byrne's resignation, but no vote was taken.
O'Byrne has been under pressure since Friday's FAI decision to abandon Eircom Park - seen very much as the chief executive's baby - in favour of a tenancy at the Government's planned Stadium Ireland.
Opponents are saying O'Byrne should step down after spending £3.5 million on a project that is now history.
Last night's motion was brought by Drogheda United's representative, Paddy Goodwin. And even though no vote was taken on the issue, he claimed on Irish national radio this morning: "We had a lengthy discussion and there was not one voice raised in favour of Bernard O'Byrne.
"He is an employee of the association, he has made serious errors of judgement and he must be held accountable."
Meanwhile, O'Byrne answered his critics by saying that his insistence on pushing ahead with the Eircom Park project had a major bearing on the size of the Government financial package eventually accepted by the FAI on Friday.
"I think even on a simple mathematical analysis, spending £3.5 million to get to the point where you receive an offer worth potentially £125m begs the question: how can it be put down as a waste of money?", O'Byrne said.
But Goodwin countered by saying: "My belief is that an even better offer was available from the Government eighteen months ago."