IFA President goes - but on his own terms

July 6 – Raymond Kennedy has negotiated a series of concessions in return for his resignation as President of the Irish Football Association (IFA), it has emerged.

Kennedy has been forced to step down after being blamed in a Government-ordered report for costing the organisation more than half-a-million pounds with the controversial sacking of Howard Wells as chief executive in October 2008.

Kennedy and his deputy David Martin were forced to step down following a unanimous vote by their own 11-member Executive board of directors after a Government-ordered inquiry was highly critical of their roles in the Wells affair.

But Kennedy will be allowed to stay on in the IFA post until September while a replacement is found and will then be made an honorary life president.

He will also be allowed to continue his roles at FIFA and UEFA, representing Northern Ireland at all away matches during the European Championship qualifiers for 2012 and attending International Board meetings until the 125th anniversary in 2011.

Kennedy has also been offered the post of honorary chairman of the National Stadium Committee, which is overseeing the redevelopment of Windsor Park.

Kennedy has admitted ignoring legal advice over the sacking of Wells from his £105,000 ($222,000) a year post as chief executive, a decision which eventually cost the IFA £516,000 ($766,000) in compensation and legal fees.

Northern Ireland Sports Minister Nelson McCausland had warned that if Kennedy did not step down then the Government would be forced to reconsider a proposal to provide £30 million ($45 million) worth of funding for the redevelopment of Windsor Park.

He said: ”I will need to see issues addressed if the IFA is to benefit from continued public funding.”