Ireland's Football Academy System Faces Crisis, €4M Investment Proposed
Ireland's football academy system, despite strong public interest and substantial revenues, is struggling due to its heavy reliance on volunteers. Mark Scanlon, the League of Ireland's director, has proposed a solution to this issue, submitting a plan to the government's finance department.
Scanlon's plan involves creating three new full-time roles to oversee and direct academy soccer across Ireland. The proposal also includes an annual investment of €4 million in the academy systems of Irish football clubs. This investment is set to increase annually over the next two years, reaching €8 million.
The proposed budget would be distributed evenly among Ireland's 26 soccer academies. Scanlon believes that this investment is crucial for the growth and development of Irish football. Without such investment, the national soccer team may face a decline in its international rankings.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has submitted Scanlon's proposal to the government's finance department. If approved, the €4 million annual budget for academy investment could significantly improve Ireland's football academy system, benefiting both the League of Ireland and the national soccer team.
