*Denis Hynes. Photograph: Natasha Barton.
CLARE is at risk of losing its Football Development Officer with the position of Denis Hynes in limbo.
Appointed FAI Development Officer for Clare in May 2005, Denis has been one of the most influential figures in the game in the county.
He has played a central part in many soccer players progressing to League of Ireland and to signing with clubs in England and further afield including Ennis’ Ben Lyne who recently signed with Manchester United.
One of his first competitions involved with the county after taking on the role was the Galway Cup in 2005 where future All-Ireland winning hurlers David McInerney and Cathal Malone were part of the Clare side.
However his future in the post is under threat amid cutbacks in the FAI. The role could be disbanded completely or altered so that the officer is covering multiple counties such as Clare, Limerick or Tipperary.
A two-time Oscar Traynor winning coach with Clare, Denis is among those working for the organisation who face an uncertain future. The FAI currently has a debt of €42m but paid public relations and corporate advisory firm Teneo €242,302 for services in 2024 which was almost €100,000 more than the projected spend at the beginning of the year, as reported by The Sunday Independent.
100 members of FAI staff recently received emails to say their positions were under threat. The FAI has a total workforce of 255. In August, the FAI stated they were planning a “transformation” to reduce the headcount of its staff. Reductions would apply to those classed in “football functions” where the figures are to drop from 170 to 117, personnel in “support functions” will drop from 85 to 78.
The Clare Echo understands that the necessity to retain Hynes’ position has been flagged with Clare TDs, Joe Cooney (FG) and Cathal Crowe (FF) as far back as August.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, former Chairman of the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL), Jim Madden who also served as an FAI Junior Council Delegate stressed the need for current officers of the CDSL and Clare Schoolsboys/Schoolsgirls Soccer League (CSSL) to be proactive on the manner.
“It is very important that the leagues both the CSSL and CDSL contact their elected representative and the FAI to see what could be done to continue the job if the position was supported. Sport Ireland must have some additional money, it is seen as a very important role, we have a very active and developing girls section in the county. It is vital we continue the role,” he said.
While not ideal he said the prospect of Hynes covering multiple counties and not just Clare “would be better than nothing but it is a massive job to cover three counties, the amount of clubs in Limerick, Tipperary both North and South along with Clare the person would be run off their feet. If it is the only way we could get it done then we would have to support”.
