A FUND THAT was set up by senior Republic of Ireland internationals to allow the FAI begin a scholarship programme for emerging League of Ireland academy stars went unused by the governing body for almost a year before the money was eventually redistributed.
The 42 has learned that in the region of €30,000 was made available to the FAI after donations from players, among them men’s captain Seamus Coleman, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, and centurion James McClean.
When it became clear after numerous requests for updates on progress that the scheme had yet to be utilised by the FAI, it was decided by the players that the money be used for other causes with the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland.
The players are believed to have informed the FAI that they remained available to help with the scholarship if the parameters could be put in place to put the scheme into practice.
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