'We cannot continue doing what we are doing' - Canham pleads for overhaul in FAI plan

The FAI have unveiled their long-awaited Football Pathways Plan (FPP), a 12-year vision designed to restructure the game and produce a stream of talented players.

“Put simply, football in Ireland is not maximising its potential and is not delivering what it could for the country,” said Marc Canham, the FAI’s Director of Football since June 2022.

“We need to change how we think about the development of football in Ireland. We must think bigger, think differently, and enhance our level of ambition.

“Standing still is not an option and it is imperative we act now. We cannot continue doing what we are currently doing.” 

The document was released at a briefing held at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday morning, following a rollout to the FAI board, staff, General Assembly and volunteers through four workshops around the country last week.

Canham’s proposal to shift the standard season into a calendar version - thereby deviating from mirroring the school year – has received a frosty response.

The majority of affiliates don’t align with the FAI’s national league season of March to November and the move to synchronise by the start of 2026 has prompted a backlash.

Volunteers working on the ground have concerns over clashing with GAA and the usual perils of the summer months. 

Allied to that is the fact the Dublin leagues attempted the concept in conjunction with the FAI’s Player Development Plan of 2016 only for clubs to vote for a reversion two years later.

Canham is delivering a 75-minute presentation to media today on a blueprint dealing with three core areas: Pathways; Participation; and Performance.

Lots of jargon will be served up but the ultimate goal – they declare - is to increase the number and quality of experiences