FAI assistant Shane Robinson pleads ‘keep politics out of Irish football’ as he calls for IRFU-style academy model [Video]

SHANE ROBINSON has decried the amount of politics in Irish football as he strives to implement the pathways plan.

And he believes no more than five high-level academies is the optimal number for a country of Ireland’s size and population.

Robinson left his role as Head of Academy at Shamrock Rovers last year to become Assistant Director of Football at the FAI.

He was involved in drawing up the Football Pathways Plan unveiled by Marc Canham.

It was felt that the Director of Football’s model was undermined by FAI President Paul Cooke when he told the Association’s General Assembly that nobody had to do anything with which they were not comfortable.

And Robinson said: “It’s supported publicly by the board at the moment.

“That message needs to be really, really clear, that it’s supported by the board, that it’s supported by Paul …