James McClean has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind. While the Wrexham captain continues to make headlines on the pitch, it is his candid comments about the FAI that demand attention this weekend.
The Derryman expressed some extremely strong criticism of the FAI and in particular Marc Canham, its chief football officer, in an interview with Dan McDonnell in Saturday's Irish Independent.
McClean vented his frustration with the governing body's handling of the domestic game, calling out its mismanagement and lack of vision.
His ideal vision for Irish football includes leadership that is deeply connected to the game at home.
“Maybe it’s old-school and patriotic, but I feel the head of the association should be Irish, and the vast majority of the people running the game should be Irish.”
“To grow the game, there has to be a consistent approach taken by people who have a connection with the league or a belief in it.”
Canham, of course, is English, having worked for the Premier League after his footballing career. He was hired by former FAI CEO Jonathan Hill, who had also worked in English football before taking a job with the FAI.
McClean was also extremely critical of Canham for the protracted hunt to replace Stephen Kenny, and he claims the FAI failed to properly support a scholarship initiative that he, along with Séamus Coleman and Gavin Bazunu, helped fund. The €30,000 donation was intended to create a pathway for young Irish footballers by providing financial assistance to train full-time while completing their education. However, despite initial interest from the FAI, the project stalled and ultimately went nowhere.
“In all honesty, the FAI and Marc Canham led us down a garden path,” McClean stated. “They seemed to be interested, as if they were on board, but ultimately, it was all nonsense. Actions speak louder than words, and when push came to shove, they ignored it, and it went dead in the water.”
McClean’s frustration is not just about this one initiative—it speaks to a broader issue of neglect and inaction. He believes the FAI is failing to prioritise the development of the League of Ireland, which he sees as critical for producing future national team players.
Without proper investment and infrastructure, Ireland risks becoming increasingly dependent on English-born players with Irish heritage rather than homegrown talent.
McClean is one of the strongest voices in Irish football, and his comments on Saturday only add to the pressure on Canham in his role.
