Recently appointed FAI general secretary Brendan Menton has said that the funds acquired from the government in return for abandoning Eircom Park will enable the association to compete head on with the GAA and IRFU for the next generation of players.

In a wide-ranging interview for today's Irish Times he claims that the association suffered years of discrimination at the hands of the country's schools who, for decades, ignored soccer while promoting the games of the FAI's rivals.

The cost of land in urban areas where soccer clubs tended to be based, a poor club structure and the sport's traditionally working class roots all tended to disadvantage his organisation too, he added, before going on to claim that the agreed government backing and additional funds generated in the event that Stadium Ireland is built and becomes the Irish team's home, would "allow us to compete...on equal terms for the very first time".

Menton said that, spent wisely, the money can "transform" the state of football around the country with a network of coaching centres, all-weather pitches and other support structures giving local clubs access to facilities currently enjoyed only by the other, more wealthy associations.

The fact that the GAA subsequently received funding on a similar scale, is "not an issue," he adds.

"When we were doing our deal it was obvious that they, in turn, would do theirs. But I believe we have an edge over them insofar as all of their money will go into Croke Park while ours will be spread around the country, to every level of the game."

While conceding that the dispute over Eircom Park was "damaging" to the association he says that it is moving forward well after a very difficult year and that the new, "younger", leadership will have an extremely positive effect in the long term.

The 49-year-old former Home Farm midfielder welcomes the issuing this week by FIFA and UEFA of new regulations covering transfers and other issues.

Under the new rules, which also reduce the time players must be released ahead of internationals from five days to four, clubs who develop players from the age of 12 right up to 23 are entitled to a share of five per cent of any subsequent transfer fees.

Sanctions were also introduced to apply to players or clubs that breach contracts and specified levels of educational support are made mandatory for young players who move to professional clubs.

The FAI's leading administrator says that he believes the new rules may make it easier to keep promising young players here at home.

Menton also promises an academy run by the association to provide coaching and educational support to up and coming players within five years, assuming adequate provision for such a centre within Campus Ireland is made and he believes it will be.

Though Campus Ireland may also provide a long-term answer to criticisms raised by Roy Keane with regard to training facilities at Clonshaugh, he admits that the association may have to spend additional funds on the international training pitch by the airport.

Any such difficulties should be, however, raised by Mick McCarthy, he says.

He admits, meanwhile, that although National League clubs can expect to benefit considerably from the injection of new funds being made available to the game (the 22 clubs received 40 per cent of development grants over the past decade) he sees no solution to the their ongoing problem of under-funding.

Despite this, he maintains the switch to playing during the summer will bring "considerable benefits".

He defends his record on the departure of Bernard O'Byrne who was publicly accused of financial irregularities during his five years in the post but was then given a substantial golden handshake.

"People can accuse me of being soft but there was a human side to it and I wanted it resolved. I am convinced that the way we handled the situation was the best way for us to move forward as an organisation."