SOCCER: There were further signs yesterday that relations between the FAI, the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the Government were on the mend when it was announced that €350,000 of the €500,000 in funding withheld from the association before Christmas has been restored.

The move follows what have been described by officials in both the Sports Council and the FAI as positive and productive meetings between the two organisations with the former making it clear the remaining €150,000 in grant aid will be paid when the process of appointing a long-term chief executive and finance director have been satisfactorily completed, probably in the spring.

The decision to withhold the money was taken in October 2004 but €200,000 will now be provided to fund the FAI's Technical Development Plan with a further €150,000 going to support the implementation of the Genesis Report. The cash is, theoretically, to help cover the cost of senior managers appointed as a result of the report's recommendations and is being handed over despite the posts in questions not yet being filled.

"Today's announcement by the Irish Sports Council shows confidence in that ongoing reform process and in the Technical Development Plan," said the association's interim chief executive John Delaney.

"We have fulfilled our commitment to advertise the positions of chief executive officer and finance director by year's end and we are committed to the ongoing reform process in keeping with the spirit of the Genesis Report," he added.

Senior Sports Council officials have made it clear that the spirit of that report makes it essential that the posts being advertised are filled in an "open and transparent" way and the outstanding €150,000 will only be handed over when the process is completed to the council's satisfaction.

Relations between the two organisations have, however, clearly improved significantly since the start of last month and a presentation on the FAI's current operations and goals for the future, made by Delaney to the council on December 21st, is said to have impressed leading members of the Government-backed agency.

In the letter, sent by John Treacy to Delaney which confirmed the provision of the €350,000, the ISC chief executive said: "The Council viewed the presentation as pointing to very positive progress on the part of the FAI."

ISC chairman Pat O'Neill was also upbeat, observing: "The council viewed the presentation by the FAI favourably and acknowledges the work done by the FAI in relation to the implementation of Technical Development Plan as well as the work being done at grassroots level.

"In relation to Genesis," he added, "the council welcomes the fact that the posts of chief executive and finance director were advertised for competition at the end of last year. The council looks forward to working closely with the FAI in relation to the recruitment process."

Quite how closely involved in that process the council - or indeed the minister - might want to get remains to be seen, but with confidence between the various parties clearly being rebuilt after the virtual collapse in relations immediately before and after the departure from Merrion Square of Fran Rooney, the outlook is distinctly brighter for the FAI.

That is good news for Delaney who could well benefit from this improvement in relations when his application to be the long-term chief executive of the association is considered by an interview panel likely to include representatives of the ISC and or the Department of Sport.

Meanwhile, the shortlist for the Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland personality of the year award, was revealed yesterday, and, as with the PFAI's corresponding list, league champions Shelbourne are well represented. Leading scorer Jason Byrne, skipper Owen Heary and manager Pat Fenlon all make the list of six which is completed by Cork City boss Pat Dolan and his young striker Kevin Doyle, whose remarkable run of late- season goals is being recognised, and Waterford United front man Daryl Murphy, currently being linked with a move to Ipswich Town.

The goalkeeper's award will be between Steve Williams of Shelbourne, Waterford's Dan Connor and Michael Devine of Cork. The winners in both categories will be named next week in Cork.