NI Chief Executive sacked and the fans are singing

Northern Ireland football fans were last night celebrating the dismissal of the IFA's chief executive Howard Wells.

Mr Wells was sacked by the footballing body yesterday. In a brief statement, the IFA said that it had terminated the chief executive's employment in the "best interests of the association" and the member clubs.

And while many fans were said to be delighted with the news, some were left questioning the timing of the announcement. Northern Ireland play San Marino at Windsor Park tomorrow in a crucial World Cup qualifier.

However Gary McAlister, spokesman for the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs, said the majority of members welcomed the news.

"We had a difficult and fractious relationship with Mr Wells and now that he is gone hopefully the good relationship that we have with the IFA in a wider sense can be rebuilt," he said. "In the past, anytime we were asked to go to meetings at Windsor Avenue we were talked to rather than listened to."

Mr McAlister cited the decision to move to the Maze Stadium as one of the major problems the clubs had with Mr Wells.

Two days before crucial game, IFA give their chief the boot

^{By Emily Moulton and Stuart McKinley}

Northern Ireland football fans were last night left wondering why the IFA chose to sack its Chief Executive just two days before the team's crucial World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park.

Howard Wells was officially given the boot yesterday ending a tumultuous four year stint with the association.

In a very brief statement, the IFA said that it had "terminated" the chief executive's employment in the "best interests of the association" and the member clubs.

And while many fans were celebrating the news, some were left questioning the timing of the announcement.

Northern Ireland will play San Marino at home tomorrow in what has been billed as the team's last chance to make the World Cup. After losing two of the first three qualifiers, Wednesday's match is vitally important.

The IFA last night refused to elaborate on why it chose to announce the termination ahead of the crucial match, and while the timing of the announcement has come as a shock, the decision was widely expected.

The relationship between Mr Wells and the IFA has been far from rosy.

In August it emerged Mr Wells had taken a grievance case against the association, claiming unfair treatment because he was English and claiming a dispute over an unpaid £30,000 bonus payment.

Mr Wells named two individuals in his complaint, one of them IFA president Raymond Kennedy, who will be acting as interim chief executive.

It is understood that Mr Wells, who was appointed by the IFA in November 2004, earned around £100,000 a year.

Following the statement, IFA president Mr Kennedy told the BBC that he was reluctant to comment further on the issue "in case there are further implications", but he did acknowledge the differences between the body and Mr Wells.

"There has been an ongoing breakdown in the relationship between the Irish FA and the chief executive," he said.

When asked if a settlement had been reached with the sacked Chief Executive, he replied: "Absolutely not. That's why I've no comment to make about anything that would prejudice anything in that manner."

Last night, Gary McAlister, spokesman for the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs, said the majority of its members welcomed the news.

Since Mr Wells appointment in 2004, Mr McAlister said he had managed to alienate many supporters.

"We had a difficult and fractious relationship with Mr Wells and now that he is gone hopefully the good relationship that we have with the IFA in a wider sense can be rebuilt," he explained.

"We always thought our opinion was only sought on matters when it suited Howard, for instance we were asked in recent months to lobby the Northern Ireland Assembly for funding for football.

"In the past anytime we were asked to go to meetings at Windsor Avenue we were talked to rather than listened to."

Mr McAlister cited the decision to move to the Maze Stadium as one of the major problems the clubs had with Mr Wells.