special to Irish Runner.com by Eoghan Young-Murphy

The Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) has yet to confirm that Brendan Hackett has been appointed as their new Chief Executive Officer, stating that much work is still to be done before terms and conditions are agreed.

Hackett will be Irish athletics' first CEO since 1990 when Eamonn Coghlan was briefly at the helm and the AAI was the BLÉ.

It is highly ironic that Hackett, from Donore Harriers is being lined up for the job; he was previously one of the Association's most scathing critics. Yet his credentials are not in question and his appointment would signify a major step forward for a governing body that is desperately in need of a massive makeover.

Hackett has been intensively involved in the sport for many years, and was one of the co-founders of the Irish Milers Club with Paul Cummins, who organize a plethora of middle-distance races each summer with an aim of improving a discipline of Irish athletics that has waned beyond the glory days.

He is also a Sports Psychologist of some standing and coached Maria Lynch and James Nolan. A 16-member committee ratified his appointment last night, and Hackett is expected to assume the position on January 1st. Hackett penned Success From Within, a sports psychology book published in 1998.

But Gary Owens, the man placed with the onerous task of digging the athletics body out of its current shambles, said: "We have a lot of work left to do regarding terms and conditions. We will get into that now and the appointment is unlikely to be confirmed until the beginning of next week."

The committee is also mulling over the candidates for a variety of other positions, but those successful will not be announced until at least December 6th, when the AAI host their AGM.

Owens, of Rainmaker Business Catalysts, added: "We have a Youth Development Officer, as well a series of other jobs to announce. We are currently in the process of interviewing candidates for the position of Financial Officer."

All in all, Hackett's appointment will be welcomed by the vast majority of the athletics community. But revamping the Association is as much about doing away with the old ways as bringing in the new.