Kennedy resigns as IFA chief

Raymond Kennedy will step down in the wake of a damming report into the sacking of former IFA Chief Executive Howard Wells.

The Sport NI report, released on Monday, was critical of both Kennedy and vice-president David Martin, who will also relinquish his post.

However, Kennedy will retain FIFA and UEFA positions and new IFA roles will include advising on the proposed redevelopment of Windsor Park. He will also be a member of the IFA's delegation to the 125th annual general meeting of the international Football Association Board to be held in Wales in March 2011. Kennedy will also become an Honorary Life vice-president of the IFA following his departure.

Kennedy and Martin are believed to have lost the support of the IFA's Ruling Executive Board after the report was released to interested parties last week.

It is understood that the 11-member IFA body had voted to remove Kennedy and Martin two weeks after they had been re-elected.

An unfair dismissal case taken by Howard Wells cost the IFA over 500,000-this included a pay put to the former IFA chief executive and legal costs.