Some 60 Connacht IFA officers met on Saturday night and “endorsed” the work of under pressure IFA president Eddie Downey.

There was no official vote on the night regarding confidence in president Eddie Downey. It is understood that there was support for him and the association’s decision-making committee, the executive council, in dealing with the fallout from the revelation that former general secretary Pat Smith earned in excess of €500,000 in 2013.

A tweet from the IFA Twitter account on Saturday evening confirmed the outcome of the meeting.

“(A) meeting of 60 Connacht officers this eve (Saturday) strongly endorsed president and exec council in dealing decisively with remuneration of former GS (general secretary) Pat Smith.”

Saturday night’s meeting will have no impact on the motion of no confidence in Downey which the Eyrecourt branch of Galway IFA passed on Friday night just hours after the remuneration package of former general secretary Pat Smith was revealed.

Those in the meeting last night said there was widespread support for Downey.

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