Why Brian Kerr must come back, chance for change for Irish football, mesmerising Ajax

As if the Champions League knockout stages needed any seasoning on top, the layers being peeled away from the FAI story are offering more flavour for the already spoilt football fans.

Change is coming to the FAI with Donal Conway confirming the intention of the Association's board to step down once new structures are put in place and Dion Fanning casts another eye over another Oireachtas Committee meeting with Shane Ross front and centre of the most recent episode. Brian Kerr has once more ignited a fire in the bellies of the Irish football folk with nothing but the simple sense of a man who can see the problems and the passion of someone who genuinely just wants what's right. Meanwhile, on your typical April Tuesday at this stage, Ronaldo and Messi scored goals again but this time with mixed fortunes because one was helped into the Champions League semi-finals by the passive faux-aggression of Ashley Young and the other watched the joyful Ajax rip the Old Lady apart. The Dutch side are in the last four for the first time in the 21st century and their team is not just full of verve and electricity and fearlessness, but it's full of superstars who will shape European football over the next decade. Fanning is alongside Paddy McKenna as usual on the latest episode of The Football Spin and it makes for essential listening in yet another essential day for football.