Northern Ireland-born Patrick Nelson starts work as the new IFA chief executive today with his first official duty tomorrow, the launch of the Carling Premiership.

Formerly the CEO at Football League Two club Macclesfield Town, he has had to overcome a few bumps on the road before getting the ‘thumbs-up’ from the powers that be at Windsor Avenue.

He takes over from Howard Wells who is pursuing a case against the IFA over his sacking last October amidst accusations and counter accusations which may all come out in the wash later this year in court.

But before taking up his role, the 49-year-old Nelson had to go through a ‘cleansing’ process once it was revealed that he had NOT told the IFA about being a director of a failed company.

He was offered the job in May but then allegations emerged about Nelson’s business dealings, forcing the association to carry out further checks.

It was revealed that he had been a director of an events company GP1 Management Ltd in which he himself had invested before it folded with losses of more than £500,000 two years ago, while official paper work lodged at Companies House, was not accurate due to what Nelson described as “inadvertent errors.”

He believed that the information surrounding the company was not relevant to his application for the IFA post and the latter, clearly, are satisfied on all counts.

So what lies in store for the man originally from Kilkeel?

He wants in his words, to “hit the ground running” but like all newcomers to any position, he must be given time to find his feet and map out where he wants to take the organisation in the years ahead.

For what it’s worth, here are the key areas that need his immediate attention.

Administration: This will be Patrick’s principal domain as the buck stops with him in ensuring that the ‘right oil’ is applied to the functioning machine which is there solely to uphold IFA rules and regulations and implement committee decisions — not operate as a quasi autonomous unit interpreting matters as they see fit.

There has been too much of that in the past and there is an urgent need to tighten up and even review the whole administrative structure from top to bottom.

Windsor Park: International football holds the key to the IFA’s financial future and hence a proper stadium is vital.

Don’t fall into the trap of pushing against Linfield FC, the owners of Windsor, but work with them and the government to get to where everyone wants to be, namely a revamped stadium which meets modern needs and which all can be proud of along with a new contractual relationship.

There are other proposals being talked about such as the Blanchflower Stadium in east Belfast but the main consideration in the medium term has to be Windsor.

With the upgrading of Windor will come a new deal between Linfield and the IFA which could see funds trickling down to other senior clubs who never stop complaining about how Linfield have an unfair advantage in financial terms because of the current contract.

But all senior clubs are being well subsidised by the IFA, which means intermediate and juniors paying the price.

Of course the Premier League is the flagship, and the clubs deserve financial support, but how much?

Many of them are living way beyond their means and one of these days, like Cork City in the south, the chickens will come home to roost.

Read the background to the shenanigans at Coleraine a few years back.

Media: You will not need to be told how important getting the right message across is. Either take on this role yourself or better still, put in an effective PR person who can deal with the press, knows how they tick and what their requirements are. The relationship between the IFA and the scribes is in urgent need of remedial treatment.

Be prepared: Where the IFA is concerned, anything can and does happen. Be a good listener but take nothing for granted.

Sense of humour: It will go a long way as you come to terms with the vagaries of Northern Ireland football. The road might at times be rough and rocky, but there are bound to be many plus factors.

Welcome on board and may your reign be a happy one.