Football Association (FA) general secretary Alex Horne has admitted that 2009 was a 'difficult year' for the sport's national governing body, following the collapse of Setanta.

According to accounts published earlier this month, the organisation reported an overall £3m loss, compared with a £12m deficit for 2008. However, turnover increased by £52m to £314m. Horne confirmed that the loss of Setanta had been the 'headline', as well as overseas broadcasting partner Gateway. The FA also had to meet the £17m costs of moving from Soho Square to Wembley.

However, the FA said it had reduced discretionary expenditure by 10 per cent and had grown its investment back into the sport to £103m - up by £16m on the previous year. Horne said: "Half of this was invested directly into supporting grassroots football through the Football Foundation, County FAs and the FA's investment programmes.

"The remainder was distributed through the professional game through the FA Cup prize fund, grants to the Football League, PFA funding and further investment programmes." Horne added that the FA had altered its financial strategy through to June 2014 in order to remove a number of costs from the business, while safeguarding its investments.