The likely lads

It’s a shame that Mick McCarthy’s spell in charge of Ireland ended with him having to resign, but in the circumstances I think he made the right decision. As did Brendan Menton in standing down as the General Secretary of the FAI.

Whoever takes over as Ireland manager needs to know that the mistakes made in the run-up to the World Cup won’t be repeated. The Genesis Report confirms everything I’ve been told about our preparations – or lack of them. The bottom line is that the people who are supposed to be looking after Irish football failed in their duty. They’ve got it right for once by saying that they’re going to take a couple of months to consider the various options open to them.

Assuming that the FAI are serious about putting their house in order, the Ireland manager’s job is a pretty attractive one. Unlike Scotland who’ve allowed their youth system to disintegrate, we’ve a constant stream of teenagers coming through and somebody in charge of them, Brian Kerr, who has the respect of everybody in the game.

As for the players who are already there or there abouts, any manager would be delighted to have Shay Given, Robbie Keane, Stephen Carr, John O’Shea, Stephen Finnan, Andy O’Brien and Damian Duff at their disposal. On top of that, they’ll know from our World Cup performances that the lads are prepared to battle for each other.

Our expectations have to be realistic – Martin O’Neill’s not going to up sticks while the Man U job awaits, and we won’t be able to offer the telephone number salary that might lure Gus Hiddink away from PSV Eindhoven.

Here’s my verdict then on the people who I think would be interested in the job:

Brian Kerr: As I just said, he’s done a magnificent job with the young lads, but would he be as effective with multi-million pound players who he only gets to work with every three months? There’s a good chance he would, but appointing Brian is a gamble that we can’t afford to take at the moment. I think he’d make a brilliant number two, especially to a foreign coach who mightn’t be familiar with all the players. The problem there is that whoever takes over is likely to bring his own people with him.

Kenny Dalglish: He’s an experienced man who’s been round the block a time or two, and of course won things. If the FAI’s able to get somebody of his stature then it could be good for Irish football. A lot’s been made of his “feud” with Roy Keane, but Kenny’s too professional to get hung up on something that happened four years ago. Of all the non-Irish candidates, he’s the most serious.

Joe Kinnear: Joe’s the sort of character who’d immediately get the team motivated. He demonstrated at Wimbledon that he’s brilliant at developing youngsters, and getting the best out of sometimes fairly ordinary players. One concern would be his health, but I doubt if he’d have taken over at Luton if his heart was an issue still.

Brian Robson: An absolutely fantastic footballer who, despite being given a lot of time and money, never managed to take Middlesbrough to the level they so obviously aspire to. I wouldn’t regard him as being among the front-runners.

Peter Reid: With the greatest respect to Peter, I don’t think we should be waiting on somebody to be sacked so that he can come and run the Irish team. Which is why I don’t agree with the person who said to me, “It’ll be great if Leeds sack Terry Venables ‘cause then he can manage us.”

David O’Leary: David’s made it clear he wants another Premiership job, which could happen soon enough if Graham Taylor or Glen Roeder get let go at Villa or West Ham. He didn’t endear himself to the FAI when he made a fuss about Leeds players being released for international duty. Unless both sides have a change of heart, I think he’s unlikely to get the job.

Frank Stapelton: Eyebrows go up when I mention his name, but somebody who’s been there and done it for his country ought to be in the frame. I don’t think the powers-that-be will even consider him, which is a shame because Frank isn’t afraid of anything and would have a real bash at it. He was doing a good job at Bradford until there was a change of chairman and he was forced out for mainly political reasons. At the very least, I’d like to see somebody like him or Niall Quinn taken on in an advisory capacity.

John Aldridge: Another person who knows how the Ireland set-up works and would have boundless enthusiasm for the job. Things went sour at the end, but overall he did a brilliant job at Tranmere on the slenderest of resources.