FAI’s ‘system is failing’, blasts Kerr

BRIAN KERR last night launched a withering attack on the FAI hierarchy and also the lack of connectivity between senior manager Martin O’Neill and Irish underage structures.

‘We have no leadership at the top, the people are the same for the last 20 years, and it is a shambles,’ Kerr told Virgin Media Sport.

‘Many of them are too old to understand how to direct the operation right through the system. I think the system is failing and needs radical action.’

Kerr questioned O’Neill’s declaration that his role entailed just the senior squad and he didn’t have a role in producing the next generation of players.

‘I would dispute that. It’s his job to be part of that whole structure and create a mentality for the players,’ said the former Ireland manager, who also led Ireland to Under 18 and U16 Euro glory.

‘We don’t see Wales losing their English-born players like Ethan Ampadu. That comes from them being in the system early and enjoying it.

‘Martin has a gang of fellas around him like Steve Guppy and Steve Walford. I don’t know what they’re all doing to have an impact.

‘In Northern Ireland, all managers through the age groups work in cooperation with the senior team manager, Michael O’Neill. We don’t have that.’

Meanwhile, Daryl Horgan has disputed the doom and gloom merchants who hold out little hope for ‘Team Ireland’ in the wake of hefty thumpings by Denmark and Wales.

‘Everything about the future being bleak? I don’t think so,’ said the Hibernian winger.

‘Look at how the 17s did, the team that won [Holland] beat Ireland in a dodgy penalty shootout. They played very well and looked very strong, they’ve a lot of good players with a lot of quality.

‘We’ve a lot of good players in the Under 21s doing well, Ronan Curtis is banging in the goals.

‘Cardiff was a bad result but we shouldn’t say there’s no quality coming through because there is.’ One of those players, Portsmouth striker Curtis, has been promoted to the senior squad for the friendly against Poland. Despite the damage inflicted in Cardiff, Horgan (left) reckons there is time for Ireland to stop the bleeding and avoid relegation to the third tier of the Nations League. ‘It was a bad start to the Nations League for us but we still have three more games to play and also two friendlies in that time. The minimum we can aim for is second place, that’s the priority. ‘Hopefully we pick up the next couple of results and who knows what might happen? Wales and Denmark are two good sides but this group is definitely not dead and buried,’ he insisted. ‘Everyone is disappointed about how the Welsh game went, make no bones about that. ‘We’ve got to get our heads down. Everyone is hell-bent on turning it around.’