Robbie is about to find out it isn’t all limousines & private jets

IF Robbie Keane’s family are struggling for Christmas present ideas, they could do worse than the ‘AA’S Big Road Atlas of Britain’.

Because that is what Keane’s job as Ireland assistant will require as he embarks on a new gig alongside Mick Mccarthy.

This isn’t life in Los Angeles any more and ex-ireland boss Kerr believes the country’s record goal scorer needs to be putting in the hard yards.

“He’s got to have the enthusiasm for scraping now which he might not have had – it’s different,” said Kerr.

“The biggest difference for a player going to be a coach is the time, commitment and the unending requirements to go to matches, follow up on leads, check out a player.

“It’s not always private jets and a pick-up in a limousine.

“It’s often about scraping and ‘how do you get from Crewe to BRIAN KERR wants League of Ireland clubs to stage a ‘revolution’.

FAI chief executive

John Delaney (inset) has come under fire in the past for the way the Association has run Rochdale or Macclesfield?’.

“And unfortunately our players are going that way.”

When Kerr was Ireland boss, he would often watch games with up to five Irishmen on show.

“It’s not like that now,” he said yesterday. “If you want to evaluate players you have to be good on the road network in England and Scotland – or the train timetable.

“You need a lot of good mates who are prepared to drive you around and fit in matches that are on at 2pm, 4pm and then see if you can make another one.

“You learn by doing that, knowing who the players are, what they’re doing and how they’re playing and not just someone telling you.

“Go and see is the best way to know.”

But while Keane’s addition to the backroom staff has been criticised by some who feel there are more qualified the local game. And Kerr, a titlewinning St Pat’s boss, yesterday added his voice to the chorus of disapproval.

“I don’t think the FAI should be running the league any more,” he said. “They’ve had it for coaches out there, Kerr sees merit in the decision. As Mccarthy revealed, Keane picked up the phone to ask him for a job.

And Kerr said: “68 international goals is a fair old start to have the cheek to go to someone and say ‘give us a job’.

“It’s a strange way to get a job but what he’s done in the game entitles him to ask the question, to not to have to go through a long, drawn out process to see if he’s a great coach.”

Meanwhile, Kerr is confident Ireland have the players to reach Euro 2020 – the qualifying draw for which takes place in Dublin tomorrow.

He said: “I don’t think the quality of the players rules out being competitive in a group.

“If you take the middle tier of countries, should we be giving them a match no matter what players we have? Of course, we should.

“A lot of those countries long enough and haven’t done a good job with it. It’s time for clubs to get their act together.

“They should not be so much in competition with each other but accept that it needs a bit of a revolution and another plan that will service the game in a would be delighted to have

Championship players.

“The problem for Mick is he doesn’t have any matches before then.” much better way.”

Kerr has ruled out a return to management in Ireland, stating: “I don’t want to work in the League of Ireland. The FAI run the League of Ireland and when I was in it before it was too frustrating.”