TAKING THIS JOB IS A MASSIVE HONOUR Higgins insists it’s a dream come true as he quits the Lilywhites for a role working with Kenny at Ireland

RUAIDHRI HIGGINS admits he couldn’t turn down Ireland as “chances like this don’t come around too often”.

The Derry man left his role as Dundalk assistant to join forces with Stephen Kenny again as his chief scout and opposition analyst.

It was a role he carried out for the new Ireland boss at Dundalk, but was then promoted under current Lilywhites manager Vinny Perth.

Ireland are due to play nine games – Euro 2020 play-off, Nations League and at least one friendly – over September, October and November.

But while there is continued uncertainty over the schedule in the wake of Covid-19, a clearer picture will emerge from UEFA’S Exco meeting next Wednesday.

Higgins said: “It’s a huge honour and privilege to be offered an opportunity to represent your country in an exciting role.

“I had an amazing time at Dundalk. I’m very thankful and we had good success, but this opportunity was too difficult to turn down.

“It’s going to be busy as I’ll be in England most weeks when everything settles down, watching our own players.

“Then I’ll be away studying the opposition and flying here, there and everywhere but it’s something that I’ve done before.

“Whenever Dundalk were playing in Europe I was flying off watching matches in different countries so I’m street wise enough.

“This opportunity might never come up again and with the amount of fixtures over the next 12 or 18 months, there’s going to be a lot of work.

“I’m going to be looking at marquee players over Europe and the world because we have World Cup qualifiers next year.”

Dundalk secured €40,000 compensation for Higgins who played for Kenny at Derry City and Dundalk before joining his coaching staff.

“We get on with each other and seem to have a good working relationship,” he continued. “There’s good trust between us and he sees value in what I do.

“Getting the chance to work with Stephen is huge, but getting that chance to work with him with the international team is just incredibly exciting.

“I want to make the most of the opportunity because they don’t come around too often.”

Higgins told BBC Radio Foyle that knowing James Mcclean from their playing days at Derry City will help him bed into the international fold.

“I played against Seamus (Coleman) too and I’d be familiar with a few of the boys,” he said. “We want to achieve something special over the coming years.”