My sacking from the Ireland job lacked a bit of class
KERR’S HAPPY TO RIGHT A HISTORICAL WRONG AT FAI
BRIAN KERR reckons his brief return to the Ireland scene has brought closure to the hurt he felt after being ditched by the FAI 19 years ago.
Kerr was senior manager for just under three years in the Noughties before getting dumped by the John Delaney regime.
If that seemed harsh at the time, his continued exile from the administrative side of the FAI proved to be ridiculous, as the game in Ireland badly needed structural reform.
Now, after years as an outspoken pundit on radio and television, he has been given a chance to allow old wounds to heal.
Kerr said: “The way I finished [in 2005] wasn’t very nice. It wasn’t very nice to get a letter in the post after working for them for eight or nine years.
“You get a letter in the post saying they decided not to renew your contract and would you send us the money you owe us for tickets and give us back the computer and the car and phones and any paperwork belonging to us.
“It lacked class and it disappointed me at the time because I had done my bit, firstly as a volunteer with Liam Tuohy in the 80s, then as an employee.
“How they handled it was just poor. But anyway, I have enjoyed this period and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with the international team again and working with those players.
“They’re a lovely group of lads. Irish people can be proud of them. Their parents and their clubs - they really are a very impressive group of lads.”
The question now turns to what is next. Defender Dara O’shea said on Monday that someone with an understanding of Irish football should be the next boss.
But Kerr still believes an outsider could do the job IF they identified the right person.
Kerr said: “Previous managers of Ireland who weren’t from Ireland have done very well. You don’t need to name them.
“So if the association decides to go that way the players will go along with it and the country will too.”
One obvious option is a continuation of the current regime, headed by John O’shea, supported by Kerr.
Yet he said he was unsure if he would stay involved if an opportunity arose.
“I don’t know (what I would do),” said Kerr. As far as I’m concerned I’m finished. I’ve enjoyed that time, I don’t know whether I would want to do any more.”