Southgate: I have not promised anything
O’Neill is not writing off youngster Declan despite player’s call for time to decide on his future after interest from England
GARETH SOUTHGATE has talked to Declan Rice but the England manager stopped short of offering the West Ham teenager a senior cap as a bargaining tool to leave the Republic of Ireland, insisting such a strategy would be ‘unethical.’
‘It’s fair to say I have spoken with him (Rice) but I have not promised anything because I don’t think that’s right,’ said Southgate yesterday.
‘I can’t promise players who were with us at the World Cup they will be involved in six months’ time. So why would I promise that to a young player? I think that would be unethical.’
Southgate’s revelations explain, in part, why Rice is considering his international future, despite making three senior appearances for Ireland.
Southgate clearly holds Rice in high regard and is keen to avoid losing a quality young player.
‘It’s incredibly complex,’ he said.
‘That landscape is there for everybody. You know that some of those decisions will fall in your favour and some will go the other way.
‘It would be wrong of us to be arrogant and think people will play for us because we are England.
‘All I would say for Declan is I think the boy is in a really difficult position now and I’m extremely conscious of that. He has to make a decision. I think it’s important that he is allowed that opportunity.’
Rice was an unused substitute yesterday as West Ham lost 1-0 at home to Wolves, their fourth straight loss in the new Premier League season.
‘It’s very simple. I just don’t want players to hem and haw about it. Or to use one of my father’s phrases, dilly-dally. Don’t do that because, first off, it gets you off to a bad start with the fans.
‘Declare yourself for Ireland and, if selected, come and do your stuff.’
- John O’Shea, 2014.
THREE short months ago, Declan Rice gave an insight into playing for the Republic of Ireland when he tweeted after the 2-1 win over USA in Dublin about the ‘great privilege’ it was to share a pitch with John O’Shea. He hailed the departing centurion as ‘a top player and person’ and even added a shamrock emoji for effect.
As O’Shea trotted from the field in the 35th minute after his 118th and final appearance, there was a sense the rookie 19-year-old he’d left behind was carved from the same unyielding oak. Here was another centurion-elect, a captain-in-waiting, committed to the shirt and similarly versatile too.
Martin O’Neill, the Irish manager, would have felt that too. In only his third senior game, Rice had again been Ireland’s best performer. In a team of grey, the likeable Londoner offered light and a way forward.
From the press benches, Rice appeared to be enjoying his time with Ireland, as was his family, particularly his father Sean, whose parents are from Cork.
Rebuffed by Jack Grealish in 2015, O’Neill carefully courted Rice, made him feel welcome and hinted at what lay ahead – the opportunity to become the darling of the Irish supporters and play at a major finals. What could possibly go awry? Something did, and quite recently too as O’Neill gave no indication anything was amiss with Rice when he met Irish journalists for one on one interviews in the past fortnight.
He even told this paper he’d be prepared to let Rice leave the camp after the Nations League game with Wales to play for the Irish U21s against Germany.
But on the eve of naming his squad on Monday for a competitive game which would have tied Rice to Ireland, O’Neill spoke to a different teenager, whose conviction to the cause appears to have been replaced by the ‘dilly-dallying’ which O’Shea had misgivings about.
O’Neill, who has seen much in almost 50 years on football’s front line, knew he had some explaining to do. ‘I have been a long time in the game and it’s never clear-cut until it’s over the line,’ he said of the Rice about-turn.
‘I have never come out and said I am absolutely super confident (about Rice) because I am not in control of every situation.’
On Sunday night, he said he put his cards on the table to Rice, as best as he could.
‘My conversation with Declan was straightforward. “I want you to play here, I’d love you to play, everyone wants you to play, we’ve proved this year that you played at senior level and you loved it.”’
Yet, Rice didn’t budge. He said he wanted time and O’Neill had no option but to give it to him, and then reach for his rosary beads.
‘You’re asking me am I hopeful (Rice will stay with Ireland)? I’m always hopeful. Am I 100 per cent certain that’s what he’ll do? Not at all,’ he said, perhaps tellingly.
‘What I do understand is the need to give him just a little bit of time – because things have caught up on him very quickly. There’s a flurry of activity around his head at this minute and maybe as a mature 19year-old he hasn’t thought about all the backlash.
‘If these had both been friendly matches, I’m sure he would have played. Now suddenly when he realises that by playing against Wales, that is a total commitment and England are still there.
‘If he chooses England that will be his own personal choice.’
An intelligent man, O’Neill can usually spot a bluffer but there has been nothing in the impressive bearing of Rice to suggest a con man. From the moment he spoke to the press in March at the FAI awards, he appeared unreservedly committed to Ireland, and O’Neill.
O’Neill took exception to any suggestion that Rice has been disingenuous with his gestures, such as singing Amhrán na bhFiann and kissing the crest on the Irish jer-
sey. ‘If you were to speak to his father, you wouldn’t be asking me that question, honestly,’ said O’Neill. ‘You wouldn’t believe the number of jerseys at all levels, both of them, the lad and the Dad, have in their house and they’re all framed.’ So, what’s prompted the Rice re-think? Has it been a change of agent or an inkling that England may come calling with a full cap before long? After all, Gareth Southgate confirmed on Thursday he had spoken to Rice. Or is there something else playing on Rice’s mind?
Brian Kerr, the former Irish manager, asked on TV this week if someone or something in the Irish senior set-up had upset Rice.
The FAI denied anything untoward happened when this was suggested to them on Friday night.
What we do know is there was verbal sparring involving Roy Keane and two players, Harry Arter and Jon Walters prior to the trip to Paris to play France.
Rice was close by when Keane exchanged words with Arter in the team hotel. This paper understands Rice got involved as a peacemaker.
Whatever happened then, or what was said, is not known, but Rice’s performances against France and the USA were not affected. He was Ireland’s best player both times.
Officially, Rice was buzzing when the squad broke up. After his Man of the Match award against the USA, he tweeted, he ‘couldn’t ask for a better end to the season.’
Was this a front? Has something happened to annoy him?
O’Neill’s theory is that a change of agent by Rice, may be responsible. After he rejected a derisory offer of a contract extension at West Ham, he joined the Wassermann Media Group, a global power.
His current deal expires at the end of the season and a whisper in Rice’s ear about his potential contract worth as an English international may have happened, or not. Either way, O’Neill has no proof and has been careful not to point a finger.
‘People can be swayed, people change agents, maybe they promise players something, maybe it doesn’t materialise, all of those things can sway a player in this day and age,’ he said. ‘Playing for Ireland shouldn’t have anything to do with money, but you have to say clubs might have an influence on that. I notice that one of the owners (David Gold, inset left) of West Ham noted that he would rather that Declan played for England.’
So could three lions on a shirt be another reason for Rice to stonewall?
‘England did great in the World Cup but Gareth Southgate would be the first to say that maybe he doesn’t have as many options as other managers before him, so they do not want to lose out. Of course, it’ll turn your mind a little bit when England are actually mentioning you.’
Rice was referenced by Southgate on Thursday, who said the 19-yearold was confronted by ‘a really difficult decision’ and was very much ‘under pressure’ at the moment.
Part of this ‘pressure’ is the Southgate contact with all that it entails.
Yet, O’Neill’s door remains open. ‘If he (Rice) phoned up tomorrow to say he’s in, I’d absolutely take him because he’s done well for us. Hopefully, there’s still a chance that he’ll do (that).’
Ireland needs Rice to come over and do his stuff.