FAI keen to avoid legal challenge over succession deal
gives everyone clarity,’ he said. Kenny is expected to name former Ireland winger Damien Duff in his backroom team but there is unlikely to be any room for Robbie Keane, who was No 3 to McCarthy and is under contract with the FAI until 2022. Kenny’s own deal is set to include the remainder of the Euros, the Nations League and the 2022 World Cup.
The FAI didn’t quite force McCarthy’s hand but they pointed out the logistical headache they were facing after UEFA deferred the Euro play-off against Slovakia from June until later in 2020, or possibly spring 2021, because of the coronavirus.
McCarthy was surprised by the FAI approach but sensed the mood and made things easy for the association by agreeing to stand down, thus ending his second spell in charge after he previously led Ireland from 1996 until 2002.
In an official FAI video, McCarthy indicated he approved of the move by Owens and chairman Roy Barrett, and ‘gave credit’ to them for ‘making their decision quickly. I support the decision,’ he said.
Sources close to McCarthy say he declined to fight his corner and risk splitting public opinion, as happened in 2002 over Roy Keane and Saipan.
It is understood that McCarthy wanted to see out the play-offs but he was in a contractual bind. He recognised the circumstances had changed but his contract hadn’t.
McCarthy’s contract was up on July 31 and, with Kenny succeeding him on August 1, the FAI were unable to commit to supporting two managers, and two sets of backroom staff.
‘We’d have been a laughing stock,’ said one FAI source.
Had the FAI backed McCarthy to continue, even beyond July 31, they’d have left themselves open to a legal challenge from Kenny, next in line as senior manager under the Delaney
brokered deal. It was a scenario they were desperate to avoid although, had the play-offs been fixed for early September, McCarthy may have carried on.
‘It’s a bittersweet feeling as it’s disappointing we can’t finish it off. These are extraordinary circumstances for all,’ he said.
‘Good luck to Stephen. He’ll get a chance to qualify and I feel I’ve left him with a healthy balance. I said when I got the job I’d be gone by July 31st; it’s just been brought forward a little.’
At 61, he intends to return to the club game, and pointed out that he was ‘back on the market’.