Despite the Barry whispers, Carsley and Hughton are still front runners
Both Carsley and Hughton have sustained support within the boardroom
EVERYONE who is anyone in the FAI was visible this week, either at the AGM or the Oireachtas hearing. Everyone, that is, except Marc Canham.
The Irish-based director of football skipped the angst of delegates, and the scorn of politicians, as he continued his pursuit of managers for both the men’s and women’s senior international teams.
The latter search is dragging on which suggests something could be amiss at the eleventh hour but white smoke is expected this week as Canham promised a verdict by Christmas.
As for the men’s opening, Canham is slowly closing on his quarry.
At lunchtime on Wednesday the Daily Telegraph revealed that
Anthony Barry was ‘a leading candidate’ to follow Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland manager.
The night before, Barry had been at Old Trafford for Bayern Munich’s Champions League game with Manchester United.
Reporters on the football beat in Manchester may have got a whisper that Barry was in the frame to manager Ireland. Who fed it to them, I don’t know.
Two days later, however, Thomas Tuchel ruled Barry out of the equation. ‘It’s not true. You can forget about that,’ said the Bayern Munich boss.
Tuchel appeared to leave no room for debate about the possibility of Barry, whose time under Kenny in 2021 coincided with improved results, returning to the Irish fold.
After Barry left in February 2022, Ireland regressed, losing nine of 14 competitive games, and falling to 60th in the world rankings.
It leaves the FAI still looking for Kenny’s successor, a head coach, not a manager, according to the job spec.
It’s a subtle change of title and not one, I suspect, that will be sustained as whoever gets the gig will still be known as the Republic of Ireland manager.
From day one, Canham has had former Ireland internationals Lee Carsley and Chris Hughton in his sights. I felt there was room in the equation for a third man, and still do.
But the claims of Carsley, the England Under 21 manager, and Hughton, the manager of Ghana, have not gone away. Both have sustained support within the FAI boardroom.
Hughton, who turned 65 last Monday, latter is committed to the delayed AFCON which runs from January 13 to February 11 in the Ivory Coast, next door to Ghana in west Africa.
Thereafter, securing his release would not be an issue, I gather. Were Ghana to go deep into the competition, however, Hughton would not be in a position to attend the 2024 Nations League draw in Paris on February 8. While that’s not ideal for the FAI, it is not a deal-breaker either.
Reports that Carsley’s interest in the post was waning due to the delay in making an appointment are untrue as he would love a crack at managing Ireland, if offered the chance. Unlike Hughton, he is not preparing for games in the New Year as England U21s don’t play again until March.
If the FAI were to offer Carsley the job in the coming weeks, based on Canham’s rcommendation, the FA would have ample time to source a replacement.
Carsley would be expected assemble a strong ticket, with Shay Given first choice as goalkeeping coach. Damien Duff, another ally from their days with Ireland, could be asked to combine his duties with Shelbourne with a return to his Irish coaching role that he left in January 2021.
Carsley, 49, would probably bring a trusted lieutenant from the England 21s with him, such as Ashley Cole or Joleon Lescott.
But shark fins are circling the English FA headquarters in Burton. Stoke City, petrified by the threat of relegation from the Championshios, are keen on Carsley.
Within English football, Carsley’s reputation as a progressive and modern manager is on the up, most recently for his work with the England U21s, winners of the European Championship for the first time last summer. He has won 21 of 26 games with the U21s.
The English FA don’t pay huge sums to their under-age managers and Carsley is on roughly half of what Kenny was paid. He has a release
RULED OUT: Anthony Barry clause which allows him to leave within a month without compensation.
Outside this duo, Steve Bruce may have caught Canham’s attention; less so the likes of Sam Allardyce and Neil Lennon.
Roy Keane carries too much baggage for many within the FAI and has also been out of management since 2011.
Liam Brady’s comments that Brian Kerr should be considered, with Stephen Bradley of Shamrock Rovers, and Duff, also involved, carry clout.
Kerr and Hughton were one-two at the Irish helm before. Might the roles be reversed?
Brady has been an influential figure for the FAI before, notably when he reached out to Giovanni Trapattoni prior to his appointment in February, 2008.
The FAI board met on Thursday after the Leinster House horror show from the senior leadership team but there was no update on either managerial front. Instead, the board are allowing Canham to get on with things.
As the longest night of the year approaches, the days shorten towards the naming of Kenny’s successor.
It is an appointment the FAI, and Canham, cannot afford to botch.