FAI’s managerial struggles are starting to gnaw

WHAT links Jack Charlton, Mick McCarthy and Giovanni Trapattoni apart from being Republic of Ireland managers who led the team to major finals?

Coincidentally, they were all appointed in early February; Charlton in 1986, McCarthy in 1996 and Trap in 2008. As the evenings lighten a little, we’ve arrived in February without a senior men’s manager and it’s starting to gnaw a little.

No one doubts that Lee Carsley, the successful England U21 manager, is top of the FAI wanted list.

He fits the profile in terms of his age, reputation as a modern coach with a clearcut playing philosophy, and is armed with a highly-regarded status in the game.

Carsley also has ties to Ireland, as a former international with family in Cork.

Yet, for some reason, he hasn’t been signed, sealed and delivered, as the heir to Kenny.

Either Carsley is waiting for assurances from the FAI about certain aspect of the role, or he’s getting cold feet. Colleagues on the football beat in England are confident via FA sources that Carsley is staying put. Jason McAteer, a former Irish team-mate, said on BEIN on Friday he believes that to be the case. If he’s in, the FAI headhunters, CEO Jonathan Hill, Director of Football Marc Canham and board member Packie Bonner, can expect kudos for landing their prized catch. If he’s out, it leaves the FAI in pickle. Neil Lennon, the first alternative to Carsley, is still available after being distanced from the Aberdeen vacancy.

Chris Hughton was dropped from the FAI’s shortlist before Ghana’s horror show in AFCON. Might the 65-year-old ride to the rescue, if needed?

Or perhaps someone like John Eustace, the former Irish No 3 who did a decent job at Birmingham City, would enter the equation?

What has become clear is that the FAI, who can offer a wage less than the average manager’s salary in the Championship, are not asking for high-calibre candidates to form an orderly queue.

As it stands, the FAI can cope without a manager for Thursday’s Nations League draw in Paris, but the friendlies in March are less than seven weeks away.

Worryingly, we’re closer to those games now than we are to Kenny’s exit.