Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROB TO FAN FLAMES
Irish legend Duff backs record scorer to ignite Irish support again as part of Mccarthy ticket
ROBBIE KEANE can play a key role in restoring a connect between Republic of Ireland fans and the national team.
That’s if he is handed a role on the next coaching ticket, with speculation mounting that he could have a part to play if Mick Mccarthy succeeds Martin O’neill.
Damien Duff (left) made his international debut under Mccarthy and played and scored for him at the World Cup finals in 2002. And he soldiered beside Keane for all of his 100 caps and insists his old pal would add a spark to side going forward. Morale among supporters is at rock bottom but Duff feels Mccarthy – and potentially Keane too – can restore pride in the shirt if appointed.
Whoever the next man in is, Duff feels their first priority must be winning back the supporters who are voting with their feet.
Duff – now the Shamrock Rovers under 15 coach – said: “I remember growing up, there’d be nothing on when Ireland played. The road would be empty.
“Training would be cancelled because, ‘No, we’re watching the Ireland game’. On Monday night I had my lads out training and was thinking, ‘Will we wrap this up early to go home and watch the Denmark game?’. I thought, ‘No, if anything I’ll let the session run over because what’s the rush home for?’.
“You definitely have to win the public back. The last two or three games that have been on, it’s like background music.
“You have the laptop on doing work, the game is on and you have a little scan. It has lost that feeling, that bond with the fans.
“You can feel it in the stadium. Even the national anthem, you look forward to hearing that but there’s just a flatness around the ground.
“Whoever they bring in, there has to be a feelgood factor.”
And Duff is adamant Keane would provide a spark if drafted on to the management team.
Keane, 38, still hasn’t hung up his boots but is unattached since leaving India where he was acting manager of his club towards the end of last season.
He has since enrolled on a Pro Licence course in Ireland and has already been linked with the vacant Irish U21 job.
At FAI headquarters last night, Keane (below) was due to attend a launch – with media invited – for the Beacon Hospital but withdrew during the day fuelling the rumour mill. Duff said: “He would bring a spark and a bond
back with the fans. I know all the lads love him and he would give the whole place a lift.
“He can’t pull the jersey back on and score goals for us. But he might be able to teach the lads around the box that guile, that X-factor and streetwiseness that I don’t think anyone has anymore in the Irish team. He’s doing his badges and I’m sure he’d be a great coach, a great manager and what a way to learn under Mick.
“He would be jumping in at the deep end and good luck to him if that did happen. But usually when Robbie is doing something in his career I always get a text or a call and I haven’t had it yet.”
Duff wasn’t surprised at yester- day’s decision to axe O’neill and Roy Keane after five years – not after the year just gone.
He continued: “It’s always sad to see people leave their post, whether they were sacked or resigned. But me personally this morning, was I shocked? No.
“Did I know it was coming, getting whispers inside? Absolutely not. But I think it’s the correct time. Who do we get? Well, that’s why John Delaney gets paid the big bucks.
“Do we have the players that we’ve had in the past – that’s not including me? Absolutely not.
“I think it’s just highlighted this week and maybe the past year with our results and you put them up with maybe what the rugby team is doing.
“All you hear out of the rugby camp with what Joe Schmidt is doing is detail, organisation and all these buzzwords.
“You never quite get that from the football side of things. Maybe with our quality of player, that’s what we need at the minute.”