Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Duff’s got no regret over exit
DAMIEN DUFF insists he has no regrets about quitting the Republic of Ireland’s coaching staff.
The former winger stunned manager Stephen Kenny by resigning as first team coach last month.
It was in the wake of the Wembleygate furore and Duff was known to be incensed by the way the FAI handled that debacle.
Goalkeeper coach Alan Kelly then quit Kenny’s staff less than a week later and has since been replaced by Dean Kiely.
Duff finally broke his silence last night while working as a pundit on RTE’S Champions League coverage.
“People will say I’ve let my country down. I let nobody down,” he said. “I’ll continue to dedicate myself to Irish football, in a different capacity, by coaching young players and improving young players, hopefully improving myself as a coach.”
Duff refused to delve into the specific reasons for his departure and nor was he asked if he backed Kenny.
But he said: “I felt strongly about things and I would have been unhappy with myself if I’d stayed.
“I don’t really have a lot to say on the matter, I know I made the right decision, not one day has passed where I’ve regretted it.
“I know it’s not ideal for the manager but at the same time I guess it’s a chance for him to bring in a better coach than me.
“He has done OK on the goalkeeping side already, he has brought in Dean Kiely, a great guy who will bring a great energy to the side. He’s a top coach who is coaching at the top level in the Premier League every week.”
Duff, still Shelbourne U17s boss, does not feel his departure will hamper preparations for next month’s opening World Cup clash in Serbia.
He added: “The only person that’s lost out is me by walking away.”