CLARK: BOND IS TIGHT AS EVER
CIARAN CLARK has denied there is trouble in the Ireland camp after the Harry Arter and Declan Rice storms.
The Newcastle United defender insists the bond between the players is as strong as ever.
But Clark says neither controversy will be discussed at length behind the scenes with the Wales game looming large on Thursday.
Like Rice and Arter, Clark is English-born but says his decision to represent the Republic of Ireland was an easy one.
He even turned down advances from former England U21 boss Stuart Pearce, who wanted him to stay with the Three Lions whom he played with up until eight years ago.
“It was pretty straightforward,” he said of his own decision to declare.
“Richard Dunne had a big part to play in it with the contacts.
“We managed to get it done really quickly and it was brilliant.” Asked if he has sympathy with Rice over his ‘deliberations’ amid fresh interest from England, Clark said: “It’s down to him.”
The defender, 28, continued: “He’s come in, enjoyed his time and he’s done well.
“It’s down to him now. He’s taking a bit of time and that’s it.
“It all came out of the blue but it’s hard enough for us as players and we’ll let other people deal with that.
“We’ve big games coming up and we’re not concentrating on anything that’s going on outside of the camp.”
Arter’s decision to walk away is – in the eyes of the players and staff – another distraction they could do without.
But Clark has flatly denied that there is trouble in the camp.
“No, no, the group is tight,” he said.
“We’d love him to be here but it’s one of those things.
“I wasn’t here for the row, I was injured but we’ll concentrate on the game.”