Too many ‘what ifs’ in McCarthy/Kenny deal
THE old saying goes, a week is a long time in politics, but the same adage can also apply to sport.
Last Wednesday morning, following yet another listless and drab display, this time away to Denmark, Martin O Neill and Roy Keane parted company with the FAI by mutual consent. The pair had spent five years in charge of Ireland and experienced many highlights during their tenure, none more so than Euro 2016 in France where we beat Italy before narrowly losing to the hosts in the last 16.
However they endured a torrid 2018 as we were relegated from the Nations League without winning a game and managed just one win in 11 games.
I always liked both men. They were honest, hard-working and took no bull-shit, but they had lost the support of the players and the Irish sporting public.
It was time for them to move on. A new face and fresh approach was required to reignite the project. Every management team has a certain lifespan and eventually reach a tipping point. If anything, O’Neill and Keane had gone past this juncture.
Five days later, after much speculation, former manager Mick McCarthy was confirmed as new Republic of Ireland manager with - wait for it - Stephen Kenny taking over in 2020.
The unique deal was announced at a press conference in the Aviva Stadium, with McCarthy and FAI chief executive John Delaney addressing the waiting media. They spelt out the somewhat unusual deal in a little more detail, explaining how Kenny will start out as the Under-21 boss with responsibility for the underage teams before succeeding McCarthy in two years’ time.
Was it just me or did anyone else wonder why Stephen Kenny was not present?
I appreciate this was Mick McCarthy’s gig, but was it not strange that Kenny was absent? It almost became farcical when the new manager announced that he’d be meeting Kenny later in the evening for dinner, joking that the former Dundalk manager would be getting the bill.
Were they making it up as they were going along? It smacked of a hastily arranged junior club agm where the chairman, unsure of which candidate to choose as team manager, appointed both to keep all the members happy. ‘Sure we’ll work out the details later over a few pints’.
I can’t shake off the feeling that this is all mere window dressing by Delaney to pretend the FAI have their shop in order. Another Delaney stroke to deflect attention and keep himself safe in the job for a few years.
Stephen Kenny is a good man. I really hope he doesn’t get burnt by more of Delaney’s shenanigans.
Neither he nor McCarthy could turn this opportunity down. Both men care about Irish soccer and they will want this arrangement to work. However there are too many variables in the process for my liking. What happens it McCarthy’s reign is hugely successful and we qualify for Euro 2020. Will he simply hand over the baton to his successor and sail off quietly into the sunset. Would the Irish supporters accept this decision?
I doubt it very much, but what happens if Stephen Kenny’s time with the underage set-up is a disaster? Will Delaney & Co happily fulfil their side of the bargain and appoint him as national coach regardless?
Or the flip side. What if McCarthy is a disaster in the role? Do they remove him and appoint Kenny sooner? What if a new candidate emerges in the next two years, say Chris Hughton?
While nobody in Dundalk would begrudge Stephen Kenny the opportunity to further his career, the Oriel Park club are the big losers in this arrangement. Since his appointment in 2012 Kenny has been the catalyst for the club’s meteoric return to the top of Irish domestic soccer.
The six-year journey has been the stuff of a Hollywood script. Four league titles, FAI Cups, Doubles, Europe ….. His success has been unprecedented.
His man-management in consistently getting the best from his players is incredible, but it’s been the style of play his teams have adopted which has been most eye-catching. The style has never been compromised, even in the face of more vaunted opposition.
This was plainly evident during the 12-match European campaign of 2016 which captured the imagination of the broader footballing public.
I’m not sure Dundalk saw this coming. Kenny had another two years left on his contract, so succession planning was unlikely. The clock is now ticking to get the right man in place for next season.
How the sporting landscape can change so quickly!