O’SHEA APPOINTED INTERIM MANAGER AGAIN
On Friday morning last word reached us that John O’Shea had been appointed as head coach of the Irish senior men’s team for the two internationals in June against Hungary at the Aviva - on Tuesday, 4th June and a week later when Ireland will play Portugal in Averio. We did write in our notes last week that in all probability, O’Shea would be asked to take charge of the team for the two June internationals.
Mark Canham, FAI Director of Football, had said last week there will be no announcement of head coach until September. Last January/February he told us that the appointment was imminent and then he said, a successor to Stephen Kenny had been chosen but existing contractual obligations meant the appointment could not be made before April. So, now, we must wait for the white smoke to appear from Abbotstown in September.
We wonder is Mr. Canham some kind of amateur comedian employed by the FAI, because he is definitely doing his utmost to make fools out of those who follow the beautiful game at all levels. While one has to be careful what one writes now, we ask a few simple questions, what does Marc Canham know about Irish football? What is his input into grassroots football? Does he ever come outside the Pale to see the work that is being done by all those in schoolboys/girls football? Has he attended any League of Ireland fixture outside of Dublin?
Let us be honest, we do not know Mr Canham, never met the individual, just know he was tasked with selecting the next Irish manager with the FAI CEO Jonathan Hill, who, as we all know, has resigned from the Association. Canham appears to be the spokesperson but all we have heard from him since last November when Stephen Kenny’s contract was not renewed, is various dates for the announcement of the new head coach and yet nothing. What a load of rubbish we have been hearing for over six months. Would any other organisation be prepared to put up with this? We believe not. Right now the FAI is an embarrassment and to many a joke. The last regime disgraced the Association, the current regime is turning out to be a laughing stock. We now await the next joke!
If what we have been told that the new head coach will be appointed in September, they will have a very short time to work with his players as Ireland will be playing in the Nations Cup with the first game at the Aviva on Saturday, September 5th. Three days later Ireland will also be at home v Greece. So, it is obvious that whoever is appointed head coach at the end of August or start of September, will have no time to get to know his players. In October, Ireland will play two away games, starting on Thursday, October 10th v Finland and three days later Sunday, October 13th v Greece. In November, Ireland will play their two final games in the group - versus Finland at the Aviva and then v England at Wembley.
From the above six group games in the Nations Cup, one can see what lies ahead for the new head coach. John O’Shea will have had experience with the players from the four internationals he acted as interim manager and we wonder will his name be included in those who are in the running for the position. Time will tell.