Post by Taxigirl on Oct 19, 2005 8:52:49 GMT
www.sportinglife.com/football
SORRY TO SEE YOU GO, THOUGHT YOU DID THE BEST JOB YOU COULD HAVE. GOOD LUCK.
Brian Kerr's reign as Republic of Ireland manager is over as the Football Association of Ireland have opted not to renew his contract.
Kerr has ultimately paid the price for failing to take Ireland to next summer's World Cup finals in Germany, culminating in last Wednesday's goalless draw against Switzerland at Lansdowne Road, a game the Republic needed to win to reach the play-offs.
The decision was taken following a meeting of the FAI's 10-man Board of Management at a Dublin hotel, ending Kerr's eight-year association with the FAI.
A statement from the FAI read: "The board of the FAI met today and considered the implications of non-qualification of the international team for the World Cup in 2006.
"The board also assessed the prospect of achieving success in future European Championships and World Cup campaigns in the context of the development of the game in Ireland.
"Following this meeting the board has indicated that the FAI is to recruit a new international manager to succeed Brian Kerr whose contract expired at the end of the 2006 World Cup campaign.
"The board would like to thank Brian Kerr and the technical staff for their commitment and energy demonstrated during almost three years in charge.
"The board fully recognises the dedication and passion applied by Brian and his support team in their quest to gain qualification for the major championships.
"The board also acknowledges both Brian and Chris Hughton's contribution to the game in their previous roles - Brian through his involvement in the development of the game across the under-age and technical areas and Chris as a distinguished player for country for many years.
"The board's view was that the declining FIFA world rankings, UEFA standings and non-qualification for the 2006 World Cup were key issues for the Association.
"The downward trend in our rankings and seedings has been very disappointing and will make qualification for future tournaments considerably more difficult and that has knock-on consequences for the development of the game.
"Everyone involved in football is disappointed that Ireland have failed to qualify for the World Cup and reap the benefits of our involvement in terms of interest in the game and increased participation across the country.
"As an organisation, we have invested heavily over the past year to progress the game at all levels to bring more and more people into the game.
"We now have more people taking part in football than any other team sport, but to further develop the game success on the international scene is an important catalyst.
"A board sub-committee has been charged with making recommendations to the full board in respect of a new manager for the international team."
It means the FAI now begin their search for a man to hopefully lead the country to the 2008 European Championships in Switzerland and Austria.
Unsurprisingly, the speculation over the past week has been frenzied, with three high-profile candidates in Sir Alex Ferguson, David O'Leary and Martin O'Neill among the front-runners, with the latter a 2-1 favourite.
Sir Bobby Robson has also been mentioned, although at the age of 72, and despite the experience he would bring to the job, it would appear time is against the former England and Newcastle manager.
Also strongly mentioned has been Kenny Dalglish, whose playing credentials are second to none, however, his spells in charge with Liverpool and Blackburn were not the most glorious.
The key factor for the FAI is that time is on their side, for with no friendly planned for next month's free international date, they have until February before a fixture comes around and with it the build up towards the qualifying programme for 2008.
After a near five-hour board meeting, chief executive officer John Delaney said: "Our next qualifying match in terms of the European Championship is probably next August or so, so we have time to consider the position.
"The sub-committee is in place [comprising Delaney, president David Blood and secretary Michael Cody] and the work starts tomorrow, and we will work forward from there.
"Any decision as to whether we go for a caretaker, we will consider it tomorrow as a sub-committee, and then make a recommendation to the board and take it from there.
"We can all start speculating on names, but I certainly won't. The day you start naming names and denying names is wrong becomes a process of elimination.
"That is not something we will do. We will keep it within the sub-committee and bring it to the board. That's the way we will conduct our business.
"But we want a manager to bring us success, and that's the bottom end of it."
Kerr, meanwhile, revealed he was deeply saddened his association with the FAI had now come to an end.
"I would like to thank all 45 players who played under me during my time in charge, and I would also like to thank the fans for their support," added Kerr.
"I will now take time out to consider the next stage of my career but I intend to remain in professional football."
Kerr's backroom staff in assistant Chris Hughton, goalkeeping coach Packie Bonner and coach Noel O'Reilly have also not had their contracts renewed, although the latter duo retain their roles within the Association of technical director and regional development officer respectively.
The FAI's decision comes as no surprise, not least because of the influence of Delaney, who was the lone dissenting voice on a three-man panel when it came to finding a successor to Mick McCarthy three years ago.
Kerr's unprecedented success throughout the under-age levels in the preceding five years on that occasion swung the vote in his favour ahead of Bryan Robson, who Delaney preferred.
Kerr, though, has failed to mastermind glory for the senior team during his 33 months at the helm, despite a record that on the surface would appear to have credence.
Ireland lost just four of 33 matches, winning 18 and with 18 clean sheets, with some notable friendly scalps along the way such as Holland, Czech Republic and Portugal.
Yet competitively, Kerr won just seven of 16 games, with those victories home and away to Georgia, the Faroe Islands and Cyprus, and at home to Albania.
When the Republic needed three points the most, against France, Switzerland, Russia and Israel in European Championship and World Cup qualifiers, Kerr was found wanting as his record read: played eight, won none, drew six and lost two.
When you add into the equation Ireland were among the second seeds when the qualifying draw was made for Euro 2004 - yet come January and the draw for the 2008 championships they will be in pot four - it is perhaps easier to appreciate the FAI's standing.
Ireland have also considerably dropped down the world rankings during Kerr's tenure as Delaney pointed out, adding: "The downward trend in our seedings and rankings has been very disappointing.
"It will make qualification for future tournaments considerably more difficult and that has knock-on consequences for the development of the game.
"But Brian deserved to manage Ireland, based on what he had done at under-age level and his commitment to the Irish game.
"The timing, when you look back, was correct. He deserved a shot at it, and he got a shot at it.
"In the end there was no vote, just a consensus among the board in arriving at the decision we came to."
The 10 men who decided Kerr's fate were: Blood, Delaney, Cody, Maurice Fleming (vice president), Eddie Murray (honorary treasurer), Paddy McCaul (eircom League chairman), Jim McConnell (Ulster FA), Milo Corcoran (former president, Waterford United representative), Paraic Treanor (Leinster FA), Donal Conway (FAI Schools).
SORRY TO SEE YOU GO, THOUGHT YOU DID THE BEST JOB YOU COULD HAVE. GOOD LUCK.
Brian Kerr's reign as Republic of Ireland manager is over as the Football Association of Ireland have opted not to renew his contract.
Kerr has ultimately paid the price for failing to take Ireland to next summer's World Cup finals in Germany, culminating in last Wednesday's goalless draw against Switzerland at Lansdowne Road, a game the Republic needed to win to reach the play-offs.
The decision was taken following a meeting of the FAI's 10-man Board of Management at a Dublin hotel, ending Kerr's eight-year association with the FAI.
A statement from the FAI read: "The board of the FAI met today and considered the implications of non-qualification of the international team for the World Cup in 2006.
"The board also assessed the prospect of achieving success in future European Championships and World Cup campaigns in the context of the development of the game in Ireland.
"Following this meeting the board has indicated that the FAI is to recruit a new international manager to succeed Brian Kerr whose contract expired at the end of the 2006 World Cup campaign.
"The board would like to thank Brian Kerr and the technical staff for their commitment and energy demonstrated during almost three years in charge.
"The board fully recognises the dedication and passion applied by Brian and his support team in their quest to gain qualification for the major championships.
"The board also acknowledges both Brian and Chris Hughton's contribution to the game in their previous roles - Brian through his involvement in the development of the game across the under-age and technical areas and Chris as a distinguished player for country for many years.
"The board's view was that the declining FIFA world rankings, UEFA standings and non-qualification for the 2006 World Cup were key issues for the Association.
"The downward trend in our rankings and seedings has been very disappointing and will make qualification for future tournaments considerably more difficult and that has knock-on consequences for the development of the game.
"Everyone involved in football is disappointed that Ireland have failed to qualify for the World Cup and reap the benefits of our involvement in terms of interest in the game and increased participation across the country.
"As an organisation, we have invested heavily over the past year to progress the game at all levels to bring more and more people into the game.
"We now have more people taking part in football than any other team sport, but to further develop the game success on the international scene is an important catalyst.
"A board sub-committee has been charged with making recommendations to the full board in respect of a new manager for the international team."
It means the FAI now begin their search for a man to hopefully lead the country to the 2008 European Championships in Switzerland and Austria.
Unsurprisingly, the speculation over the past week has been frenzied, with three high-profile candidates in Sir Alex Ferguson, David O'Leary and Martin O'Neill among the front-runners, with the latter a 2-1 favourite.
Sir Bobby Robson has also been mentioned, although at the age of 72, and despite the experience he would bring to the job, it would appear time is against the former England and Newcastle manager.
Also strongly mentioned has been Kenny Dalglish, whose playing credentials are second to none, however, his spells in charge with Liverpool and Blackburn were not the most glorious.
The key factor for the FAI is that time is on their side, for with no friendly planned for next month's free international date, they have until February before a fixture comes around and with it the build up towards the qualifying programme for 2008.
After a near five-hour board meeting, chief executive officer John Delaney said: "Our next qualifying match in terms of the European Championship is probably next August or so, so we have time to consider the position.
"The sub-committee is in place [comprising Delaney, president David Blood and secretary Michael Cody] and the work starts tomorrow, and we will work forward from there.
"Any decision as to whether we go for a caretaker, we will consider it tomorrow as a sub-committee, and then make a recommendation to the board and take it from there.
"We can all start speculating on names, but I certainly won't. The day you start naming names and denying names is wrong becomes a process of elimination.
"That is not something we will do. We will keep it within the sub-committee and bring it to the board. That's the way we will conduct our business.
"But we want a manager to bring us success, and that's the bottom end of it."
Kerr, meanwhile, revealed he was deeply saddened his association with the FAI had now come to an end.
"I would like to thank all 45 players who played under me during my time in charge, and I would also like to thank the fans for their support," added Kerr.
"I will now take time out to consider the next stage of my career but I intend to remain in professional football."
Kerr's backroom staff in assistant Chris Hughton, goalkeeping coach Packie Bonner and coach Noel O'Reilly have also not had their contracts renewed, although the latter duo retain their roles within the Association of technical director and regional development officer respectively.
The FAI's decision comes as no surprise, not least because of the influence of Delaney, who was the lone dissenting voice on a three-man panel when it came to finding a successor to Mick McCarthy three years ago.
Kerr's unprecedented success throughout the under-age levels in the preceding five years on that occasion swung the vote in his favour ahead of Bryan Robson, who Delaney preferred.
Kerr, though, has failed to mastermind glory for the senior team during his 33 months at the helm, despite a record that on the surface would appear to have credence.
Ireland lost just four of 33 matches, winning 18 and with 18 clean sheets, with some notable friendly scalps along the way such as Holland, Czech Republic and Portugal.
Yet competitively, Kerr won just seven of 16 games, with those victories home and away to Georgia, the Faroe Islands and Cyprus, and at home to Albania.
When the Republic needed three points the most, against France, Switzerland, Russia and Israel in European Championship and World Cup qualifiers, Kerr was found wanting as his record read: played eight, won none, drew six and lost two.
When you add into the equation Ireland were among the second seeds when the qualifying draw was made for Euro 2004 - yet come January and the draw for the 2008 championships they will be in pot four - it is perhaps easier to appreciate the FAI's standing.
Ireland have also considerably dropped down the world rankings during Kerr's tenure as Delaney pointed out, adding: "The downward trend in our seedings and rankings has been very disappointing.
"It will make qualification for future tournaments considerably more difficult and that has knock-on consequences for the development of the game.
"But Brian deserved to manage Ireland, based on what he had done at under-age level and his commitment to the Irish game.
"The timing, when you look back, was correct. He deserved a shot at it, and he got a shot at it.
"In the end there was no vote, just a consensus among the board in arriving at the decision we came to."
The 10 men who decided Kerr's fate were: Blood, Delaney, Cody, Maurice Fleming (vice president), Eddie Murray (honorary treasurer), Paddy McCaul (eircom League chairman), Jim McConnell (Ulster FA), Milo Corcoran (former president, Waterford United representative), Paraic Treanor (Leinster FA), Donal Conway (FAI Schools).
