Robson given all-clear to resume role

[DeNiro]

http://www.rte.ie/aertel/p224.htm

[Mouthpiece]

FAI Press Release



Sir Bobby Robson gets the all-clear





Dublin, October 17, 2006.



The Football Association of Ireland today announced that its International Football Consultant, Sir Bobby Robson, has been cleared by his medical advisors to fully resume his duties with the association.



Sir Bobby has undergone two operations this year to remove cancerous tumours from his body and missed Ireland’s last four games against Holland, Germany, Cyprus and Czech Republic.



But, after meeting with FAI Chief Executive Officer John Delaney today in England, he announced that he will be seeing out the remainder of his two-year contract and will link up next month with manager Stephen Staunton and the Irish squad.



Sir Bobby Robson said: “I have been given the all-clear by the doctors and I am looking forward to getting back to doing the job I was employed to do. Although I have been in regular contact with Stephen and John by telephone, I missed being able to link up with the squad and attend the games.



“The FAI, and in particular John Delaney and Stephen Staunton, have been wonderfully supportive in recent weeks and I desperately want to repay them in the coming months by helping Stephen and the squad build on the excellent performance against the Czech Republic and show that the result against Cyprus was a one-off.”



John Delaney said: “I am delighted that Sir Bobby is now fit to resume his duties as the association’s International Football Consultant. In the short period before his illness he showed us a glimpse of how much he can contribute and we look forward to benefiting from his vast experience in the months ahead.”



Stephen Staunton said: “Although I have spoken daily to Bobby it is a great boost to know that he has now been cleared to travel and attend matches. It will be great to have him around the squad once again. Myself and the players look forward to linking up with Bobby next month for the B international against Scotland and the Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino.”



ENDS

[manofthemoment]

so this means we will have a proper grown up manager in charge for our next games ( provided Robson's health holds out)

[livehead1]

that is a massive boost

[concanta]

once we beat san mar home and away and move up the table the confidence will start rising....still think its too much but will be at least good for seedings and you can never say never

[manofthemoment]

once we beat san mar home and away and move up the table the confidence will start rising....still think its too much but will be at least good for seedings and you can never say never
I think this may be the exception to that rule

[shakermaker1982]

thank God we don't have Kenny to put up with......

[Docboy]

Great, Bobby is long past his prime. 72 and still getting work,unbelievable!

[OwlsFan]

From Today's Daily Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/11/14/sfnroi14.xml


Staunton hails Robson's return


By Martin Smith in Dublin


Sir Bobby Robson is not the imposing figure he was when good enough to play for and manage his country. No longer does he dominate training sessions, tracksuited and playing one-twos and keep-ball with men more than half his age. However, it is for what goes on under his thinning grey hair that Steve Staunton relishes his presence with the Republic of Ireland squad.


Re-united: Steve Staunton is pleased to have Sir Bobby back
Robson has the grandiose title of international football consultant, and the absence of first-hand contact with the Irish team while a tumour was removed from his brain, coincided with the opening three Euro 2008 qualifying games that garnered just one point.

"It's great that he's back," Staunton admitted yesterday. "It's been a remarkable recovery. Now he's here I don't need to pick up the phone, I can just go and talk to him in his room or in the lobby. You learn so much from what he has to say."

Robson walks with a limp, his left arm resting in a surgical sling, and looks all of his 73 years, and more. However, his mind is still lively, still attuned to the modern game, spotting faults and weaknesses, and waxing lyrical about young players like centre half Paul McShane.

"I'm still slightly impaired, as you've seen," he said, "but I can walk unassisted. I couldn't walk. I couldn't stand up. Now I can walk without a stick. I don't do the four-minute mile, but I get there.

advertisement"I'm back among my own folk, I'm back in football, and I always wanted to return. Now my health is restored, not all the way, but I'm in a position where I could come to this match [against San Marino tomorrow], which I wanted to do after missing the last three. I am improving every day."

"He was up at five o'clock [on Sunday] to get here," Staunton said, "so that's the enthusiasm he's got. He wants us to be successful and he has proved it by being here."

His ageing lieutenant by his side, Staunton has a dependable subaltern in Shay Given back in goal following two months on the sidelines after suffering a tear to the lining of his lower bowel in a collision at West Ham.

Glenn Roeder suggested last week that Given's first game back should be in a Newcastle jersey, but Staunton defused any potential row when he said: "Glenn and I know this is a wonderful game for Shay to come back into football. I certainly hope Shay won't be too busy and it will be a case of him being concentrated for 90 minutes. He needs a game and given a choice between an international match and a reserve-team game, I know where I'd want my keeper to play."

Much interest tonight in Dublin will centre on the appearance of Anthony Stokes, 18, the Arsenal striker on loan at Falkirk, in the B international against Scotland. Stokes scored hat-tricks in successive SPL games this month, and his step-up to full international level is keenly anticipated.