Kerr in limbo as FAI keep silent over new deal

Quote:

---

Kerr in limbo as FAI keep silent over new deal
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=13055

IRELAND team manager Brian Kerr has admitted that he is in the dark about his future.

Kerr's contract, which began at the end of January 2003, is due expire when Ireland's interest in the 2006 World Cup ends.

While Group Four rivals Switzerland decided to award their coach Kobi Kuhn with a new contract that will run until the end of Euro 2008, Kerr doesn't know what the FAI's thoughts on his future are.

"The chief executive has said that he won't speak about it publicly. I am endeavouring to find out about it privately and I have nothing else to say on it," said Kerr yesterday.

Last night the FAI again reiterated their stance that they do not talk about the contract of any of their employees in public.

Any decision on Kerr's future will be taken by the FAI's Board of Management as has been the case with all his predecessors.

With Ireland's chances of reaching next summer's World Cup Finals in Germany hanging in the balance the Board are likely to wait until the dust from the qualifiers and play-offs has settled before dealing with the issue.

Kerr was appointed in January 2003 after six successful years as international youth team manager during which time he guided teams to unprecedented success in World and European competition.

He revived the Euro 2004 campaign on his appointment and brought Ireland to within a whisker of qualifying for Portugal after losing their opening two games of the campaign.

He also guided the team to their highest FIFA World Ranking in years when they reached 12th place this year and the current World Cup campaign was proceeding according to plan until hiccups against Israel and France.

If Ireland fail to reach the November play-offs then Kerr will face an uphill battle to hold on to a job that he once described as "the best in the world".

Kerr's future is going to be one of the sideshows attached to Ireland's final two Group Four games against Cyprus and Switzerland next month.

They are must-win games for Ireland and Kerr says he won't allow speculation over his future to distract him from his mission.

"I am totally focused on the job at hand. We have two matches left in the group and if we win the two games it could put us in a good position to be either in the play-offs or to actually win the group depending on how the results go.

"That is what I am focused on, that is what the team is focused on and the staff so it is not a distraction."

Gerry McDermott

---

Personaly I'm in favour of the FAIlures position, not that I have anythign against Kerr but I dont think contracts should be given out likes sweets. Mc Carthy got way too much time on the job and he was a slow learner. Every other european country just gives contracts until the end of the current qualifcation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

Every other european country just gives contracts until the end of the current qualifcation.

---

Switzerland just extended the contract of their coach. Like it or not, it does give him a public vote of confidence, and it will take a load off his mind. I do wonder if thinking about his new contract (or the lack thereof) will take Brian Kerr's eye off the ball in the next 2 games.

Switzerland don't have qualifiers for Euro2008.

The jury is still out on Kerr. Some good, some bad.

We'd look pretty daft extending his contract and then drawing with Cyprus or putting up a performance v Switzerland like Basle 2003.

If we make the playoffs I think he should be given a new contract. If we fail then make the decision in October.

Yes , you beat me to it - Switzerland do not have any qualifiers which is why he has a new contract.

I doubt Brian is under any illusions or extra pressure - he knows deep down that it is unlikely he will keep the position. I wish he would as god only knows who the FAI would replace him with. I think BK has done a good job but is going to end up being slaughtered for the Israel result if we dont qualify.

Were we not only one vote away from obtaining the fabulous talents of Bryan Robson ??

Anyway its academic - two wins and its play-off time

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gspain

Switzerland don't have qualifiers for Euro2008.

The jury is still out on Kerr. Some good, some bad.

We'd look pretty daft extending his contract and then drawing with Cyprus or putting up a performance v Switzerland like Basle 2003.

If we make the playoffs I think he should be given a new contract. If we fail then make the decision in October.

---

OT u looked good as the little boy in those photos on tv :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wallis

Were we not only one vote away from obtaining the fabulous talents of Bryan Robson ??

---

Yes Delaneys vote, the same person who is whining behind closed doors about the money that Kerr spends on the team.

Quote:

---

No compromising from Kerr
28/09/2005 - 11:10:24

Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr has promised an all-or-nothing approach in a bid to reach next summer’s World Cup finals.

Kerr yesterday named a 24-man squad for the final two Group Four qualifying matches in Cyprus on October 8 and at Lansdowne Road against Switzerland five days later.

Following defeat to France earlier this month, Kerr and his players now find themselves in a must-win situation for both games, knowing they have to pick up six points to clinch at least a play-off place.

Kerr is unfortunately without inspirational midfielder Roy Keane for the two fixtures after the Manchester United captain recently broke a metatarsal bone in his left foot.

To add to his woes, Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison and Tottenham winger Andy Reid are suspended for the game with the Cypriots in Nicosia.

It is why Wigan striker David Connolly has been recalled after two years in the international wilderness, while Reading forward Kevin Doyle has been included in the squad for the first time.

Kerr knows Cyprus will prove far more awkward opponents compared to the side beaten 3-0 in the opening game of the campaign a year ago, as he said: “They changed their manager mid-stream, and it looks like they have improved.

“They gave Switzerland two awkward games, and were probably unfortunate to lose away, so they’ve a bit going for them as they also won in the Faroes 3-0, while everybody else has only beaten them 2-0.

“Their club teams have improved dramatically in the European rankings, so they are capable and dangerous, but we have to do our stuff because we are capable of winning the match.

“Every match we’ve played in the group we’ve approached it trying to win. We’ve been very positive.

“Looking at the games individually and impartially, we’ve put out attacking teams and players in every match. We’ve gone to try and win, home and away.

“We’ve had a go, with three, four and sometimes five attacking players on the pitch, so there won’t be any change in approach, philosophy or mentality for these games.”

But a shadow could be cast over the double header if Kerr’s contract situation is not resolved soon as he remains in the dark over his future.

Kerr made it clear earlier this year he did not want to go into the final group games uncertain of his situation – but that is exactly the prospect facing him as the Football Association of Ireland are clearly stonewalling

When quizzed on the subject, a frustrated Kerr snapped: “The chief executive [John Delaney] has said he won’t speak about it publicly, and I am endeavouring to find out about it privately.”

But Kerr is adamant he remains “totally focused on the job in hand” and added: “We’ve two matches left in the group and if we win them it could put us in a good position to either be in the play-offs or to actually win the group, depending on how other results go.

“That’s what I am focused on, and that’s what the team and staff are focused on, so it is not a distraction.”

When then questioned on whether he would like to continue as Ireland manager, a clearly disgruntled Kerr retorted: “I won’t say anything more about it. I’ve said all I have to say, but the association know my feelings.”

---

No disrespect to the Choclate makers but Switzerland are hardly a world beater. They arent a footballing nation and i dont think Ireland should be looking to them for an example to follow.

No future manager / CEO / anyone else should cost the FAIlure ( and thus the taxpayer ) money in the future. Contracts should just be given to the end of the current qualification campaign. Were not a charity, we have to qualify for all the major championships.

From the article:

He revived the Euro 2004 campaign on his appointment and brought Ireland to within a whisker of qualifying for Portugal after losing their opening two games of the campaign.

No he didn't. Total bloody fallacy.

But that's neither here nor there. This is a scurrilous article, creating mischief and negativity when none is required. So what if the Swiss extend their manager's contract? What's that got to do with us & our manager's position?

Draw With Albania

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by livehead1

Draw With Albania

---

I actually heard the word "miracle" used after we moved up the table from bottom to 4th to 3rd.

Too many people with only a fleeting interest are in a position to infuence public opinion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gspain

Switzerland don't have qualifiers for Euro2008.

The jury is still out on Kerr. Some good, some bad.

We'd look pretty daft extending his contract and then drawing with Cyprus or putting up a performance v Switzerland like Basle 2003.

If we make the playoffs I think he should be given a new contract. If we fail then make the decision in October.

---

Have to agree totally. I would have described myself as a fan of Kerr however the facts speak for themselves. We finished 3rd in the last qualifiers, the 1st time since 1985. If it happens again that we finish 3rd I think he will have to go. However if we get to the playoffs and go out thats when the hard decision has to be made. I think its as simple as the following


Qualify He stays
3rd Place, He goes
Go out in the play off fifity fifty on whether he stays or not, depends on the manner of the defeat.

Unfortunately (and it was the same in the run-up to France), we are going to be subjected to constant media reports with no substance to them and whose only objective is to stir up trouble and mistrust .

If Im honest I dont see the reasoning behind changing the manager. For all the whining on this forum and others about selections , tactics etc I dont believe Kerr has done anything different to what supporters wanted.

There was a lot of garbage spoke about who should have been playing in the side (all good aftertiming of course after the results of the matches). We have people suggesting that players who ply their trade in lower divsions should be selected over proven premiership players. We have other lower division players being touted as a better option than guys who have Champions League experience etc etc. The facts are we have a limited side at the moment. There are a couple of genuinely 'special' international players and the rest are all what I would call 'solid' - not spectacular in what they do but certainly capable at this level. The trouble is , there are not enough of them about. With one or two exceptions we would all pick the same side as BK going into the games. It is not his fault that JOS handballs against the Israelies or that the goalkeeper plays the game of his life.

I doubt if anyone can honestly say we were second best or outplayed by any team in our group. One or two things havent fallen in our favour but have in others (Swiss last minute winner against Cyprus for example). You can argue all day long about tactics for games but I dont think BK made any mistakes barring the Keane injury against Israel and even then just how many chances did we need to still win that game. He is not responsible for Henrys 25 yarder, the Israeli dream-strike in the 1-1 draw or us not beating the French in Paris.

When I look back at the campaign I can pinpoint the occassions where it went wrong and none of them are the fault of the manager in the same way McCarthy should not have been held responsible for the Macedonia incident. It is the players on the pitch that need to perform and although it is not ideal we are still in with a chance. If we finish second to France I would say thats exactly where 90% of us thought we would be a year ago. If that is where we end up then win or lose in the play offs I think BK would have taken the team to exactly the stage I expected them to be.

We do have a next generation of possible stars coming through like Kevin Doyle and at the other end we will lose more established players like Roy. Someone has to make that transition over the next few years and I would prefer BK who has worked with them previously , than letting the FAI appoint a manager with no idea of the irish set-up/attitude whatever you want to call it. Whether we want to accept it or not Ireland is way short on world class and even shorter on strength in depth I dont see a change of manager making a difference. It does make a difference in a situation like Englands where you have a huge pool of quality to pick from and can therefore select different formations, different players depending on the opposition and have plenty of cover in all areas but that is not how Ireland is built at this time.

Would a change in manager make a difference to us ? would we become a better team ? Im not so sure. Going into the last two games my thoughts are not 'is the manager good enough ?' but 'are our players good enough' ?

Quote:

---

Would a change in manager make a difference to us ? would we become a better team ? Im not so sure. Going into the last two games my thoughts are not 'is the manager good enough ?' but 'are our players good enough' ?

---

I agree totally. Its the fact that we dont have world class players like we used to with Roy is the problem. The public was sold a lie that this Irish team are good when clearly they are just average English PL quality (and that doesnt say much in fairness).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I do wonder if thinking about his new contract (or the lack thereof) will take Brian Kerr's eye off the ball in the next 2 games.

---

It shouldn't....would be very unprofessional of him if it did and would only prove the point that he wasn't up to it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Qualify He stays
3rd Place, He goes
Go out in the play off fifity fifty on whether he stays or not, depends on the manner of the defeat.

---

That's exactly what will happen I reckon....and probably right to do so aswell. i think the disappointment of not qualifying will push that fifty to sixty and he will get the boot even if we lose in the qualifiers. well it would in my book...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

I agree totally. Its the fact that we dont have world class players like we used to with Roy is the problem. The public was sold a lie that this Irish team are good when clearly they are just average English PL quality (and that doesnt say much in fairness).

---

Who sold this idea.

Twas sky sports! their graphics are so very eye catching!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I do wonder if thinking about his new contract (or the lack thereof) will take Brian Kerr's eye off the ball in the next 2 games.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

It shouldn't....would be very unprofessional of him if it did and would only prove the point that he wasn't up to it.

---

I'd like to think that not giving the man a free lunch voucher will concentrate his mind on the task of getting us to Germany (and by logical extention getting him his new contract).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wallis

It is not his fault that JOS handballs against the Israelies or that the goalkeeper plays the game of his life.

---

I'd say his tendency to try to hang on to 1 goal leads against far inferior teams has cost us a fair few points in fairness (he did it against Israel twice and in Switzerland when we went ahead). Also his substitutions have been s**t and have never worked once in the entire campaign.

Everyone can say what they want about Kerr but the fact is if we don't finish at least second in this group then it is his fault because we definitely have far better players than Israel and slightly better players than Switzerland.

This really shouldn't even be a topic for discussion, the FAI should have given Kerr a contract to cover all the qualifying games and any play-off games. They did the same stupid thing with McCarthy, Mick then had them over a barrel for his fees for the Iran game, how amateur are these guys? :confused: