7 out of 10 want Kerr to stay
I'd like to point I've moved firmly into the other 3
Seven out of 10 say Kerr should stay
NEARLY seven out of 10 people believe Brian Kerr should continue as manager
of the Irish soccer team, according to a nationwide Sunday Independent
telephone poll after the match in Cyprus last night.
The poll showed that 67 per cent hold the opinion that Kerr should continue
as manager and the remaining 33 per cent said it was time for him to go.
Brian Kerr insisted last night that speculation about his future as Irish
manager was not a distraction for him in the run-up to the Cyprus match.
"It was absolutely no distraction for me. It obviously kept the media very
busy over the last week or two. I answered a question that I was asked when
I named the squad and the issue for me now is to prepare the team as best as
we possibly can for Wednesday," he said.
He said the three points that Ireland needed had been achieved and that was
all that mattered. The Cyprus game was a "hard old scrap" but now the team
was "in with a shout" as they prepared to go into the match against the
Swiss on Wednesday.
He conceded that the team did not have a great rhythm in the first half but
he pointed out that he made changes at half time which resulted in the team
being "quite effective" and being more in control.
"We need to do a lot better if we're to have much of a chance on Wednesday,"
he said.
He said Damien Duff was suffering from a recurrence of an injury that he had
before and, as a result, he must be "very doubtful" about appear
SEE ANALYSIS
ing in the Swiss game. The Chelsea winger will receive a scan today to
ascertain the extent of the injury.
Man of the Match Shay Given said he was delighted by his very important
penalty save in the first half. Wednesday's clash with Switzerland will be
"a massive game" and the team will need the famous "Lansdowne Roar".
Speculation that Kerr will be axed should Ireland fail to qualify for the
2006 World Cup finals in Germany had been rife in the run-up to the game.
Kerr has been in the job for just over two years, having taken over from
Mick McCarthy in November 2002.
Kerr has a remarkably successful history with Irish youth teams. Prior to
that, as manager of St Patrick's Athletic, Kerr won the League of Ireland
title twice. He took on the national job in 2003, commanding a salary of
?484,000.
On Friday, he refused to discuss his position and appeared defiant when
questioned on his contract.
He said speculation surrounding his position did not bother him and was out
of his control.
The relationship between Kerr and FAI chief executive John Delaney has
become especially tense in recent times, with Delaney reprimanding the
manager before the squad left for Cyprus.