Hand gives FAI call the thumbs down

One man left unhappy by the news that Giovanni Trapattoni is to remain as Republic of Ireland boss was Eoin Hand, who suggested prior to last night’s show of support from the FAI that now was the time for the Italian to be left go.

Yet now the decision has been made, the only way former manager Hand thinks the decision can be changed is if the 73-year-old shows the required level of commitment to warrant his huge salary and turn negative public opinion around – starting with next month’s friendly at home to Greece.

“The decision is nearly expected in a way,” Hand said. “He’s a professional and he has played them by saying all the right things.

“In football management things can change pretty rapidly but it will be interesting to see what the reaction of the public will be for the friendly for Greece. Maybe it’s a wake-up call for Trapattoni and he’ll start doing the job with full commitment.”

Hand was Irish boss between 1980 and 1985, when the role was still part-time, and maintains Trapattoni’s refusal to see his players in club action while he remains in Milan is inexcusable.

“Going to actually see the players is an essential that Trapattoni has never carried out. As soon as you get the job, that’s what you do. I was part-time when I was manager, but I was still going across to England at every available opportunity to check players out.

“That’s how you get the respect of players and get the most out of them because they know you have been watching them.

“We all know his CV is great, there are no problems over that. But what I’m concerned about is the obvious one, his commitment towards the cause. The only time he comes to Ireland is to do press conferences.

“He doesn’t have a presence in this country but never mind that, he doesn’t have a presence in the country where all our players are playing. I find that amazing. I would like to think that perhaps in discussions with the FAI now that came across.”

Yet Hand is sceptical over whether John Delaney and the rest of the board of management did lay down those ideas to Trapattoni, adding that financial circumstances may have stopped the association from giving him the sack.

“Then again, maybe they haven’t, maybe they have made this decision strictly from a financial point of view and they can’t afford to get rid of him.

“I think it should be made clear to the manager that now he has to fight against public impressions of him and that he has to commit himself more.”

In addition, he is critical of Trapattoni’s ignorance of domestic affairs and says last Saturday’s decision to host a post-match press conference at the same time as Sligo Rovers were winning the League of Ireland title sums the Italian’s attitude up.

“He has been very insulting to the domestic game, culminating in him scheduling a press conference last Saturday at the same time as the most important game of the domestic season.

“He doesn’t see the big picture about having a successful international team.

“It’s nice to have results go for you, but it should be all about fostering the game here, not in England or anywhere else. The bottom line is he has lost sight of that aspect, he should be improving the game here.”