Our columnist responds to Darron Gibson’s headline-grabbing interview this week before lifting the (toilet) lid himself on an odd prelude to Brighton’s game against QPR

If the FAI know who they want to replace Giovanni Trapattoni, then they should get him in before next month’s double header with Germany and Kazakhstan and give everybody, from players to fans, a lift in morale.

I suppose with all the hype in the media and the growing pressure on Giovanni Trapattoni since the European Championships last summer, it didn’t come as a huge surprise to anybody to see him relieved of his duties less than a day after the defeat to Austria in Vienna which effectively made it impossible for Ireland to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

Now that dust has settled from Friday’s defeat at the hands of Sweden, I’m still trying to find some positives ahead of tonight’s game against Austria in Vienna.

IT’S fairly obvious that the next few days will determine if we will have a realistic chance of getting to Rio for the World Cup next year.

When will CUH learn that data protection is critical to the hospital?

I watched the qualifier against the Faroe Islands a long way from home — and yet it still felt very much like home.

Our columnist reflects on a memorable start to Ireland’s hectic end-of-season finale.

A week spent on a coaching course in Dublin has proven to be an eye-opening experience.

I’ve mentioned in a previous column that I’ve been doing rehabilitation for my achilles’ tendon injury here in Qatar and promised to write more about this extraordinary place.