Kieran Shannon: Why Ruud Dokter's 'elite player pathway' plan is not good for Irish football

Call for 'elite player pathway' from age 12 is too young, and could prove counterproductive, says Kieran Shannon. 

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny and FAI High-Performance Director Ruud Dokter. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

It’s hard to know what has been the more dispiriting for Irish football over the past month: the continuing inability of the senior men’s national team to carve out a goal or some of the action points in the latest talent development plan issued by Ruud Dokter.

In the end, the latter edges it, even if the former has commanded more headlines.