Trap successor must look beyond senior success

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.

But if the decision is not as simple as that, then the FAI should take their time and make sure they do their due diligence on all the possible candidates to ensure the right man is chosen to take us forward.

Our World Cup campaign is over in terms of hopes of qualifying but we can still aim to finish the group well and instil some confidence in the squad and renewed optimism amongst supporters after two disappointing results.