FAI silent on Dalglish rumours

THE FAI yesterday insisted it has not adopted a plan to begin the interview process for a new national team manager despite speculation that Kenny Dalglish was scheduled to visit Dublin next weekend.

FAI President Milo Corcoran said they were pushing ahead with as much speed as possible with completing the small committee charged with initiating a selection process.

Three FAI officers will sit on the interview board: Milo Corcoran, John Delaney, honorary treasurer and Kevin Fahy, honorary secretary. They had agreed to invite a person or persons experienced in international football to join with them in deciding on the best way to proceed to secure a new manager.

It is likely that they will advertise in international publications inviting applications. It is also likely that they will not confine themselves to those who respond but will approach potential candidates from a wish-list of top-level personalities.

Mr Corcoran declined to identify the individuals the FAI has invited to join with the officers in seeking the new manager. Liam Brady and John Giles are just two of those who are thought to be on the FAI list of potential interviewees.

The FAI plan on taking the Genesis report a major step further on Friday when two important meetings will be held in Dundalk.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern still insists the Scottish and Irish Euro 2008 bid teams have not given up hope of persuading the GAA to allow Croke Park to be one of the championship venues.

Mr Ahern said: ‘‘I have no doubt in its time Croke Park will come right. Croke Park is almost finished and does not have any equals as far as we’re concerned. We also have 23 bids in from the private sector for a site out in the west of Dublin.

‘‘Scotland and Ireland are two great footballing countries with enormous interest and support in the game which is shown week-in, week-out.

Bid marketing director John Henderson believes the bid has a significant advantage over fellow front runners Austria and Switzerland.

‘‘I have every confidence we will deliver and UEFA knows we will deliver too and that is a very strong position to be in,” said Henderson.

‘‘Switzerland has very small stadiums and you could fit two Swiss stadiums into Murrayfield.”

UEFA president Lennart Johansson has appeared to rule out the chances of Russia or the joint bid from Greece and Turkey in the race to host the 2008 European soccer championship.

The UEFA president cited the Moscow theatre siege and the crowd trouble that blighted the UEFA Cup tie between Greek club Panathinaikos and Turkish rivals Fenerbahce as reasons why UEFA might not look favourably on the two bids.

Seven bids are being considered by UEFA, whose executive committee will make their decision on December 12.

Johansson seemed positive about the joint bid from Austria and Switzerland. “It is a candidature that makes sense,” he said. “Switzerland is building new stadiums and possesses long-lasting assets such as financial and political stability.”