Doherty backing Kerr, irrespective of how World Cup qualifiers pan out

BRIAN KERR has received a ringing endorsement from Gary Doherty, with the Republic of Ireland striker making it clear that he would like to see the embattled manager stay on in the Irish job irrespective of how the World Cup bid pans out.

"Of course," says the Norwich man. "He's our manager and he's done a great job. You [the media] have given him a lot of stick. But the morale's good and we're a really happy team. He's brought Roy back and he has been a great influence on the team, so Brian hasn't done much wrong.

"You obviously gave him a bit of stick over the France game but in that game we played really well and they scored a wonder goal. That was the sickener. That's what football's like."

Doherty concedes that the dropped points at home and away to Israel were probably a bigger factor in shaping what has turned into a final tense stage of Ireland's bid for qualification but, again, he praises the manager for shielding the players from the pressure as much as he can.

"It's been testament to Brian that we've felt no pressure coming from him," says Doherty. "Obviously, you read the papers and see that there might be a bit of pressure, but that hasn't seeped through to the squad.

"We're a bubbly lot and there's a lot of confidence in the team and, fair play to the manager, he hasn't really put any pressure on the players."

Doherty was an unused substitute in the squad, managed by Kerr, which won the U18 European Championships here in Cyprus in 1998 by beating Germany on penalties. Current internationals Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane were also on the winning side that day.

Getting through to Germany, Doherty suggests, would be further repayment of an old debt to a manager he clearly also regards as a mentor.

"We want to do it for our country," he says, "but there's an added incentive with Brian who's really nurtured a lot of the young lads in the squad. If we could do it for Brian too that would be brilliant.

"It's great [working with Brian]. Obviously, a big thing is his motivation and the detail he goes into regarding the opposition. We'll all know everything come Saturday about Cyprus and their gameplan. So it's really about us and taking our gameplan into it and making it work for us.

"The pressure's going to grow throughout the match but it's the old cliché there's 90 minutes in the game and whether you score in the first one or the last it doesn't matter, as long as it's the winner."

A leaner Doherty reveals that he lost nearly a stone in weight during the summer.

Recently back in the Norwich team as a centre-half, he believes he's reaping the benefits.

"I feel a lot better, a lot lighter and fitter," he smiles, "and I think they're quite happy with me at Norwich."

But it's as a striker, in the absence of Clinton Morrison, that 'The Doc' will be hoping to do his team and his manager a favour should he see action tomorrow night.

"I hope I can be another option for Brian," he says.

"There's a few us trying to get into that position alongside Robbie and, hopefully, it'll be me."

Doherty missed out on a place in the squad at the last World Cup.

"When you miss out on the World Cup finals it's a massive blow because it doesn't come around too often in a player's career," he reflects. "But we've got another great chance to qualify.

"The talent out there [at training] is phenomenal, so we've got to be confident that we can come here to Cyprus and play Switzerland at home, and win both games with this sort of squad."