A good week’s work for Irish boss

IT’S no surprise that someone as meticulous and thorough as Brian Kerr is already working out what results the Republic of Ireland need from the other teams in Group 10 to boost their Euro 2004 qualification hopes.

The new national team manager is the kind of man who ensures every 'i' is dotted and every 't' is crossed before he leaves a note out for the milkman, and that kind of attention to detail has impressed everyone who was on the potentially hazardous trip to Georgia and Albania.

The Irish can look forward to three successive home matches the returns against Albania and Georgia followed by a visit from the Russians but, while they cannot afford to drop any of the nine points up for grabs, they must also rely on the other teams in the group giving them a helping hand when they face each other.