FAI set to pick new manager from 'strong group of candidates'

BRYAN HAMILTON will present the FAI with his short-list of managerial candidates for the vacant Republic of Ireland position next week at the earliest.

"It has been a very positive process," Hamilton said. "Everyone I talked to impressed me greatly with their ideas for the direction the Irish team should take. The quality of applicants has been very impressive.

"But, it will be a very strong group of candidates I will present to the FAI in the near future. And the most important thing is they all want the job. Each has their own ideas, good ideas, of what would be best for Irish football."

To ensure the process maintained a certain amount of credibility, Hamilton said he wanted it kept as private as possible. No names or numbers have ever been mentioned. And Hamilton never mentioned the names of other applicants in any of the interviews.

"The important thing for me was to make sure each candidate I talked to was as comfortable as they could be. So, I never mentioned the name of one coach to another of the applicants.

"And I allowed each individual as much time as they needed with me, whether it be one or six hours. Basically, it was about instigating a process where nobody felt rushed. It was about ensuring the process was as thorough as could be. I could have taken a bit longer, but it is understandable that the FAI and Irish football fans want a manager as soon as possible."

Hamilton, a well-connected presence in both English and continental football, allowed everyone who expressed the slightest interest in the job a chance to confirm or deny their intent.

"What I wanted to ensure was that everyone who had indicated an interest in the job be given the courtesy of a phone call and the courtesy of saying yes or no to the job."

Although Hamilton won't be drawn on how many candidates he actually interviewed, it is believed to be in the high teens. Each had their own ideas, but Hamilton feels satisfied that he has narrowed it down to the best possible process.

"This was all about being able to present the right candidates to the FAI, so they can take it to the next stage. Everyone I interviewed was given all the time to get their points across. Some of them would do a super job, unfortunately it can only go to one man.

"Jack Charlton took Ireland to one level, Mick McCarthy took it on from there and the new man will be capable of going even further. The sooner I can finish my job, the sooner the FAI will get the man able to do that."

Despite tomorrow being the imposed deadline for the short-list, the three-man FAI committee comprising of John Delaney, Milo Corcoran and Kevin Fahey won't get their hands on the finalised list until early next week.

Until then, the speculation continues. Hamilton said he had to block out all the constant conjecture of the back pages over the past few weeks, although given his extensive media experience, he understood it all.