McCarthy set to stick it out

MICK McCarthy last night insisted he is not about to quit as manager of Ireland.

But doubt still surrounds his immediate future and he was not prepared to speculate on whether he would be in charge when Ireland face Georgia in their next European Championship qualifier in March.

The Republic lost both their opening qualifiers against Russia and Switzerland and reports yesterday suggested McCarthy was seeking clear-the-air talks with the FAI about his immediate future. It was thought he would visit Merrion Square while in Dublin for a television appearance on Friday night’s Late Late Show but he has since pulled out.

“I did say I was going to talk to the FAI but it wasn’t like I was going to talk to them on Wednesday or Friday,’’ McCarthy said.

“I will be talking to them but it is not as if I have an immediate plan to go and discuss my future. We have a match next month against Greece and I have to discuss things to do with that.

“I am not going anywhere to resign. I am here at the minute, I live in the real world. I’ve got both my feet on the floor and I’m very pragmatic about the way things are going.’’

FAI sources said last night they are unaware of any plans for a meeting with McCarthy about his future or otherwise. President, Milo Corcoran is in Cyprus at a UEFA mini-tournament.

McCarthy has come under increasing pressure, especially from sections of the press here, since losing at home to Switzerland earlier this month.

The Republic have a friendly in Athens against Greece on November 20, and McCarthy has already been in contact with the Association regarding logistical matters for the trip.

Some critics believe the only way the Republic can qualify for the European Championships in 2004 is for

McCarthy to be replaced, allowing Man Utd midfielder Roy Keane to return to the side following his infamous exit from the World Cup.

McCarthy is honest enough to admit it is a scenario his critics would welcome.

‘‘In the end it’s not about me. It’s not about Roy Keane. It’s not about certain individuals. It is about the greater good of the team and the country,’’ he said.

McCarthy admitted to the London Times yesterday: “The first two qualifying results have made life extremely difficult for me and my situation with a section of the press, a growing section of them, has affected the team. If we had gone into the European campaign on a positive note, rather than surrounded by all this negative stuff, it would have been far better all-round.”

However he dismissed reports that he would use his now-cancelled appearance on The Late Late Show as an opportunity to announce his resignation. “No chance, no chance,” he said. “Unless I get sacked. I hadn’t thought of that one. It hadn’t crossed my mind.”

He admitted, though, that he was tiring of the constant criticism.

“I’ve been involved with Ireland since 1984 as a player, coach and manager and I’ve given absolutely everything,” McCarthy said. “But there also comes a time when you recognise that enough is enough.

“At the end of it, I’ll do what is good for the team and Irish football. If it was for the best for me not to be there, I would have to consider it. But I’m still doing the job until something happens to change my mind.”

McCarthy was speaking at the end of a hectic 48 hours promoting his 2002 World Cup diary, which was published yesterday.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane has been given until 5pm on Friday to launch an appeal against his five-match ban and £150,000 fine. It had been thought the United skipper was given a fortnight from the date of his original hearing on Tuesday, October 15 to respond to the double penalty after the FA found him guilty of two misconduct charges.

At his pre-Champions League press conference yesterday, United boss Alex Ferguson indicated that the deadline had been extended but at the time, FA officials refused to confirm it.

However, because the letter detailing the punishment was not issued until October 18, Keane has 14 days from that date, effectively the end of normal office hours on Friday.

It is still not known whether the former Republic of Ireland skipper will appeal against the penalty.

He returned from a short break yesterday to resume his recovery from a hip operation and is due to start his ban on November 4, with a domestic return pencilled in for the December 7 encounter with Arsenal at Old Trafford.