FAI can run but they can’t hide

THERE was much controversy about the selection policies of Steve Staunton during the course of his 21 month, 17 game reign as Irish manager.

But the FAI’s decision to dispense with his services underlines that the biggest selection blooper of them all was the appointment of Stan in the first place. Of course, that has only become crystal clear with hindsight. Admittedly, there were those in the game who thought the appointment was wrong from day one but many more were prepared to give the rookie and his experienced sidekick, Bobby Robson, a chance. After all, although an unusual appointment, it wasn’t unprecedented in the international game, Mark Hughes, Jurgen Klinsmann and Marco Van Basten being among some of the best known names to have made the jump pretty much straight from player to manager.

What no-one could deny in January two years ago was that Staunton’s appointment was a gamble and, despite some intermittently encouraging signs of progress along the way, one that the dismal draw with Cyprus at Croke Park finally confirmed had backfired horribly. Coming on top of the earlier debacles in Nicosia and San Marino, it was simply one calamity too many.