Giles hails appointment of ‘great’ Trap

ALL’S well ends well, was the message from Ireland legend, John Giles, when asked about the imminent appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni as the next Ireland manager last night.

The former Leeds United star was at Corduff Sports Centre in Dublin 15 to launch the latest recruit to the League of Ireland, Sporting Fingal, but it was the name of a certain 68-year-old Italian that was on the lips of most punters.

And Giles couldn’t hide his delight at developments over the last week, ones that have made the long-drawn out process to recruit Steve Staunton’s successor suddenly worthwhile. “You’d always hope you get someone like that,” explained Giles.

“At the start of the process Trapattoni didn’t seem to be in the frame at all. I think it’s great that he’s come in late and all’s well ends well.

“He’s an experienced man and he’s been a great manager over the years and hopefully he’ll be a great manager for us now.”

Giles believes one of Trapattoni’s first acts as manager should be to pick up the phone and get Liam Brady, the man that initiated contact with the Italian two weeks ago, on board.

“I would think it would be a wise move to get Liam involved because Liam is obviously familiar with the players over the years and I think he would be a big asset to him,” said Giles. “But that’s up to Liam himself, if he’s offered the job and whether he’d take it or not.”

With Trapattoni’s trusty Italian side-kick, Claudio Gentile, apparently being lined up to come on board it’s unclear what role Brady will have and that’s something Giles believes will sway his decision about being involved or not. “I think it depends on what he’s offered,” he continued.

“Liam has other obligations, as we know. He has a job at Arsenal, he does his media work. It depends on whether or not he feels he wants to do it.”

Meanwhile, Wexford Youths boss Mick Wallace last night denied he was the mystery business man who offered €1m to help the FAI’s bid to lure a top class international manager.

FAI President David Blood admitted at the weekend: “There could be people that would be prepared to support us in that area but there’s nothing official at this time. We are in a situation where if people want to make an offer then it will be given full consideration by us. If people want to assist us there’s no way that we wouldn’t discuss it at a very high level.”

But Wallace, stressed last night he was not the individual involved.