North want compensation if young guns opt for Republic

NORTHERN IRELAND U21 manager Steve Beaglehole fears the Republic of Ireland’s qualification for Euro 2012 could tempt more of his young players to switch their international allegiance.

A FIFA ruling allows players born in the North to declare for the Republic regardless of blood ties, and James McClean, Dan Devine, Shane Duffy, Daniel Kearns and Paul George have all switched countries.

Beaglehole is concerned the qualifying success could exacerbate that problem and called for FIFA to fix compensation fees for players who switch.