Trap decision gets domestic support

He has been accused of overlooking domestic affairs and, in particular, showing an unyielding level of disrespect to the Airticity League, but managers and players of the country’s top club sides are unified in their support of the FAI’s decision to keep Giovanni Trapattoni in the Republic of Ireland job.

Last Saturday, in the wake of the previous night’s hiding against Germany, Trapattoni scheduled a press conference at the same time as Sligo Rovers were clinching the league title, leaving former Ireland boss Eoin Hand to say his behaviour towards the league is “insulting”.

Yet manager of the newly-crowned champions, Ian Baraclough, believes sacking the Italian this week would have been poor timing.