FAI appoint King caretaker as ‘headhunters’ eye new boss

The FAI have decided against rushing into the appointment of a successor to Giovanni Trapattoni, meaning Martin O’Neill can no longer be regarded as the certain replacement many had previously believed him to be.

The association’s board of management met yesterday and decided to appoint U21 coach Noel King as caretaker manager for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Kazakhstan.

The board also took the decision to appoint a duo of head-hunters to assess candidates for the permanent position, with Ray Houghton reprising the role he took in the process which led to the appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni.

But whereas the former international was accompanied in that quest by Don Givens and Don Howe, this time his accomplice will be the FAI’s High Performance Director, Ruud Dokter.

The Dutchman will also provide additional support to King as he takes temporary control of the senior team.

With King moving up to the senior post, current U21 assistant coach Harry McCue will take charge of the U21 qualification matches against Romania which are also happening in October.

In a statement released last night, the FAI said: “After considering the views of people within the game and taking soundings from its constituent members, the board tonight decided that the next steps should include a comprehensive assessment of the market.

“The board of management resolved that it will take the appropriate time to appoint the best person to manage Ireland for the Euro 2016 campaign which starts in September next year.

“Noel has an excellent track record with the association and is well respected throughout the game. He has worked first hand with many current senior players during their time at U21 level including Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick.”

Last night’s decision indicates that while O’Neill can still regarded as the leading candidate, the FAI are now more than happy for “the process” to take them elsewhere.

While the interest already expressed in the vacancy by former Valencia and Inter manager Hector Cuper confirms the international appeal of the Irish job, Mick McCarthy remains the obvious Plan B if the O’Neill courtship comes to nothing.

O’Neill has confirmed to close associates he is interested, but there is a sense too he could be holding out for one more crack at a Premier League side.

The obvious risk in the FAI’s decision to take their time over finding an appointment to Trapattoni is that O’Neill could, in the interim, return to club management.

The abrupt sacking of O’Neill’s successor at Sunderland, Paolo Di Canio, has highlighted how quickly the landscape can change in England.

Chris Hughton at Norwich and Martin Jol at Fulham are two other managers currently under close scrutiny, with their clubs struggling towards the foot of the Premier League.

O’Neill has spoken in the past of his regret at leaving Norwich as manager after failing to see eye to eye with the club’s then chairman Robert Chase and it has been suggested that there would always be a warm welcome back him at Carrow Road.