No magic pill but Dokter says youth key to Ireland recovery

Ah good, the doctor will see us now. That would be Ruud Dokter, the puntastic but hitherto enigmatic FAI High Performance Director who has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight as an assistant to Noel King and as Ray Houghton’s fellow headhunter in the search for a new Ireland manager.

We’re warned he is here to talk to us mainly about youth development but, bold as brass, we seize the opportunity of the Dutchman’s first appearance in front of the Irish media to ask if, at this stage, he’s met with many candidates for the Big Job.

“I’ve met them all,” comes the unexpectedly forthright reply, at which our collective ear pricks up and we all push forward and shove our microphones right under his nose.