Delaney: Georgia on my mind

John Delaney has revealed the FAI are monitoring political developments in Russia and Ukraine ahead of Ireland’s opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia.

While there is no immediate prospect of Georgia becoming embroiled in the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the previously intended trip for Ireland to Tbilisi demonstrates how swiftly the political landscape can change.

On that occasion, for the first competitive qualifier under Giovanni Trapattoni in 2008, FIFA moved the fixture to Mainz in Germany amid security fears.

Georgia’s location as a bordering nation of Russia, now coming under increasing pressure from United States to desist from military intervention in Crimea, is the subject of some unease.

“We have to keep an eye on things,” stressed Delaney. “It is our responsibility to the players and our supporters to make sure they are travelling to a safe country.

“If we’d had Ukraine in our group, then certainly you’d have concerns. For at the moment, at least, we have no qualms about going to Tbilisi.”

Delaney, meanwhile, is praying the lure of a major payday will convince the Scottish FA to stage the Euro 2016 clash against Ireland on November 14 at Parkhead ahead of Ibrox.

With Hampden Park unavailable, the clash of the Celtic cousins is to be held at one of the Old Firm venues. Diehard Scottish fans are eager to make the trip as intimidating as possible and so are keen to play at the home of Rangers. Delaney is hoping the higher revenue streams from using Parkhead will be the decisive factor.

“The Scottish nature is to think in pounds, shilling and pence and, please God, they’ll do that,” said the FAI supremo. “Firstly, Parkhead has a much larger capacity but also the fact that both managers, Gordon Strachan and Martin O’Neill spent time in charge of Celtic, shouldn’t be underestimated. I’ve never had so many enquiries from fans about the Scotland game. It should be a special occasion.”