Angry O’Neill denies ‘prostituting’ himself in Jack Grealish pursuit

Martin O’Neill has reacted angrily to the allegation that, to use his own word, he “prostituted” himself in an effort to get Jack Grealish to declare for Ireland.

In the fallout from the Aston Villa player’s decision to pledge his allegiance to England, one Sunday newspaper columnist described the Irish management’s efforts as “whoring after players” and charged that there was something “utterly demeaning about the way Martin O’Neill and the FAI have traipsed after Grealish”.

However, speaking after the Irish squad had completed its first training session of the week in Abbotstown yesterday, ahead of Thursday’s Euro qualifier against Germany at the Aviva, O’Neill — who raised the press comment himself — was clearly anxious to answer the criticism.