Contract uncertainty for Kerr

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr is still struggling to ascertain whether the Football Association of Ireland are willing to offer him a new contract.

Kerr made it clear earlier this year he did not want to go into the final qualification games for the World Cup unsure of his future – but that is exactly the situation he finds himself in.

Ahead of the critical Group Four clashes in Cyprus on October 8 and against Switzerland at Lansdowne Road five days later, Kerr has no idea if the FAI want to retain his services beyond this campaign, even if Ireland fail to qualify for next summer’s finals in Germany.

The suggestion is FAI chief executive John Delaney is sitting tight and waiting upon the outcome of those matches, much to the frustration of Kerr, who made a pointed remark when asked about the situation.

“The chief executive has said he won’t speak about it publicly, and I am endeavouring to find out about it privately, and I’ve nothing else to say,” said Kerr.

Kerr is adamant his contract dispute will not cast a shadow over the two most important games of his two-and-a-half-year reign, with the Republic needing to win both to guarantee themselves a play-off place.

“I’m totally focused on the job in hand,” insisted Kerr, whose situation was put into recent perspective by the Swiss Football Association who offered coach Kobi Kuhn a new two-year contract despite the fact they have not clinched their finals place.

“We’ve two matches left in the group and if we win them it could put us in a good position to either be in the play off or to actually win the group, depending on how other results go.

“That’s what I am focused on, and that’s what the team and staff are focused on, so it is not a distraction.”

When then questioned on whether he would like to continue as Ireland manager, a clearly disgruntled Kerr retorted: “I won’t say anything more about it. I’ve said all I have to say, but the Association know my feelings.”

In naming a 24-man squad, Kerr recalled striker David Connolly after two years out of international action, while Reading forward Kevin Doyle is included in the group for the first time.

Despite 40 caps to his name, Connolly has not played for Ireland since the country’s devastating 2-0 European Championship qualifying defeat to Switzerland in October 2003.

But with Clinton Morrison suspended for the game in Nicosia, and with Robbie Keane and Stephen Elliott short on goals and playing time, Connolly is the man in form with five goals this season.

Now with Wigan following a £2m deadline-day move from Leicester, Connolly recently expressed his disappointment he had been overlooked for this qualifying campaign.

But Kerr replied: “Players feel hard done by if they are not in the squad.

“If they have the enthusiasm for it and they want it, it means they work harder to get back in and show the determination and commitment we want.

“He had a decent season last year. I watched him in the latter part of the season, and then the first match this season and he played very well.

“The games he has played this season I have had people at them, and the reports have always been good.

“He has always been in my thoughts, and with Clinton suspended for this match, he is back in the picture.”

Doyle, meanwhile, has stepped up in class this season since an £80,000 move from Cork City, scoring three goals for the Royals to help lift them to second in the Coca-Cola Championship.

“I’ve kept an eye on his progress,” added Kerr. “He has played well for the under-21s, while he had a good season this season before he went to Reading, and he has improved since then.

“As for his chances of playing, well he’s in the squad. We will see how he goes in the next couple of games for Reading and in training, but I’m serious enough about bringing him in.”

Morrison is joined on the sidelines through suspension for the clash with the Cypriots by Tottenham winger Andy Reid, with neither likely to travel, instead joining their team-mates on the Sunday ahead of the Swiss game.

Kerr is also without inspirational midfielder Roy Keane for both games after the Manchester United captain recently broke a metatarsal bone in his left foot.