Irish determined to bounce back

The Republic of Ireland players have vowed to pick themselves up from the debacle of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Football Association of Ireland have started the process of sifting through the wreckage of the team’s failure to reach next summer’s finals in Germany.

Their priority must surely be the future of boss Brian Kerr as his contract has now expired in the wake of a bitterly-disappointing campaign.

While Kerr has stated his intentions in private to his employers, which must surely be to carry on, they in turn chose to release a rather ambiguous public statement.

Chief executive John Delaney initially applauded “everyone associated with the quest for qualification” for applying “tremendous effort in terms of commitment and dedication to the task.”

But then came the core issues, with Delaney notably pointing out the association would lose a significant amount of revenue – estimated at at least €5m – money which would have been “a very welcome addition to our investment in the game.”

In summation, the statement then read: “The board of the FAI will now consider the implications of non-qualification and assess all issues in respect of the senior international team with a view to achieving success in future European Championship and World Cup campaigns.”

The players have urged the FAI to make a decision on Kerr sooner rather than later, with retiring captain Kenny Cunningham of the belief the 52-year-old should be retained for the qualification programme for the 2008 European Championship.

Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison said: “Wednesday was such a sad night.

“We went into the game so full of hope we were going to win, and it was in our hands, only to end up so disappointed. But we’ve only got ourselves to blame.

“I’m just disappointed for the older heads who are going to have to call it a day now, and who won’t get the chance to go to the World Cup.

“For the rest of us, there’s a good bunch of lads here with most of them still young, and although the next qualifying campaign is a long way away, we have to pick ourselves up and go again.”

Steven Reid revealed he had never experienced the atmosphere that was prevalent in the dressing room after the game – and has no wish to do so again.

Like Morrison, the Blackburn midfielder knows the bitter feelings that currently exist will last for some time, but beyond that feels they will rise again.

“We have to try and shut this off,” said Reid.

“It’s going to be a difficult few months, and in particular hard to watch the World Cup this summer having been at the last one.

“But somehow we are going to have to get through it and build ourselves up again, and the squad for the Europeans.”