Outside pressure led to Staunton sacking, says Reid

Andy Reid claims Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chiefs bowed to media and fan pressure when it came to the sacking of Steve Staunton.

The FAI insisted from day one of Staunton's reign that a four-year plan was in place, and that the 38-year-old rookie manager would be afforded every opportunity to implement his ideas.

But after just 21 months in charge and a bitterly disappointing European Championship qualifying campaign, Staunton was axed at the end of last month.

It means the next appointment will be Ireland's fourth manager in six years as the FAI attempt to recreate the magic formula founded by Jackie Charlton.

Charlton midfielder Reid said: "I don't believe they should have done it. I believe he should have been given more time.

"They said at the start of his reign they would give him four years, that it would be a four-year plan.

"To be cut out after two years is not the right thing to do in my opinion, but I'm not the one who makes those decisions."

Asked whether the FAI had bowed to media and fans' pressure, Reid replied: "Yes.

"But I wasn't really surprised.

"Everyone could feel a decision would be made either way - that they were going to come out and back him, or they were going to let him go - and unfortunately they let him go.

"But it's a really hard job to do. As an international manager you can't buy players - you can't do too much.

"You are given a pool of players you need to work with, and you only have three days to work with them most of the time.

"I'm not angry about it; it's the nature of the game - people lose their jobs."

Reid accepts the players have to hold their hands up and accept a share of the responsibility - because several results and performances were simply not good enough.

Notably there was the 5-2 hammering in Cyprus, as well as the last-minute goal that spared Ireland and Staunton from utter humiliation in the 2-1 win in San Marino.

The 1-1 draw at home to Cyprus last month, when a full-house Croke Park crowd made their feelings known, was the straw that broke the back of the FAI.

"What it boils down to is results weren't good enough, and that's down to the players who went out on the pitch," said Reid.

"It's not that the results weren't good enough for Steve, the FAI or the fans - they weren't good enough for us as players either.

"We are under no illusions here."

Approaching Saturday's final Group D encounter against Wales at the Millennium Stadium - for which U-21 boss Don Givens is in caretaker charge - Reid feels the new manager has to be thick skinned.

"We probably need an experienced manager with a strong character and a strong personality who won't be intimidated by the media, the fans, the FAI and outside interferences," assessed Reid.

"He will be motivated for doing his best for Ireland and the best for the nation and the team.

"I'd like it to be an Irishman, because we are a very proud nation, but the important thing is we get the right man for the job."

Reid has also offered his support to former Spurs teammate Robbie Keane, who has struggled to find the net for his country in this campaign.

Keane is Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer with 31 goals in 77 appearances. But he has come in for criticism of late, with his only goals in 10 qualifying matches a hat-trick at home to San Marino.

In contrast, for Spurs he has scored 10 goals in his last 13 matches.

"Strikers go through patches, and it's not for a lack of trying," said Reid.

"Robbie gives everything he has every time he goes out on the pitch - and he loves playing for Ireland.

"Overall, you can't really argue with his goalscoring record; I am pretty certain he will end up with the record amount of caps.

"So it disappoints me every time I hear somebody slagging him off."