FAI CEO Hill stresses results are key in decision on Kenny future 

FAI chief Jonathan Hill says there'll be a review of the situation then.

Ireland manager Stephen Kenny after the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match against France. Picture Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Jonathan Hill has stressed that results are a major part of the review process the FAI will conduct to assess manager Stephen Kenny's future.

The collective objective of reaching next year’s Euros in Germany, Kenny’s fourth campaign is effectively over with three games remaining following defeats in all five games apart form a second half blitz against lowly Gibraltar.

For now, at least, the incumbent will be left to see out his contract. That entails the double-header against Greece and Gibraltar on October 13 and 16 before the final qualifier away to Netherlands on November 18.

Kenny’s contention that he may last ‘til next March, if upsets elsewhere present a playoff route t the finals, wasn’t agreed with by the FAI chief executive.

Hill and Director of Football Marc Canham addressed the media today, also offering their reason for the sacking of Vera Pauw as women’s manager at the end of last month.

“Everyone accepts, including Stephen, that results are a major part of that review process but it's important that Marc and myself have the opportunity to ask some of the questions and talk about some of the wider areas, not just results, as part of that review,” said Hill about their fact-finding exercise.

"We want to qualify for major tournaments, the public want it, the FAI want it and football in Ireland needs it. So we are, of course, disappointed to have lost the last two games and this will be discussed at the next FAI board meeting in September, as we review all international windows as normal.

"While we might not have achieved the results we would have hoped for during this campaign, with qualification for the tournament set as a goal at the outset, I know the the manager and players are fully focused on the remaining matches this year, and they will prepare for, and deliver, those games accordingly.

BRIEFING: FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

"Once these matches are played, and as with the Women's World Cup campaign, we will then conduct an in-depth review of the campaign in its entirety, and after the final friendly match in November against New Zealand. The board will then meet to consider this review and next steps.” 

Canham added: “The first point to mention is that of course we want success for our national teams and we want results, we want to qualify.

“All of the things that Jonathan said. If you do look at world football, though, over many years, and look at really high ranking teams or teams with similar sized populations, there is a direct correlation between the talent development and education system in terms of achieving that success.

“This long term vision, and part of the decision around Vera, will be part of the review moving forwards, will be about the pipeline of talent we will be developing in our systems across grassroots, academies, and international football. It's very clear that the quality and volume of depth of the high performing countries has a direct correlation to quality of the talent development system.

“We still want success here and now but we also have to look into that. Just look at Belgium and Croatia who are two countries that often get compared with us - similar size population. Belgium had a clear vision 20-25 years ago and they've been No.1 ranked team in the world for many years. That's because of a development system not by chance. You need the coach to come in and work with the players and try to develop and achieve that success.

“On Stephen, we are supportive of him completing the campaign and we hope against all odds that we still have a chance of qualifying for the Euros. We know that's very difficult and Stephen will be the first to admit that, and has done, but we are very supportive of him finishing the campaign.”