Stephen Kenny allowed a stay of execution but little hope of changing FAI minds

Association chiefs are happy to let the Ireland manager's contract wind down. 

IN DEMAND: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny with supporters after the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier match against San Marino at Turner’s Cross. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

A slow death – the antithesis of Stephen Kenny’s style of football can now be applied to the twilight of his reign as Ireland manager.

Following the team’s virtual elimination from the Euro qualifiers, a slip-up by Netherlands against Gibraltar among the permutations required for a miracle, the FAI faced a dilemma.

First existed the option of acting quickly and decisively, invoking the early maximum severance clause contained in his contract to relieve Kenny of his duties with immediate effect.

Alternatively, there’s the holding pattern approach.

Leave the manager at the helm for the final three qualifiers and decline an extension after the final game of the year, a friendly against New Zealand on November 21.

Either way, his fate was decided once the collective target of qualification was missed.

This was Kenny’s fourth campaign over a three-and-a-half-year tenure, the Euros coming after two Nations League tilts and a World Cup series that back-to-back defeats put paid to just 180 minutes in.

The plan, as it stands, is to mirror the winding down of Vera Pauw’s era by letting Kenny’s contract expire. No sacking on the new FAI’s watch. Neither would they be on the hook for a payoff, an important element given their debt position.

A stay of execution usually brings with it a reprieve to change minds but the board’s position was cemented once a discussion was held in the aftermath of June’s crushing defeat in Greece.

Points against France and Netherlands over the past week were imperative for the needle to change. The blank means now it’s just a case of when to stop the music.

In contrast to the previous administration, the damaged goods manager will be cast as the lame duck, allowed to talk up a future he won’t be part of.

“Stephen has an existing contract,” said Jonathan Hill when asked if there was any way back for Kenny.

“We are honouring that and going through to the end of the November process. I think that is simple.

“Stephen and the players are very committed to doing the best they can in those matches and we will then review it in November.” 

No assurances beyond that, even if Ireland defy their current 12 percent chance of snaffling an avenue into next March’s playoffs, nor a guarantee he’ll even be allowed to see out his contract.

That duration, confirmed the chief executive, covers Ireland’s ‘active’ involvement in the qualification cycle. As they only occupy that phase in theory rather than in practice, the board which Hill and Director of Football Canham report to may have different ideas.

Kenny’s job security will be on the agenda when they gather for their monthly meeting over the next fortnight but it is the October summit where the exit plan could be accelerated. Victory over Greece is a must to avoid the ignominy of finishing the pool in fourth place.

“It is the board's opinion that matters so, yeah, if the board felt they wanted to take a different route then we would discuss that different route,” confessed Hill, highlighting a more democratic atmosphere to the regime of his predecessor John Delaney.

“That has defined the quality of discussion we’ve had at board level over the last two-and-a-half years. That never happened before.

“The simple answer is yes - the board will discuss this in September. I will give my report as chief executive and we will have a broader review and discussion. We’ll see what comes out of it but the opportunity is there for all of the board members to give their view.” 

So will the supporters and players. Both groups have been generally supportive of the Kenny project, despite his paltry return of five wins in 26 competitive games.

The portion of booing that greeted the final whistle on Sunday will deepen or turn depending on how the team fare in the Greek rematch but players are certain to publicise their backing to their beleaguered boss.

That wasn’t the case during the dying embers of Pauw’s reign, squad members entering into a vow of silence when their thoughts were sought during and after the Women’s World Cup.

Pauw’s claim of a briefing to players from the hierarchy to maintain that stance was rejected, though Hill did admit press guidance was standard, but expect a cacophony of plaudits from male players regarding Kenny in the run-up to Greece on Friday 13th.

Avoiding bad luck that night will be immaterial. This party’s over and any pain relief is merely temporary.