Kenny exit to be formalised after November FAI meeting 

TICK, TOCK: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.

Stephen Kenny’s departure from the Ireland manager’s position is set to be formalised after a meeting of the FAI board on November 28.

With qualification for next year’s Euros in Germany beyond Ireland, both from the group and all but certain via the playoff backdoor, Kenny’s contract will expire once next month’s double-header concludes.

The FAI’s head of football Marc Canham is due to finalise his review of the manager’s tenure after the final qualifier against Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday, November 18 and the friendly three days later at home to New Zealand.

Canham didn’t take questions on matters other than the scholarship scheme at a media event held yesterday but it’s understood his assessment and opinion will be presented to the 11 directors at the scheduled summit.

Kenny has no intention of resigning and, for the optics, the FAI are reluctant to engage in an early payoff at a time they are more reliant than on Government funding.

The procedure will be identical to that applied in the case of Vera Pauw, the women’s team manager who was relieved of her duties on the final day of her contract in August despite guiding Ireland to the summer World Cup.

Kenny hasn’t got Ireland near reaching a tournament, having a World Cup, a Euro playoff, a full set of Euros and two Nations League campaigns over his three-and-a-half year tenure.

A second defeat to Greece last Friday ensures they’ll a fourth-placed finish for Ireland in the table irrespective of whether an unlikely scalp of the Dutch is taken against the odds.

Losing again will conclude Kenny’s competitive record with 16 defeats from 29 fixtures.

A change of direction is to be recommended; advice that won’t be vetoed by a board that has afforded the manager more latitude than predecessors under the previous hierarchy.

“That's for another day,” said Kenny’s reply when asked after Monday’s facile 4-0 victory against Gibraltar if he’s found the job more difficult than anticipated.

“I'm still in the job. I'm going to Amsterdam and I'll manage against New Zealand. All of that can wait.” 

With only friendlies scheduled until the Nations League B campaign kicks off next September, urgency isn’t an issue for the FAI.

They’ll likely mirror their approach to the women’s vacancy by retaining a recruitment form and interviewing a clutch of candidates.

England’s Euro U21 winning manager Lee Carsley heads the queue of favourites but the achievements of fellow former internationals Mark Kennedy and Damien Duff under budget constraints at Lincoln City and Shelbourne respectively have gained notice in Abbotstown.

Fresh from filleting Ireland’s hopes, Greece boss Gus Poyet has also pitched himself into the conversation to take over. 

However, his guaranteed playoff commitments next March with Ireland’s conquerors may be an obstacle.

Kenny admits he is realistic about his future in the job and the thought of the November assignments being the last of his 39-game stretch have crossed his mind.

“The most important thing was this group,” he acknowledged about the campaign that he was aware would ultimately judge him.

“We lost both games to Greece which has hurt us and I understand there are implications for that as well.” 

Speaking after the stroll on neutral ground in Faro, Jamie McGrath admits Ireland’s weren’t good enough in this failed Euro 2024 campaign but colleague Callum Robinson believes the Kenny era is more enjoyable compared to reigns of the past.

Robinson’s switch from England’s underage system in 2018 came during the dying embers of Martin O’Neill’s tenure and he became a regular under Mick McCarthy the following years.

It was the striker’s goals against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in late 2021 that helped his latest boss Kenny earn his only contract extension.

McGrath was drafted into the Ireland set-up by his former Dundalk manager, returning to the scene of his debut this week as Ireland strolled past Gibraltar in a facile 4-0 victory.

“No doubt Friday was very disappointing, to give away the goals we did, we shot ourselves in the foot,” the Aberdeen attacker said.

“There's no denying we were not good enough over the campaign. We put on some really good performances but didn't get anything in return.” 

Robinson, whose header from McGrath’s cross completed the meaningless win, was remaining upbeat amid the anticlimactic twilight of the Kenny stint.

“There’s so much potential and it’s a hard one for everybody to hear but I think we’ve come a long way, football-wise.

“When I first joined the squad five years ago, everyone was saying that we weren’t playing enough football, just hitting up there and hoping.

“We nicked some results but it wasn’t enjoyable to watch. Now we’re playing good football and it’s about bringing that balance, being good in both boxes.

“Other nations have that. Greece were no better than us but they’re getting results. We’ve still a long way to go, young players are learning, but we’re going in the right direction.” 

A journey with a new driver at the wheel.