Shay Given: 'Not Carsley's time now, but maybe in the future'

Shay Given says Carsley won't take Irish job now but might in the future.

This St Valentine’s Day could be the time that the FAI’s love affair with Lee Carsley is finally confirmed as over, if Shay Given’s assertion is accurate.

Carsley was a teammate of Given’s over the 40 Ireland caps he earned between 1996 and 2003. Currently the manager of England’s U21 European champions, he’s been the firm favourite to make a comeback as the successor to Stephen Kenny.

That prospect has looked close to completion at various stages since the search was officially launched in November, with details around budgets and backroom staff a feature, but the Ireland centurion went as close to ruling out his contemporary when asked for his opinion on the vacancy.

“It's my understanding that it is not going to be Lee Carsley," said Given, speaking on RTÉ's Champions League show. "Maybe not now, but maybe in the future Lee might be interested."

"So where does that leave us? Where does that leave everyone, including the FAI?

"You have the likes of Neil Lennon, Roy Keane, Chris Coleman got a mention recently, Chris Hughton.

"Chris Coleman had a good time at Wales, of course."

The musings of the former Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa goalkeeper were pertinent in the context of a busy schedule ahead.

Last Thursday’s UEFA Nations League draw in Paris pitted Ireland against England, Finland and Greece, the six group fixtures scheduled to complete 2024 between September 7 and November 17.

As preparation for a campaign where promotion to League A and a World Cup playoff route is at stake, four friendlies have been organsied.

Belgium and Switzerland visit Lansdowne Road on March 23 and 26, followed by a summer double-header that has a home fixture against Hungary on June 4 followed by a trip Aveiro to face another Euros-bound opponent, Portugal, a week later.

"It's just a few weeks to the next international, so the manager should be in place now, because he needs to look at the players, he needs to pick his squad, who's in, who's out.

"So it's not ideal."