Growing clamour for John O’Shea is futile – unless FAI botch at the final hurdle

The former Man Utd stalwart made his case over the past week.

STICK OR TWIST: Ireland's Interim Head Coach John O'Shea. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

As the message coined by a reality show based in the jungle says: “Well, it’s not you.” Unlike those supposed celebrities in the outback, however, this is not the line John O’Shea hears as relief.

Between his carefully-worded answers rests a determination for Ireland’s manager to more than merely caretaker.

Not a word has been uttered out of place and, but for a needless Dara O’Shea foul against Switzerland, his interim spell at the helm was heading for a pair of clean sheets.

His namesake was one of several players to shout loud this week for continuity to be maintained on the managerial front.

The younger O’Shea raised the decibel level from standard support to thrusting the spotlight on the FAI to listen to what the universal voice from the camp is feeling.

Even his Manchester United brotherhood are rooting for Sheasy – Rio Ferdinand on today’s promotional visit to Sligo echoing Alex Ferguson’s plea for decision-makers in Abbotstown to add a stripe to the caretaker chief’s tailored suit.

Séamus Coleman maintained the narrative in his post-match comments.

“Why would he not be in the running for it?” captain Coleman queried aloud, with a reasonable level of sense.

Well, if Marc Canham’s promise of another gaffer other than O’Shea being presented within the next fortnight is some form a ruse or goes awry, the audition analysis for the job does present one major problem – specifically firepower. You can’t win games without goals.

Stephen Kenny’s sense of adventure in tactics left Ireland vulnerable to the point that the only nation not to score against them in 2023 was lowly Gibraltar.

Saturday’s stalemate against Belgium represented progress on that front and Switzerland grabbed the solitary goal from a free-kick.

Logic would dictate O’Shea gets the next step to implement what he’s learned from his first experience as his own boss but they’re not the rules of engagement.

Ireland’s 118-times capped defender answered his country’s call by accepting the temporary position while the contractual obligations of the permanent boss in-waiting expires to facilitate their availability.

They are not one or the same thing despite the deluge of compliments from his players and pundits as to O’Shea’s candidacy.

Gradually, during his front-facing dealings over this window, he wasn’t shy about advancing his own credentials.

“The emphatic answer from me would be, yes,” said the 42-year-old about his appetite for filling the vacancy.

A four-year contract was floated by the FAI from January; the next step the June friendlies before England rock up on September 7 to begin Ireland’s Uefa Nations League qualifiers.

“I think that’s something that we will obviously discuss later on but where it goes, let’s wait and see.” 

Later? A recruitment search which, by the timeline of beleaguered chief executive Jonathan Hill was to conclude by the Uefa Nations League draw on February 8, has dragged on long enough at this stage for further waiting to be unnecessary.