Gus Poyet rejection scuppers FAI hopes of April appointment

FORMER: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny with Greece manager Gus Poyet after the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Gus Poyet’s rejection of an offer to become Ireland manager scuppered Marc Canham’s promise of an April appointment.

The FAI board will be informed by director of football Canham on Wednesday of no permanent manager to appoint immediately.

Canham had stressed when installing John O’Shea as interim boss for the March friendlies that the plan was for the full-time chief to commence his tenure within a month.

“The process of the appointment of the permanent new head coach is very close to the end, and we look forward to announcing that new permanent head coach in early April,” he said six weeks ago.

“Existing contractual obligations mean we are not in a position to announce any further details at this point but, as we have committed to, we will announce that in early April.”

That early phase of the month has drifted into the middle and there’s no sign of it finalising before the May weekend.

It’s understood that negotiations with a particular candidate — believed to be Poyet — broke down last month and if needs be the FAI are prepared to wait until the end of the English League season in early May before widening their hunt in the face of many setbacks.

The Uruguayan had openly expressed his interest in the job while he was still Greece manager and Stephen Kenny was at the Ireland helm.

His contract expired following their shock playoff defeat to Georgia last month and its known talks with the FAI intensified without agreement being reached.

Lee Carsley was by far and away the standout target for the association from the outset. While contact was maintained until February, the terms and the timing turned him away from a job.

Chris Hughton was the other contender central to the FAI’s initial deliberations but his commitment to the African Cup of Nations in January meant neither party pushed it.

Although his name has cropped up again this week, it would take some convincing of the former Ireland defender who is in the throes of taking a break after his term with Ghana was ended by an early exit from the tournament.

His attitude could change in the coming months but like Poyet he may be holding out for a club job when the customary turnover of gaffers occurs in the summer.

The various snubs have sent the FAI recruitment team — now minus departed chief executive Jonathan Hill — back to the drawing board.

As previously reported, O’Shea is not considered a qualified candidate by the FAI headhunters to assume the duties on a permanent basis — as it stands.

He had declared his interest in the job after the double-header against Belgium (0-0) and Switzerland (0-1) but wasn’t exactly enthusiastic for another stint keeping the seat warm.

Ireland have another pair of friendlies, at home to Hungary on June 4 and away in Portugal a week later, before their Uefa Nations League campaign kicks off by welcoming England to Lansdowne Road on September 7.

This was the second self-imposed deadline missed by the FAI.

Hill had circled the Nations League draw in Paris on February 8 as the desired point by which a newcomer but would be in-situ.

Last week, the FAI flagged an announcement this week but that has also floundered.

O’Shea would be favourite to assume the stopgap role again for the June friendlies should the saga extend but wasn’t putting his hand up for acting as stopgap again.

The UEFA Europa League Final ambassador John O'Shea with the trophy at the Aviva Stadium ahead of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League Final which will take place on Wednesday, May 22 in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

“When I was given the role for the two games, the feeling I got from it, and it’s something I’ve been working towards, was that I wanted to continue to be a head coach and to be a manager,” said O’Shea. 

“That would be my thoughts on it going forward. That would be in my thought process but it’s a wait and see too.”

O’Shea did confirm he’s been assured of a role in the new management set-up, even as assistant, but hadn’t been contacted by any of the prospective candidates he’d have history with, such as Gus Poyet or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Waterford man is not even certain that he’d be open to fulfilling the sidekick role he did for the latter part of the Kenny era.

“It just depends,” said the 42-year-old yesterday at Lansdowne Road in his role as ambassador for the Europa League final being staged there on May 22.

“I can’t answer that; I don’t know who it’s going to be.

“There have been some brilliant people who have been mentioned about it, different people who I’ve worked with before, and played alongside.

"When a manager comes in I might get on great with him, or I might not.”

The centurion has no issue with the process dragging on to an excruciatingly unprecedented length - even by FAI’s historical comparisons.

“Whoever the next permanent manager is going to be, we want them to hopefully be the right person for the job and to be someone who really wants the job. If that takes a bit of time, so be it.”

More than a bit, as the 21-week wait creeps towards 22.