Loyal O'Shea ready to back new regime for long haul

But John O'Shea dismissed any suggestions there was another succession plan in place

Assistant Ireland coach John O'Shea, left, and head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during a Republic of Ireland squad announcement at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Seven men have held the reins as Republic of Ireland manager since Steve Staunton’s ill-fated 21-month term as ‘the gaffer’ came to an end and yet there are still lessons to be gleaned from that distant chapter.

The appointment of Bobby Robson as ‘international football consultant’ was a very Irish solution to an Irish problem, John Delaney having promised a ‘world-class management team’ before hiring a man with just six months experience as assistant coach at Walsall.