Dion Fanning: It’s not you, Heimir, it’s us. How things got nasty for Ireland’s new manager

The country’s relationship with the Ireland football team remains fraught and deeply conditional.

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during the UEFA Nations League B Group 2 match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Before one match during Mick McCarthy’s first spell as Ireland manager, he was asked a blunt question. “Mick, lose and you resign?” McCarthy had been in the job a few years and treated the question with that gruff contempt that became his calling card. But it indicated something of how the mood around the Ireland football team was changing.

Saipan altered it forever. Everyone was in possession of a view and in coming to those views, many people assumed a form of ownership when it came to Irish football. This wasn’t ownership as we might consider it, with responsibilities and commitments. Instead it conveyed some rights to those who watched the international team, but not a lot was asked of them in return.