'That would be a miserable night out' - Damien Duff downplays Heimir Hallgrímsson's invite

Hallgrímsson publicly offered to have a sit-down with Duff and Stephen Bradley.

MISERABLE NIGHT: Shelbourne's Head Coach Damien Duff ahead of the match against Cork City. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrew Conan.

Damien Duff has cooled the notion of a pow-wow with Heimir Hallgrímsson and Stephen Bradley by predicting a miserable evening.

Against a backdrop of acrimony between the League of Ireland and FAI, as well as Bradley accusing the Ireland manager of being out of touch, Hallgrímsson publicly offered to have a sit-down with the duo.

Shels boss Duff has consistently been critical of the governing body but insists the soundbite reactions are over, at his own choice.

Still, the indications are we won’t be enthusiastic if Hallgrímsson delivers on his promise to meet himself and Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley, for a coffee or a pint.

“I'm too busy here,” he said in the aftermath of Friday’s 1-1 draw at home to Cork City, which sent them into the international break with nine points from their opening five matches.

“Listen, I consciously made my mind up two weeks ago, I'm not commenting on the FAI again. Why? I just feel like it.

“Yeah, Stephen has jumped in and got involved now. I feel like I've been fighting a fight on my own for the last three or four years.

"I'm sick of seeing the headline 'Damien says this and slaughters the FAI' so I've said it to the staff that I ain't speaking or going there again."

Duff’s assistant, former Ireland teammate Joey O’Brien, knew how to elicit a response when the Ireland manager’s olive branch hogged the headlines on matchday.

“For a bit of banter, Joe sent me an article this morning, saying that he (Heimir) would like to meet me and Bradz for a pint.

“I'll tell you one thing for free - that would be a miserable night out.”