'We're limited in what we can spend' — Ireland manager explains staff dilemma

FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS: Budgetary constraints from the FAI’s financial position have prevented Heimir Hallgrimsson enlisting a sports psychologist for the start of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign. PIC: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Budgetary constraints from the FAI’s financial position have prevented Heimir Hallgrimsson enlisting a sports psychologist for the start of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Icelander has drafted in Spanish conditioning coach Pepe Lázaro Ramírez, who works with Serie A club Udinese, but he must wait for money to become available before completing his backroom team.

That means he begins the route to next year’s World Cup in North America on Saturday against Hungary without a vital cog in his vision for support staff.

Ireland’s 24-man squad assembles on Sunday, with Troy Parrott’s injury-enforced replacement due to be confirmed shortly. They follow up Saturday’s opener at Lansdowne Road against Dominik Szoboszlai’s Maygars by visiting Armenia three days later.

There is plenty riding on the outcome of the six-match campaign and not just for the team. Debt levels of €40m at the FAI have stifled spending, leading to last week’s announcement of imminent redundancies, including compulsory, across the 240 employee workforce.

“We're limited in what we can spend,” admitted the Icelandic manager, now 13 months in the post.

“I thought Pepe was more important now for us to qualify. Then, hopefully, in the next one or two camps, we can bring in the psychologist.” 

Despite being third seeds in the pool, languishing 60th in Fifa’s rankings, Hallgrimsson has spoken bullishly about ending Ireland’s 24-year wait for World Cup qualification.

Top seeds Portugal, Hungary, Ireland and Armenia will battle for the one automatic ticket and the runner-up entering the playoff series next March.

“I worked with Pepe first in Qatar and then I brought him to the finals with Jamaica in the Gold Cup in 2023 and Copa America in 2024,” Hallgrimsson explained about their previous connection.

“He was with us for the June friendlies, being the link from the medical team to the fitness coaches, and is an amazing, amazing person.

“We’re planning on going to the US, and once that happens, then we need to think about fitness.” 

He admitted the qualifiers is more a familiarity exercise for spending a month together next summer.

“You can't do anything about fitness over a 10-day window,” he said of the international break.

“We’re introducing him now so the players will already know him by the World Cup. Same with the psychologist.

“He would be working with individuals. At a big tournament, you always have players not playing or having some kind of problems at home or wherever.

“So it's good to have a person that you can sit down and talk to.

“Once we qualify, we need this person to be comfortable with the players and the opposite way.” 

Hallgrimsson also revealed he could enter negotiations on a contract extension before the end of the qualifiers.

He’s been in charge of 10 matches - eight qualifiers and two friendlies - since succeeding Stephen Kenny but his deal runs in tandem with Ireland’s involvement in the World Cup series.

“We’ve mentioned it but we're going to leave that out at least until after this camp,” the 58-year-old said about potential dialogue with the FAI.

“My plan is that I'm in the job until July next year at the World Cup. That's just where we're at the moment.

“I'm not worried. I'm happy where I am. If I'm not wanted, I'm not going to force my way there.

“This camp is the most important one, so we'll speak after this one.”