Former Ireland striker Niall Quinn has said that the decision to appoint Mick McCarthy and then Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland manager was a bit ‘peculiar’.
The FAI announced McCarthy as Martin O’Neill’s replacement last month but also revealed that former Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny would take over the U21 side and then succeed McCarthy as manager after the Euro 2020 finals.
The joint appointment was heralded as smart in some quarters while branded as an FAI attempt to appease all sides by others and Quinn views the hiring as a ‘classic each-way bet’ by the Association.
“I think it’s great to know that Stephen Kenny is coming in and that we can build on it and he can learn off [Mick] but putting a date on it was the peculiar part in my reckoning,” Quinn told RTÉ Radio 1’s Marian Finucane show.
“Looking at it I can see why they did it. It’s a classic each-way bet – if this one doesn’t work out we’ve another one, a two-horse race, we’ll back the two of them.
“But at the same time Mick could be going really well and I don’t know what’s going to happen. Will Mick McCarthy walk away from a team that’s just qualified for the Euros and had a great time at the Euros and everybody’s in love with it and is it right to take that risk?
“That’s the [part] that’s a little bit tricky but look it’s a good problem to have down the road and I wish them both well.
“I’m delighted for League of Ireland that Stephen Kenny is up [there] and around it and being recognised. He’s a hugely talented guy.”
Kenny and McCarthy will begin their respective tenures in March, 2019, and the former namechecked several bright talents coming through Irish football that he will hope to help develop over the coming years.
“I don’t think the under-21s has always been about results,” he said.
“As I said, it’s been about trying to get players through the under-21s and into the senior national team. I’m excited about the under-21 job, I think it’s unusual because, and I didn’t realise myself, last year the age group was (players born in) 1996, for this year its players born in 1998.
“So, there are some players who have been involved with the senior international team, in training and in the squads – Lee O’Connor, Michael Obafemi, Caoimhin Kelleher have been in the squads and there all available for the U21s for this year.
“There are others, players who have been doing well up through the groups, it’s not fair to mention them but obviously Adam Idahand Troy Parrott and people like that have caught the eye.”
Kenny also spoke about some talented young players featuring in Irish domestic football.
It was evident that he believes that there is a promising generation of Irish footballers and he hopes to help them progress to the senior international side.
“There are players in the League of Ireland that are available for the under-21 team right throughout the country,” the former Derry City coach said.
“UCD players like Neil Farrugia and Liam Scales. Will Fitzgeralddown in Limerick. Trevor Clarke the left-back at Shamrock Rovers. Darragh Leahy at Bohemians, two really good left-backs. Ali Reghba at Bohemians, players like that.
“I’m leaving a lot out, I would say. There are a lot of young talented players playing throughout the country.”
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