Martin O'Neill has revealed he has not actually signed a new contract to remain as Republic of Ireland manager.
But, following talks with FAI chief executive John Delaney, the two men have simply shaken hands having agreed the basis of a new deal which would extend until the end of Ireland’s involvement in the 2018 World Cup.
Asked if the timing of the extension had felt like a boost, O’Neill, who had previously stated his desire to wait until after the tournament was out of the way, made it clear the agreement in place is an informal one, finalised at the behest of Delaney who, he insists, he trusts to deliver on its terms.
“John essentially was wanting to do it,” he said.
Decent thing
He was looking for a bit of continuity like everything else. He’s persuaded me to do it. I think John felt, going into the Euros it might be a decent thing to do so, fine. I’ve shaken hands with John. That’s all that’s necessary.”
The association announced the deal last week in a press release that made no mention of Denis O’Brien, the businessman who had previously funded around €1 million per annum of the management team’s total wage bill.
That arrangement began in 2008 when Giovanni Trapattoni was hired, in part because the FAI was in a position to offer a substantially increased salary.
O’Brien was previously credited quite prominently in announcements of a similar nature and O’Neill would have been well aware the association was effectively getting a portion of his wages from the Independent News and Media owner. O’Neill said yesterday he is not aware whether the arrangement is still in place but that he would be pleased if the support is still being provided.
“I’d feel delighted if that was the case,” he said. “It wasn’t mentioned when I was speaking to John but if that’s the case that Denis has continued to do so then I’m very grateful.”
The manager’s injury problems seem to be clearing up for the most part as the team’s first group game approaches.
But there is still some significant concern about Jon Walters, whose ongoing Achilles probably severely limited his involvement in training again.
The 32 year-old participated in the general warm up then worked for most of the session with one of the physios before resting up.
"Jon trained on his own but the other two lads, Robbie Keane and Robbie Brady, are doing fine. They joined in there, as you saw, and I don't think they're feeling any ill effects," said O'Neill.
Keane, in particular, seems to have progressed more quickly than had been expected with O’Neill acknowledging: “He said he would do and that’s been very encouraging.
“Jon is improving and I’ll speak to him this afternoon to see how things have gone. He’s done a lot of striding out there and so I’ll find out. First of all I’ll need to speak to the medical staff, see how he is, but yeah. That’s a big step up today from what he was doing before.
“I think at some stage or another he would probably have to join in with us, to do something. That’s about a week he’s missed. John’s naturally fit which gives him a big advantage over a number of other players but I will wait.
“We’ll see how he is, and I would probably wait a wee bit longer for Jon than I might wait for a few others in terms of what he’s done for us and in terms of his natural fitness.”
Looking forward
If the striker doesn’t make it there are plenty of others, eager to get their chance, among them 30-year-old Reading midfielder
Stephen Quinn
.
“I’m looking forward to getting going. It is tough waiting around. I was really happy that the manager picked me but now I’m looking to get game time and as I’ve said in the last few weeks, I am not here to just make up the numbers.”
Quinn says the players are still settling into their new surroundings but that the hotel is good and they are amusing themselves with watching box sets and gadgets, including a golf simulator.
Quinn, though, makes clear there is only one type of game commanding his attention.
“I’m here to play and I want to get some minutes and help my country progress from the group stage. This is the pinnacle of my career and I want to play as much as I can in it.”
Asked about the prospect of being handed in a role in the job of keeping Zlatan Ibrahimovic quiet he said: “I keep having little dreams about it, having little butterflies in my stomach so, yeah, if selected I’m more than ready.”
