The Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s former assistant and staunch ally Liam Brady acknowledges if this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria go badly the Italian and the rest of his management team will expect to be shown the door by the FAI.
“I think he would see that as being the case,” said the Dubliner, who was home yesterday to promote this weekend’s coverage on ESPN of the FA Cup. “If we don’t do points wise what we have to do to keep us in the group, he wouldn’t feel it’s unexpected if it (the sack) were to come.
“But,” he added, “you guys write so much about the FAI not being able to afford to pay him off, I don’t know if that’s the case. Pay him off is probably the wrong term, finish his contract early.”
The FAI would have to terminate his contract, he believes, with the 73-year-old highly unlikely to resign. “I don’t think it’s in his make-up to quit,” he says. “I think he’ll have to be forced to step down, if he is going to step down.”
Worst-case scenario
Brady insists, however, that is a worst-case scenario and believes Trapattoni can achieve the required results in Stockholm and then back at the Aviva Stadium to stay in the hunt for qualification.
“I’ve been vocal in his support,” he says, “because I don’t think the group is over yet. I still think we have a fair chance. I think the team is still playing for him. I don’t care what anyone says. Even after the whacking we got by Germany, I think the team is still with him. That’s why I’ve been very supportive. Let’s see how the points’ tally ends up. But, if we don’t qualify, probably Marco and Giovanni will know their contracts won’t be renewed.”
Trapattoni, who will name his squad for the games at Abbotstown this Friday before heading to Inchicore for the meeting of St Patrick’s Athletic and Drogheda United, is repeatedly criticised in the context of his large pay packet but Brady believes the FAI is going to have to keep paying very substantial sums if it hopes to lure one of what he reckons to be the three most obvious candidates to succeed the Italian.
“Trap is being beaten with this salary stick all the time but it is relevant,” he says. “If you’re going to get a top manager, you’ve got to be able to pay him. The Premiership is getting wealthier all the time, even to be a Championship manager . . . I would see it as three candidates but would Chris Hughton leave the Premier League to come and manage Ireland? That’s a big question.
“Mick McCarthy . . . He’s at a great club in Ipswich who have had their problems but I’m sure Mick is relishing the challenge of sorting them out.
“The other guy I’d like to see is the guy who got the sack recently, Owen Coyle. I think he is a very good manager, very experienced manager.”
His preference, he admits, had been Marco Tardelli as the obvious candidate but, he observes: “for it to happen we need to qualify. I don’t think I’ll upset them by saying that.”
Asked about Reading boss Brian McDermott he added: “Brian wouldn’t be in my list of outstanding candidates for the job, with all due respect.”
Ruled out return
Brady ruled out returning to management at any stage, remarking: “No, no. I’ve been there, done that; wasn’t great at it. We move on.”
But, he suggested, he would be interested in having a role in the development of young talent for the FAI which has yet to formally fill its technical director’s role. “I wouldn’t say no, but it all depends on what they want. I think what we should be doing, though, is scouting the very best players around the country and getting them in elite groups.”
This, he admits, is likely to meet resistance from the strong schoolboy club sector. “So a person is needed to go in there and kind of make that happen by reassuring the schoolboy clubs they are working in the best interests of the boy. It really is a diplomatic role.”
