FAI Director of Football Marc Canham has apologised for the delay in the appointment of a new Ireland head coach.
In an update issued this lunchtime; Caham apologised for the delay in naming a new manager, having previously advising the time-line would be completed in April.
Speaking to FAI TV; Canham hopes to have John O'Shea as interim Ireland head coach for June's friendlies with Hungary and Portugal. Indeed, O’Shea took interim charge of the team for March’s friendlies with Belgium and Switzerland.
Canham outlined “A number of reasons” why the FAI have been unable to fill the vacancy left by Stephen Kenny.
“One is around the criteria that we're looking for in terms of the type of Head coach” explained Canham.
“Clearly, we want someone who's going to come in and improve the team and make us competitive. We want a coach who's got a good mixture of club and international experience, and we're very clear on the vision that we want to achieve”.
“The second point is around the conditions” added Canham. “We've spoken to a number of coaches who are available at the moment, but also those with contractual arrangements that are already existing”.
Indeed Canham went on “And the third point is around the competitiveness of the market”.
So we're looking for the right coach with the right fit and the right timing for that person and for us, and for all those reasons, it just meant that we've not been able to conclude the process at this point, and we'll continue to search to try and find the best person for the job.
Ireland host England in their opening Nations League game on September seven. Canham hopes to have a permament manager in charge by then.
