Stephen Kenny will remain on as manager of the Republic of Ireland men’s team until the end of the 2023 games before a review is conducted into the European Championship qualifying campaign.
It means the Dublin native will take charge of the October ties with Greece and Gibraltar, the final qualifier away to the Netherlands in November and the friendly match with New Zealand.
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Further pressure has mounted on Kenny, who has been in charge since 2020, after defeats to France and the Netherlands.
Kenny’s team have lost four of their five qualifiers, only beating Gibraltar 3-0 last March.
The men’s team will not qualify via their group and there’s only a slim chance of securing a play off.
If a play off did happen, the FAI would make a decision then whether Kenny would be the right man to be in charge for that.
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The news regarding Kenny was confirmed today by FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill, who also explained the decision not to offer Vera Pauw a new contract to remain as the manager of the women’s team.
Despite guiding the Ireland women’s side to their first major tournament, the FAI made the decision not to renew her contract.
Hill acknowledged Pauw’s contribution to football in Ireland and described her as a ‘pioneer’ in the women’s game.
But he’s denied offering Pauw a new deal before the World Cup finals and rejected claims that Pauw’s future was ‘predetermined’.
He said 31 interviews were held in a review of Pauw’s tenure – and there were differing views around ‘training methods and strength and conditioning’ – and some of these differing views were from the players.
Hill says it was clear from discussions with Pauw that she was not going to ‘change her approach’.
He’s also denied that FAI staff, incuding Director of Football Marc Canham, interfered in team affairs at the World Cup.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
