IRELAND MANAGEMENT TEAM Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane are fully committed to their contracts with the FAI amid speculation about interest from various clubs, according to John Delaney.
Since the pair took up their positions last November, rumours linking one or both to vacant managerial roles in Britain have never been far away – with the latest reports suggesting Celtic could be open to replacing Neil Lennon with former player Keane.
And while the assistant boss distanced himself from the job last week, explaining that he already has “two jobs”, FAI chief executive John Delaney claims he is not worried about the prospect of with either departing any time soon.
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“The people linking them I don’t think are the clubs in most cases,” Delaney said. “It’s more media-generated enquires. I think Roy said that and I agree with him in that respect. They are two Irish men who want to manage the Irish team. It’s not like club football.
“Martin has wanted to manage Ireland for a long, long time and has made that very clear. He wants to stay with us for a long time and he has made that clear as well.
Roy is a proud Irishman and has found his way back into the Irish fold. He wants to work with Martin O’Neill and both of them want this team to go to France in 2016.
“The way they have approached the job has been with a hugely-strong work ethic. They’ve already attended over 100 games between the backroom staff in the UK, Roy has gone to the women’s matches, Cork v Bray last weekend, Martin has gone to Limerick, Waterford and done many things as well.
“Both have huge commitment to the job and I know their sole thinking is that they want to get this team to France. I’ve never been bothered or worried about the speculation around it. I think they have demonstrated their commitment.”
Keane and O'Neill at training earlier today. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
Keane had to leave the Ireland camp last week and travel to Lisbon for the Champions League final due to work commitments with as an ITV pundit and while Delaney has no issues with that, he has echoed the Corkman’s claims that such a situation won’t arise again.
“I think he (Keane) is clear enough on that,” Delaney explained. “He had that commitment before he took this role so it was something that couldn’t be avoided. I think it is something that he will try ensure doesn’t happen again.
“When we sat down, he said he wanted to continue doing some ITV work. That’s his own personal choice.
“This is the only time it has ever impinged on his role with the Irish team. In a different way, working with ITV he gets to see Champions League matches and elite players playing, some of those players may be playing against us along the way.”
'O'Neill and Keane are committed to getting this team to France 2016' - John Delaney
IRELAND MANAGEMENT TEAM Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane are fully committed to their contracts with the FAI amid speculation about interest from various clubs, according to John Delaney.
Since the pair took up their positions last November, rumours linking one or both to vacant managerial roles in Britain have never been far away – with the latest reports suggesting Celtic could be open to replacing Neil Lennon with former player Keane.
And while the assistant boss distanced himself from the job last week, explaining that he already has “two jobs”, FAI chief executive John Delaney claims he is not worried about the prospect of with either departing any time soon.
“The people linking them I don’t think are the clubs in most cases,” Delaney said. “It’s more media-generated enquires. I think Roy said that and I agree with him in that respect. They are two Irish men who want to manage the Irish team. It’s not like club football.
“Martin has wanted to manage Ireland for a long, long time and has made that very clear. He wants to stay with us for a long time and he has made that clear as well.
“The way they have approached the job has been with a hugely-strong work ethic. They’ve already attended over 100 games between the backroom staff in the UK, Roy has gone to the women’s matches, Cork v Bray last weekend, Martin has gone to Limerick, Waterford and done many things as well.
“Both have huge commitment to the job and I know their sole thinking is that they want to get this team to France. I’ve never been bothered or worried about the speculation around it. I think they have demonstrated their commitment.”
Keane had to leave the Ireland camp last week and travel to Lisbon for the Champions League final due to work commitments with as an ITV pundit and while Delaney has no issues with that, he has echoed the Corkman’s claims that such a situation won’t arise again.
“I think he (Keane) is clear enough on that,” Delaney explained. “He had that commitment before he took this role so it was something that couldn’t be avoided. I think it is something that he will try ensure doesn’t happen again.
“When we sat down, he said he wanted to continue doing some ITV work. That’s his own personal choice.
“This is the only time it has ever impinged on his role with the Irish team. In a different way, working with ITV he gets to see Champions League matches and elite players playing, some of those players may be playing against us along the way.”
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