'An embarrassing circus' - Centurion McClean blasts protracted FAI managerial hunt
James McClean had branded Ireland's managerial search saga as a circus – asserting John O’Shea should be allowed to continue auditioning for the top job.
The Derryman, who ended his 12-year international career last November with his 104th cap, insists the FAI recruiters have unsuccessfully tried giving the vacancy to “every Tom, Dick and Harry”.
That friendly against New Zealand was also the last for Stephen Kenny and McClean believes the FAI should’ve been ahead of the curve by pinpointing the successor as the incumbent was on borrowed time from the summer.
It’s known that both Lee Carsley and Gus Poyet shied away from offers, with self-imposed deadlines of February and this month coming and going this month without an appointment.
O’Shea was handed the reins for last month’s double-header friendly against Belgium and Switzerland, an arrangement which will be replicated unless director of football Marc Canham lands a permanent boss by the time of another duo against Hungary and Portugal on June 4 and 11.
The Uefa Nations League campaign kicks off in Dublin on September 7 with the visit of England.
“This is just a circus - I don’t know another way to put it because it’s an absolute circus,” the 34-year-old said in Dublin, along with his wife Erin and their six-year-old daughter Willow-Ivy, to promote World Autism Month, hosted by AsIAm, Ireland's Autism Charity.
“Here we are and the national team can’t get a manager.
“It seems every week there is a new name being thrown in the mix and then that name is coming out and rejecting it or distancing himself from the job. It feels like we’re going around in circles.
“If they knew Stephen wasn’t going to stay on, then surely start the process sooner.
“Now, they are
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