John Fallon: Damien Duff on the money but mistrust the problem in obtaining it
Damien Duff cut his coaching teeth at academy level and whether his Shelbourne surge translates into silverware he'll be forever immersed in what's coming down the track.
As a recognised authority which 100 caps and two Premier League medals bestows, the opinions of the Reds manager on the current fiasco that is the hunt for the Ireland manager are always elicited.
He's descended beneath the "embarrassing" phase of February to a sense of apathy but didn't allow his disinterest allow the opportunity pass without highlighting a matter of superior importance in his mind.
Pleading for emphasis on the domestic underage structures doesn't command the immediate headline that his agreement for John O'Shea to be kept on does yet warrants attention in the broader scheme of things.
Right now, the identity of Stephen Kenny's successor is consuming the thoughts of football folk.
Albeit the prospect of giddiness that tends to accompany a change of guard has been replaced by a combination of fatigue and general ridicule at the stories surrounding Gus Poyet's sudden elevation to the candidate the FAI are seemingly infatuated by.
While that chase reaches a belated conclusion – God forbid O'Shea's tenancy is extended to await the chosen one after June – the core issues that underpin longevity superseding managerial spells endure.
Chief headhunter Marc Canham has a lot on his plate apart from delivering the saviour – or back-up to the initial choice of Lee Carsley.
As director of football, while Poyet seemingly mulled over the offer of leading Ireland up to Euro 2028, Canham was in Donegal. That was the scene of the latest stopover in a schedule of roadshows to discuss implementation of the Football Pathways Plan he
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