Kenny exit to be formalised after November FAI meeting
Stephen Kenny’s departure from the Ireland manager’s position is set to be formalised after a meeting of the FAI board on November 28.
With qualification for next year’s Euros in Germany beyond Ireland, both from the group and all but certain via the playoff backdoor, Kenny’s contract will expire once next month’s double-header concludes.
The FAI’s head of football Marc Canham is due to finalise his review of the manager’s tenure after the final qualifier against Netherlands in Amsterdam on Saturday, November 18 and the friendly three days later at home to New Zealand.
Canham didn’t take questions on matters other than the scholarship scheme at a media event held yesterday but it’s understood his assessment and opinion will be presented to the 11 directors at the scheduled summit.
Kenny has no intention of resigning and, for the optics, the FAI are reluctant to engage in an early payoff at a time they are more reliant than on Government funding.
The procedure will be identical to that applied in the case of Vera Pauw, the women’s team manager who was relieved of her duties on the final day of her contract in August despite guiding Ireland to the summer World Cup.
Kenny hasn’t got Ireland near reaching a tournament, having a World Cup, a Euro playoff, a full set of Euros and two Nations League campaigns over his three-and-a-half year tenure.
A second defeat to Greece last Friday ensures they’ll a fourth-placed finish for Ireland in the table irrespective of whether an unlikely scalp of the Dutch is taken against the odds.
Losing again will conclude Kenny’s competitive record with 16 defeats from 29 fixtures.
A change of direction is to be recommended; advice that won’t be vetoed by a board that has afforded the
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