New Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds could continue role with Ireland U21s

Alan Reynolds insists his new Bohemians post won’t necessarily preclude him from continuing to double-job as Ireland U21 assistant manager.

He’s job-shared during assistant assignments at Shelbourne, Derry City and most recently Waterford but it was felt stepping up to a standalone vacancy would present a dilemma.

That’s not a certainty, as he explained at his official unveiling as Gypsies boss on Wednesday ahead of a daunting opener at Shamrock Rovers on Friday before an expected 10,000 sell-out crowd.

Ireland’s 7-0 win in San Marino last Friday kept Jim Crawford’s side within two points of clinching an U21 Euro playoff spot.

They conclude the regulation campaign with double-headers in September and October, with the sidekick potentially using the international breaks from LOI fixtures to serve his country.

“I saw the narrative was put out there that if you do one job, can’t do the other,” the Waterfordman noted about the perceived obstacle attached to him rejecting the post before Declan Devine assumed it in late 2022.

“There will be conversations alright about whether I can do it or they (the FAI) are happy. I’m realistic to know that all my focus will be on Bohemians.”

In that respect, there’s no chance of Reynolds being part of the U21 set-up for their next assignment, friendlies in June when there’s no respite from domestic fixtures.

“The have games but one of ours is against Shamrock Rovers. I won’t be missing that.”

The man known colloquially as Rennie, who turns 50 in June, began his managerial career at player-boss of Waterford, leading the Blues to the 2004 FAI Cup final.

“We had Daryl Murphy on that Waterford side and after initially having a purple patch I thought ‘this is easy’,” he reflected.

“Whe