When Damien Duff speaks the local game is boosted in profile

“Sometimes the most dangerous person in the room is the man with nothing to lose”.

Damien Duff doesn’t do people pleasing. On a busy day for sports gigs and news, his directness at Tolka Park was a refreshing antidote to the jargon espoused on the other side of Dublin.

Even better was the fact his appraisal was linked. The FAI can crib that Ireland’s centurion is their biggest critic but he’s undoubtedly the biggest promotional weapon for the domestic league.

When the Shelbourne boss speaks – albeit to brand the Ireland managerial search “embarrassing” – the local game is boosted in profile.

His all-consuming character places the production of talent at the forefront of his mind but it seems he’d be more comfortable in control than depending on what the FAI set out earlier yesterday as their methodology for success.

Clubs like his in Shelbourne sit at the apex of what Marc Canham and his team have detailed as profiting from their blueprint which figures amongst its aspirations as Ireland teams as regular Champions League participants.

Participating in this July’s Conference League is sufficient European habitat for Duff and the Reds.

He wasn’t contacted by Canham for his input into the national plan and isn’t overly bothered about observing its findings.

“I got sent this 54-page document,” he said about the plan.

“It’s all very well having a plan. I’ve a plan every week which I try to execute and do it with lovely presentations I take great pride in.

“How long has this plan been prepared? Plans for me are about execution straight away. Time waits for no man. We’ve a saying in Shelbourne for every second of the day. We can all talk but it’s about doing something.

“I’ve no interest in really speaking to anyone. I