IFA Chief Executive Howard Wells has today told the GAWA that the replacement manager will be just what the doctor ordered.
Speculation has been rife since the resignation of Lawrie Sanchez a number of weeks ago with Neil Warnock and Peter Reid (Munkee’s Heed) being the latest names to be thrown into the hat and the likes of Alan MacDonald, Nigel Worthington and Jimmy Cricket ruled out of the running.
Either way, it could be a good move should Norn Iron manage to capitalise on their enviable position top of the Euro 2008 Qualifier Group table. Potentially it could mean high profile success should Norn Iron qualify, and not too much adverse publicity should they not.
The IFA have a deadline of July 1 to make an appointment but it’s assumed a decision will be made before then. With our next game a qualifier against Licky in Belfast in August, it would be appropriate for the IFA to get this out of the way sooner rather than later with the possibility of maybe a home friendly being arranged to gel any incoming personnel with an unfamiliar squad.
"We want to appoint a manager with international experience who can get us to the point of qualifying for the European Championship finals," said IFA Chief Executive Wells today.
"We have spoken to a number of people to ascertain their interest and I have also spoken to several people in the game whose views I respect.
"We know how important an appointment this is and are aware the fans are waiting for developments.
"I can tell them that we believe we will get the decision right and continue to take the Northern Ireland team forward."
Mmm. No doubt intentions are good but the only attractive proposition is the position we are currently in by topping the Group and the fact we have the best supporters in the world. Just what will the IFA be able to offer in terms of wages? A similar level of success is required during the second half of the campaign if we have any chance of qualification at all. Sanchez has left us in the position we are in despite having a fairly acrid set of managerial credentials when he arrived at Windsor Avenue.
The IFA will be in a position where they will have to decide whether to try and appoint someone as a long-term replacement or whether someone needs to be brought in just to see us through to the finals. Time will tell, but if everything goes tits up it will no doubt be Wells that will take the flack.
Rumours that Wells is favouring HD’s very own Statto’s Lovechild have been vehemently denied.
|
