Brian Kerr pinpoints who is really to blame for Ireland’s slump

Matthew Gault

“The system is failing us.”

Brian Kerr has offered a withering assessment of the current state of the Republic of Ireland football team.

Ireland’s UEFA Nations League campaign began ignominiously on Thursday night, hammered 4-1 by a slick Wales side in Cardiff, raising further questions about the FAI’s leadership and Martin O’Neill’s long-term future.

Kerr is not impressed.

“The leadership is a shambles,” the 65-year-old Dubliner said, speaking on Virgin Media Three’s coverage of Denmark v Wales.

“We’ve had the same leadership for about 20 years now. Many of them are far too old for the modern game, to even understand it, yet they’re directing operations. And right through the system, the system is failing us, we’re not producing players and it needs radical action.

“When you compare the resources Northern Ireland are working with, the only advantage they have is that everyone’s closer together because they’re picking from six counties.

Kerr believes there needs to be a concerted effort from the highest levels of the FAI, O’Neill included, to ensure Ireland are developing players for the future.

“The people who are working through the teams are co-operating with Michael O’Neill – and we don’t have that. We have a manager and a gang of fellas around him, I don’t what they’re all doing.

“Martin said it’s not his job to ensure we have players coming through. I would dispute that. It’s part of his job to be part of the whole structure.

“There’s no magic formula but it would work a lot better if there was thought about it, instead of all these things that sound great. We need to make sure we’re a success for the future instead of picking players at the age of 32 for their competitive debut.”

"We've no leadership at the top."

"The system is failing us."

"It needs radical action."

Brian Kerr pulled no punches when discussing the issues within the Ireland international set-up. #VMSport pic.twitter.com/8DnjSWhQcG

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 9, 2018

Ireland face Poland in a friendly on Tuesday before a crucial Nations League double-header against Denmark and Wales on October 13 and 16 respectively.