Stephen Kenny reportedly set for sack if Ireland fail to pick up points in September

Rory Fleming

Ireland have plummeted in the world rankings from 34th to 52nd over the course of Kenny’s three years at the helm.

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny will oversee Ireland’s September Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and the Netherlands, with the FAI reportedly keen to avoid a manager hunt during next month’s Women’s World Cup.

However, following a dismissal 2-1 defeat away to Greece in June’s fixtures, Kenny’s long-term future as Ireland boss remains in serious doubt.

It is now believed that should the Boys in Green fail to pick up at least two points in their two games during September, that the FAI will move to relieve Kenny of his duties.

Last week’s victory over Gibraltar saw Ireland pick up their points of their Euro 2024 qualification campaign. (Credit: Sportsfile)

Stephen Kenny reportedly set for sack if Ireland fail to pick up points in September.

According to The Irish Times, there is a ‘break clause’ included in the 51-year-old’s two-year contract extension, which would see Kenny lose his job should Ireland be out of contention for qualification prior to Greece’s visit to Dublin in October.

It has also been muted that had the defeat in Athens come after Ireland’s 3-0 victory over minnows Gibraltar, that Kenny could then have been sacked by the association.

The current state of play in the group sees Ireland languishing three points behind chief rivals Greece, nine points behind leaders France, and level with the Dutch who have played a game fewer.

Ireland have dropped down the rankingshttps://t.co/5C5LNYGVHW

— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 30, 2023

At a meeting of the FAI board on Tuesday which assessed June’s internationals, the decision was made to avoid managerial change for the time being, to allow for the association’s full attention to be placed on the Women’s squad.

Vera Pauw’s team depart for Australia next week, in what will be Ireland’s first appearance at a Women’s World Cup.

Should Kenny ultimately fail to secure the results required to keep his job, it is thought that the FAI would make an approach for England U21 manager Lee Carsley to oversee the rest of the qualification campaign.

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