Kerr concentrates on Cyprus
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr put on a brave, defiant face but he refused to talk about his own perilous position.
After dodging a scheduled briefing on Tuesday – although Kerr refutes it was not on his list of duties – and affording the media just 67 seconds of his time on Wednesday, today’s press conference was the only chance to quiz the 52-year-old on arguably the most important period of his career.
After 32 months in charge the next few days represent make or break for Kerr, with six points an absolute necessity from the Republic’s remaining two World Cup qualifying matches against Cyprus in Nicosia tomorrow, and Switzerland at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday.
With Kerr’s contract up for renewal the message coming out of the Dublin headquarters of the Football Association of Ireland would appear to be loud and clear: ‘Get us to Germany and you will be rewarded. Fail and off you go’.
Kerr made it clear earlier this year he did not want to go into the final qualification matches unsure of his future, but his disillusionment was apparent when he revealed at last week’s squad announcement he was still privately endeavouring to get to the bottom of the matter.
The FAI are stonewalling, in particular as chief executive John Delaney is understood not to be a Kerr fan, adding to the growing tension ahead of the closing Group Four games.
Kerr, to his credit, stood his ground, even if at times there was a tetchiness to the proceedings when the subject of his position, and the speculation surrounding it, was raised.
“I thought we’d come to talk about the game,” snapped Kerr.
“As for the speculation, I don’t see much of it so it doesn’t actually bother me. I’m not in control of it.
“I was asked oe question when I gave the squad announcement last week and I gave an honest answer, and I don’t wish to talk about that issue any more.
“We are concentrating on winning the two games. If we win the two games, then bob’s your uncle and we are all laughing – even yourselves.”
When pressed on the matter, an irritated Kerr countered: “I said I won’t talk about it any more.
“I’m here to talk about the game, the team and the preparations for the game.”
Kerr insists he does not feel “under any extra pressure” now than at any stage during his career, despite the fact a nation’s World Cup hopes, a bounty of at least 5million euros [£3.5million] for the FAI and his own job are on the line.
“I’ve had the same pressures for every team I’ve managed since I started managing in 1968,” was Kerr’s assessment.
“I’ve always wanted to win each game, and prepared the team to win the game the best way I can. That’s the way I am with this one. Nothing has changed.”
Playing a straight bat when asked whether the next few days were the most important of his career, Kerr replied: “No. Every individual match has been important to me.
“The first match as international team manager, and everyone of the 30 since has been vitally important as far as I’m concerned.
“In this particular group, these two games are crucial because we’ve already lost one and we can’t afford to lose another.”
The situation has been exacerbated by Kerr’s agent, Fintan Drury, having his say and claiming his client “has been working with a squad, while talented in certain respects, is not the most talented within the last 15 to 16 years”.
“Nobody speaks for me, I speak for myself,” retorted Kerr, who was intent on giving as good as he was getting.
“I don’t know of anyone else’s assessment, but I know my own assessment, and the squad for these two games is capable of winning them.
“That’s what we feel, we’re confident about it and prepared for it, but we have to win the first one first.”
Even Chelsea star Damien Duff feels the players have underachieved in this campaign, however, Kerr stoically defended his squad – as he has always done.
“It’s certainly not been for the want of effort, graft and commitment to the cause,” asserted Kerr.
“We haven’t had the results either I, or they, would have liked. We’ve not had that slice of luck you sometimes need. Maybe we will get it in the next two games.
“But I wouldn’t be in any way critical of them. They’ve given their best, although it hasn’t been quite good enough in one or two matches.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed we haven’t got more points so far, but if we get enough at the end, that’s the most important.”
Blackburn winger Steven Reid, who has missed most of the last two training sessions with a swollen ankle, will undergo a late assessment ahead of starting what would be his first competitive match for two years.
Duff, it has been revealed, required stitches in a foot injury sustained in Sunday’s 4-1 win at Liverpool, but should be okay, along with Newcastle defender Stephen Carr who has a sore knee.
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