The Case of College Congestion

During the final year of my degree, I became seriously disillusioned with the university environment. A feeling of dread began to grip me on my walk into campus because I knew that swarms of rowdy, disinterested students would inevitably block the main concourse, making it extra difficult to get into lecture halls and class rooms. That temporary impediment wasn't the main complaint, however. I recall that several lecture halls were unfit for purpose. They were unfit simply because they were not designed to cater for over-subscribed courses.

I remember arriving on time for the first class of a module which was of great interest to me only to find that people were seated on the stairs, mindlessly muttering to one and other as they took out their note pads in preparation for the class to proceed. It seemed as if they were happy enough to have found an impromptu seat -  there appeared to be no sense of discomfort in the environment. Disgruntled characters stood at the back (myself included) scowling at the sheer congestion, hoping that people would drop off or that the department would seek to house the lectures in a more appropriate setting. So I persevered for another couple of weeks, but there was no sign of change and eventually I lost the motivation to attend. Not only was it not conducive to learning, but it presented a very real hazard to the health of those souls who were intrepid enough to cram themselves in.

To this day I shudder at the thought of being on the over-crowded college campus. My disdain for it is such that I tend to avoid important zones such as the sauna-cum-library during peak hours - I cannot get work done when the environment I'm in makes me feel so uncomfortable. Woe is me.

Anyway, this problem won't be ameliorated any time soon if the Galway Independent is to be believed regarding an educational reform plan that is set to be implemented across Ireland. We are going to see a merging of courses in regions that have a number of higher education institutes or in doublespeak, a removal of duplicate courses. Which begs the question, how, and where, will these merged courses be taught? With many class-rooms already jam-packed, will it be a case of jamming more?

Nigel Dodds and "Injustice"

If the debate surrounding FIFA eligibility rules in Ireland didn't exist, I'd probably have very little else to write about, but the topic rears its head time and time again. This time, the DUP's Dodds couple (Nigel and Diane) have raised their concern in different political fora. At Westminster recently, Nigel spoke of how there existed an "injustice" that needed to be addressed by the British and Irish governments. The "injustice" that Nigel refers to, of course, is the right that exists for Irish nationals born in Northern Ireland to play for or change to the representative teams of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

In referring to this right of choice, as facilitated by FIFA's eligibility rules, as an "injustice", Dodds reveals a lot about the level of respect and understanding he has for the identity his republican neighbours. While the FIFA eligibility rules have nothing to do with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 (as is often erroneously reported), calls for this choice to be limited, or even removed, undoubtedly contravenes the spirit of tolerance and respect for identity that is contained therein. As Daniel Collins recently wrote in the Irish News, with regard to Diane Dodds' similar comments at a sitting of the European Parliament, '[o]ver a decade on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, is it not long past the time that certain public servants should have acknowledged the undisputed legitimacy of the national identity of the largest minority community north of the border?'. Indeed it is long past the time.

Collins has invested a considerable amount of time and energy into matters surrounding the eligibility debate, paying particular attention to debunking the various myths and unfounded allegations that have arisen since the issue has come to the fore. His essay, 'FIFA Player Eligibility in the Context of Ireland' is arguably the best resource for those who wish to be educated in the matter and, unsurprisingly, his efforts have been met with derision among Northern Ireland fans, although, interestingly, to date, there has not been so much as one attempt at a rebuttal. In general, the arguments raised by Northern Ireland fans and pro-IFA figures, including Diane and Nigel Dodds, have all been emphatically debunked by Collins' essay. For example, Mr Dodds paints a picture of the IFA suffering uniquely, but such is patently not the case:

"The rules are universal and no two countries in world football have an identical number of nationals available for potential selection from their respective player pools, so talk of an unfair advantage is also disingenuous. The FAI cannot call up Northern Ireland-born players who do not acknowledge or effect their birthright to Irish nationality. Ultimately, choice rests with the player."

Nigel Dodds' proposal, that the British and Irish governments convene a meeting to resolve a so-called "issue" is simply preposterous, especially when one considers the fact that the Irish FA (IFA) has already exhausted all avenues, only to be told by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that they had, to borrow a phrase, no leg to stand on. Essentially, the CAS brought closure to the affair for all parties concerned after years of complaint on the part of the IFA. In light of this, it is quite baffling to hear unionist politicians sticking their oar in, presenting the situation as one in imperative need of resolution.


Regardless, a sizeable portion of the population of Northern Ireland simply does not recognise or identify with the IFA, for one reason or the other, and instead look favourably upon the FAI - such was the case well before northern born players began appearing for the FAI. Indeed, Sinn Féin, the largest republican party in Northern Ireland immediately issued a statement supporting the right of choice that currently exists, while in 2007, SDLP politician Pat Ramsey also defended the right of choice. Therefore, should this ridiculous notion be entertained, then it would simply stutter to an inevitable stalement.

In reality, the freedom of a northern-born Irish individual to represent the FAI rather than the IFA represents an injustice only to those whose secure sense of 'Our Wee Country' it upsets.

Forget Harry, Pearce is the Man

Following a series of pitiful events, the English national team faces a bit of a crisis ahead of Euro 2012. Having endured the insult of the FA undermining his managerial authority in the discipline of alleged racist John Terry, Fabio Capello swiftly decided that he would resign. It would appear that the FA were not paying attention during The Godfather: it's all about respect with the Italians. But on the bright side, the English media breathe a sigh of relief, as they won't have to grasp desperately for an excuse should "their boys" fail to meet expectations.

What makes the series of events even more pitiful is the swelling of public support for Harry Redknapp, a man who recently suffered the ignominy of a high-profile court case involving allegations of tax-evasion, to become the next England manager. Redknapp is currently the manager of a relatively successful Tottenham Hotspur team and he is well respected in English football circles, but is he really the man that England want, let alone need?

In a recent press conference, FA Chairman David Bernstein spoke with enthusiasm when he said, "I was really impressed with his attitude". He wasn't talking about Harry Redknapp, however. He was referring to Stuart Pearce, the man who will manage England in the interim period and certainly for their game against Holland. John Scales, on the BBC discussion panel, immediately ruled out Pearce as being a long-term solution to England's problems, but why?


He ticks all of the FA's boxes: They have a preference for an English man, check. They want someone who is passionate and can inspire the players, check. They want someone who knows the English game and English players, check.

Pearce is currently juggling a few different balls. He has been a coach for Fabio Capello during his tenure as England manager, he is the current manager of England under 21s, where he has guided English teams to Finals and Semi Finals of European competition and he is set to manage the British football team which will compete in the Olympics. Granted, his performance as Man City manager was uninspiring, but most will agree that international management is a completely different kettle of fish.

Forget Harry, Pearce is the man for England.

60 Years? So What?

Try as I might, I cannot understand the fawning over the Queen of England.

Political leaders from the DUP, UUP, SDLP, Alliance and TUV praised Elizabeth II for, well, managing 60 years on the throne. Some spoke of how much respect she deserved. David Ford described her as a "rock of stability", while the volatile dissenter Jim Allister said: " in [Elizabeth II] there blossomed a monarch who, throughout times of great change... has demonstrated a steady touch and a steady hand, through which many and all of us have benefited.". Woah! She must be a great woman!

So what has she done?

I suppose she has travelled around with her husband over the years, which can get tiring, I'm sure. Oh and then there is the fact that she has to live in luxury, which must be a bit of a slog. And the mortifying shame of her sons' separations, not to mention all those public duties, which take their toll you know. But fair play to her, she has demonstrated "a steady touch and a steady hand" throughout it all.

Let's get real here.

The very institution that Elizabeth II represents is one which is founded on a principle of inequality and ruthless subjugation and to vaunt the British monarch in such a fashion simply reinforces the position of such an archaic system. In truth, she and her family form what is unquestionably an undemocratically-appointed feudal relic, which should not have a divinely instated place of privilege in today's society.

Yet we continue to see mindless appreciation and ludicrous suggestions of how this lady somehow "deserves" a "gift from the nation" in the form of a yacht. Yes indeed. According to the Guardian, Michael Gove, the British Secretary of State for Education actually said: ""In spite, and perhaps because of, the austere times, the celebration should go beyond those of previous jubilees and mark the greater achievement that the diamond anniversary represents.". Luckily for the British people, the idea was rapidly shot down, but that an elected representative felt that it was at all worthy of consideration is, in itself, alarming.

Perhaps a little more worryingly, this mindless appreciation was also evident in Ireland when Elizabeth II visited the island in 2011. Such was the level of pro-queen media furore and clamour surrounding the event that of any kind of derisory talk regarding the Queen was branded the utterance of a crazed extremist. Strange behaviour from the inhabitants of a republic that was only freed from the shackles of British rule and its monarchy early in the 20th century. Perhaps it is little wonder that Ireland (that is, the independent 26 county state) is dying.

In this sense I welcome Sinn Féin's silence on the matter in respect of the praise of the others. It is not, as Jim Allister says, "stony and churlish", nor is it necessarily "vindictive", (even if vindictiveness might be excusable - Elizabeth II is, after all, the symbol of the state which slaughtered and oppressed many Irish people in recent history). It is a dignified silence.

As Alasdair McDonnell said in his rather perfunctory tribute: "There are a large number of people in Northern Ireland who value the link with Britain, and who value the monarchy and who value the contribution of Queen Elizabeth II. We not only acknowledge that, we fully respect it."

Well, the opposite is also true. There is a large number of people in the north who don't value the link with Britain, and who don't value the monarchy, let alone any notional contribution of Elizabeth II. Why don't people acknowledge that and fully respect that? 

Daylight Robbery at the Brandywell

Daniel Lafferty recently joined English Championship outfit Burnley from Derry City in a deal thought to be in the region of £150,000-£200,000. The move is a great loss for Derry City, both in terms of the loss of Lafferty's talent and the pittance which they received for his services.

Here is a left-footed 22 year old former under-21 international who has proven himself at the highest level in Ireland. In fact, his tremendous form in the 2011 season saw him nominated for the PFAI young player of the year award and he was included in the same League of Ireland squad as James McClean and Daniel Kearns that took on Celtic and Man City in the Dublin Super Cup. He has an abundance of potential, a fact which has been recognised by new Northern Ireland manager, Michael O'Neill who suggested he could receive a call-up in the near future, regardless of where he's playing. £200,000? Derry were robbed.

Some might say that Irish clubs have little choice in the matter. British clubs tend to hold all the cards when it comes to setting fees and the best thing that an Irish club could hope for is a few add-on fees based on potential appearances and so-forth. Being a "small" club, they probably feel a burden of not wanting to be an impediment to the player's move to the "big-time". But clubs must ultimately act in their own interests, after all, one player is not bigger than the team.

Irish leagues have been exporting an increasing number of talented individuals as English clubs look to snap up bargains. Over the past year, several players have secured moves to top British clubs from Irish clubs: Enda Stevens went from Shamrock Rovers to Aston Villa, Rory Donnelly signed for Swansea from Cliftonville, Derry's James McClean and Daniel Lafferty went to Sunderland and Burnley respectively, Daniel Kearns left Dundalk for Peterborough and Graham Cummins recently signed for Preston from Cork City.

Older cases, such as Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Seamus Coleman and Keith Fahey are all current Ireland internationals a short period after having played in Irish leagues. Each of them cost around the same amount as Lafferty, but after just a few short seasons, their worth has multiplied considerably. Indeed, some players' worth has multiplied after only a few games: take the case of another Derry City export James McClean, for example. However Derry City fans will tell you that while McClean's fitness may have improved, he is pretty much the same player that he was when he was at the Brandywell - fast, direct, fearless, with an eye for a pass as well as a goal. He didn't magically become 10 times the player he was overnight.

The relative success of the aforementioned players should give Irish clubs the right to demand more for their most talented players. If Irish teams lose these players for such low fees, the standard of the Irish domestic game will struggle to progress. Say the fee for Lafferty was doubled: Derry could then invest some of it into improving their facilities as well as having the option of investing in a replacement. In Daniel Lafferty, Derry City have lost arguably the best left back in Irish football and a dedicated professional who has many years ahead of him in the game. £200,000 is an insult of a fee for a player of his calibre.

Hey, that's OUR money!

Did you hear the news?

That's right, some Derry "wan" won the lottery - "a cool €5,482,894" from a €12 ticket bought in Donegal.

Lucky bugger, aye, but that's our lottery. What's a bloody northerner doing crossing the border, using our Euros to buy things in our country? He shouldn't have been in the country in the first place at all, never mind buying Lotto tickets.

We need to combat this lottery tourism. The cheek of those northerners; coming in and exploiting our National Lottery, you'd nearly think this was their country. Next, they'll be looking for rights.

The government should establish Habitual Residence Conditions or something for playing the Lottery. It's not right that northerners can come in and take our money. Why don't they go and play the British Lottery?

Disgrace.

To whom do we owe our allegiance today?

Erin in the Lion's Den

Luke Kelly's poem, For What Died the Sons of Róisín, which appeared first in The Dubliners album Revolution in 1970 is perhaps most resounding over 40 years later, in 2012.

"To whom do we owe our allegiance today
To whom do we owe our allegiance today
To those brave men who fought and died that Róisín live again with pride?
Her sons at home to work and sing,
Her youth to dance and make her valleys ring,
Or the faceless men who for Mark and Dollar,
Betray her to the highest bidder,
To whom do we owe our allegiance today"

Over the past few years I have grown tired of being viewed as being a lesser breed of Irish. In more idealistic times, I would rile against it, but both time and reflection have wearied my mind. Growing up in Donegal and Derry, no one ever told me that I wasn't "really Irish". Maybe it's because the people of the northwest, in general, know what it's like to be forgotten. It was only when I moved to Galway just over three years ago that the notion entered my consciousness.

For years after partition, the Dublin government laid claim to the entire island of Ireland and claimed the allegiance of its people. In 1969, when civil unrest was growing in several northern counties, Jack Lynch told us that the nation would not stand by and let people suffer or worse. Constrained as Lynch's government may have been, the sentiment was one of warmth and genuine concern.

Fast forward to 1998 and, after the Troubles, the Irish government relinquished their claim to the entire territory of the island. Bye-bye, Schizo-Six, take care. They did, however, maintain that there was a "firm will" to reunite the people of the island - in what form, remains to be seen. There might very well be a will to unite the people, but is there a will to unite the territory? If anecdotal evidence is worth anything at all, it would appear not. In which case, I believe Irish nationalists and republicans in the north must demand answers from the Dublin government. They must actively assert their role in the Irish nation and strike back at the condescension. They must ask, to whom do we owe our allegiance today?

So welcome (or not, as the case may be) to proper Ireland 2012, all 26 counties' worth. Where being an Irish citizen has no worth (see the case of Cork man Paul Casey). Where democratically elected government representatives believe that referenda are not democratic (Leo Varadker, 2012), toy with the idea of filtering a little bit more of the people's money into their pockets and readily relinquish their people's hard-fought sovereignty.

Ireland and the world have changed since the early twentieth century. So too have principles.

----
I close with some lines of my own:

Forgotten Son
Cleansed by a tide of despair,

Chilling, sobering.

A disappointing dawn, so unfair

I rebel. I sing.

Not wanted here, they say

Your ilk need not apply,

Céad míle fáilte, go'way!

I question, why?

Abandoned, terribly sold out

No son of mine are ye.

Indignant I snarl and shout,

But never mind me.

Get out, don't come back

This is not your centre

Veneers soon crack

Abandon hope, ye who enter!

A Rocky Road to Recovery

"This man shouldn't be playing football. He's made an almost Lazarus-like recovery from a ruptured artery. Lazarus was a great man but he couldn't play football like Shane Duffy." 
- to paraphrase Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh

On a fine summer's day on the coastal town of Malahide outside Dublin, the Republic of Ireland senior squad were preparing for a behind-closed-doors friendly. Having already defeated the U23 League of Ireland team managed by Paul Doolin they were about to take on the amateur Republic of Ireland team. Giovanni Trapattoni prowled back and forth on the training ground, watching his troops train, pulling one or two of them to the side to emphasise his instructions. 18 year old Shane Duffy among them.

After defeating the under 23 Republic of Ireland team 1-0, Liam Lawrence said, “Shane Duffy is only a young lad but if he keeps his head down, he'll have a good future.”. The youngest player in the training squad, Duffy was part of a defence which included Darren O'Dea, Paul McShane and Greg Cunningham. His first performance in an Ireland shirt elicited the highest praise from football critics across the country. It would normally seem quite unusual to associate certain superlatives with a centre back, but the Evening Herald described the young Derry man as an unearthed 'gem'.

“... with top-class Irish central defenders very hard to find at the top level, Duffy is a real find. He proved that last night as the Derry native was the stand-out player in the Republic of Ireland senior side which defeated the U23s 1-0 thanks to a 21st-minute goal from Anthony Stokes.” 

The Irish Star suggested that his maturity on the field belied his tender years, comparing him to two of Ireland's defensive stalwarts when they suggested that he was 'a Mick McCarthy with skills more akin to David O'Leary'. There was a resounding atmosphere of expectation surrounding the Everton youngster.

But disaster soon struck. Early into the first half of the game against the amateurs, Duffy fell to the ground clutching his chest after colliding with goalkeeper Adrian Walsh. Failing to stand, he rolled over, and repeatedly smacked the ground, writhing in agony. In what was a freak occurrence, he had ruptured his hepatic artery and were it not for the remarkable and courageous work of the FAI's medical team, Professor John O'Byrne and Alan Byrne, as well as the expertise of Gerry McEntee, Irish football may have suffered a terrible tragedy.

Amazingly however, Duffy left the hospital a mere week after the incident, walking out to greet reporters with a huge smile on his face. “It's Lazarus!”, exclaimed one excited journalist. Doctors suggested that he would not be playing again until December of 2010, at the very least. Duffy had other plans. Just thirteen weeks after surgery in August 2010, he was playing in a pre-season friendly against Sligo Rovers.

Fast forward just under 20 months and two short loan spells later and the Everton players travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa. 20 year old Shane Duffy among them. He looks set for his first Premier League start. His journey has been unbelievable.

Compensation and "Bigotry"

In recent radio discussions regarding the nature of FIFA's eligibility rules as they apply to Ireland, the chairman of the AONISC, Gary McAllister, argued for the introduction of a system compensation.

However, the whole idea that the principles of club football should apply to international football is fundamentally flawed. In fact it is best described as a "hopeless non-starter".

Daniel Collins wrote, in a comprehensive study of the eligibility situation in Ireland*, that there were many problems with the idea that the FAI should recompense the IFA when individual players decide not to play for the IFA and instead opt to hold out for a call up to FAI representative teams. Indeed, he argues that the IFA would be liable for so-called "poached" players such as Oliver Norwood and Lee Camp and even Johnny Gorman and Alex Bruce.

"The problem with a compensation argument is that it casts individual players as possessions of associations. The reality is that choice still ultimately rests with dual national players as to for who to declare, regardless of an association's future hopes and intentions for that player."

He continues to cite cases whereby players are adjudged to have retired "prematurely", namely George McCartney:

"Even if a Northern Ireland-born player was not to declare for the FAI, it would still be his right to refuse to represent the IFA regardless. By the same token as above, ought there be calls for individual players such as George McCartney to recompense the IFA for any losses accrued by the organisation in their development due to their later refusal to represent Northern Ireland?"

Perhaps most importantly, Collins suggests that, if the IFA attempted to introduce a contractual obligation for young players to remain "loyal" to their association, the consequences could arguably be much more severe for them:

"Beyond the hurdle of having a minor enter into an agreement of a legal and binding nature, such a contract, whilst, for the sake of argument, maybe having legal standing under the law of the state, would have no standing whatsoever under FIFA’s statutes. It would be in breach of the regulations and FIFA would in no way condone it as they expressly endorse the idea that not even a friendly game ought to tie a player to an association. Essentially, it would amount to an attempt by the IFA to transcend or subvert their rules, whichever way one wanted to view it. If a player breached such a contract, it would make no difference to FIFA as such a contract would not be regulated by their statutes. However, if the IFA then proceeded to ensure the contract was upheld in a court of law after what they considered to be a breach by the player concerned in order to deny this player his right to switch association under the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes, FIFA would promptly threaten to suspend the IFA from competition under what would amount to third-party involvement in the running of the association; a breach of articles 13 and 17 of their General Provisions."

If McAllister and those enlightened and inspired souls at the AONISC have not already read Daniel Collins' essay on the matter, they should do so soon, preferably before they clog up the airwaves with more uneducated and blindly pro-IFA babble.

Interestingly, on the same radio show, McAllister complained that certain callers and even the show host, Wendy Austin, were acting on an agenda and "sectarianising" the argument. He did so without foundation, I must add, and to my utmost amazement, it was not challenged. Similarly, when I asked McAllister, via Twitter, what exactly Gerry Armstrong was doing when he was "working tirelessly on player eligibility", the chairman of the AONISC scathingly, maybe somewhat intolerantly, told me, "As if I'd tell someone who opposes a cross-community NI team!", before adding the hash tag, "#youlittlebigot".

Firstly, McAllister's crude assumption is false; I am not opposed to IFA's representative teams being cross-community entities and why would I be? I believe that their football teams are, always have been, and always will be, comprised of players from all communities and I contend that the idea of the FAI causing "football apartheid" is simply and utterly ludicrous. Secondly, as you might imagine, I don't think that I am "a little bigot". I am merely someone from a different background to McAllister, who happens to be a proponent of dual-national players having the choice of which national team they wish to represent. I do not, as a bigot might do, castigate any player for their choice, or try to remove that choice, regardless of who they choose to represent.

McAllister, and others, too often get away with labelling those who are in favour of the choice of people from Northern Ireland to play for either the IFA or the FAI as a result of their nationality as intolerant, divisive, sectarian bigots. In McAllister's case, as the chairman of the AONISC, should he really be leading from the front with such blinkered accusations? I'm sure that has endeared him to potential fans and players. On what grounds exactly, one also wonders, does McAllister come to these conclusions? I have yet to get an explanation.

I suppose I can seek some consolation in the irony of the fact that I was chastised and excluded by a man who says he champions all-inclusiveness.

*The entire essay can be found at this address: Player Eligibility in Ireland

Why Devine's Right

"I'm overwhelmed and honoured to be in the position of manager of Derry City Football Club. It's a club that is close to my heart and it has been since the first time I walked in the gates for the game against Home Farm in 1985."

- Declan Devine 

Just a few short weeks after Stephen Kenny decided to quit the Brandywell for the bright lights of Tallaght, two of the Dubliner's former assistant managers have been revealed as Derry City's new management team. Declan Devine, who was Kenny's number two at both Derry and Dunfermline has been handed the reins, while former Finn Harps and Institute manager Paul Hegarty will take on the role of assistant manager.

In a couple of weeks which saw a number of quite high profile names linked to the Derry City job, the news has generally been greeted with a positive response from the fans, who have lavished praise on the board for selecting two men who are held in high esteem by the Brandywell faithful. In addition to being involved with Derry as coaching staff during successful periods, both Hegarty and Devine played for the Candystripes during their playing careers and are fondly remembered by locals. The cynical fan, however, points to Devine's lack of experience in top-flight management and criticises the Derry City board for pinching pennies at the expense of ambition. Nevertheless, Devine's experience in Irish football is vast, and he more than anyone has an insight into the philosophy of success that was instilled during the Kenny era. Such a dismissive attitude also completely denigrates the quality and knowledge of Devine's number two, Paul Hegarty, who steered Finn Harps to promotion, managed the Ballybofey side in the Premier Division and also managed Institute F.C.. Derry have certainly appointed an experienced team.

"Sometimes what you're looking for is under your nose and sometimes if doesn't come from Derry you think it must be better than what is in Derry; but I think we've were quite exhaustive in the process and I think we've ended up picking the right man for the job."

- Philip O'Doherty

Briefly entertaining the notion that the board could or should have appointed a different man, consider the realistic alternatives in light of the sensible principle of frugality applied by the board. Paul Cook, who is one of the most valued managers in Ireland, was mooted as a possibility, with the City board even making a formal approach. However, unlike Derry, Sligo Rovers is prepared to flood resources into buying players and without knowing the exact financial details of the west coast club, it is safe to say that such practice can and has been a recipe for disaster in Irish football, especially in recent years. The Derry City board wishes to create a strong foundation for the club which will ensure its financial survival and, one hopes, breed long-term success. Jim Magilton is another man whose name was mentioned in connection with the job, but, considering his managerial CV, the Belfast man would surely have wanted a substantial fee relative to others.

Current Stockport County assistant manager Willie McStay was also said to have been among the contenders, but would he have really been more suitable than Devine and Hegarty? McStay hasn't managed in Ireland since the mid-90s, so his knowledge of the league is undoubtedly not as comprehensive as that of either Devine or Hegarty. Granted, he was quite successful with Sligo Rovers in the early-to-mid-90s and would probably command respect as a result of his history with Celtic, but when compared with Devine and Hegarty, it is McStay who lacks experience. It is also rumoured that the Scot wanted to be flown in to Derry from Scotland and if there is any truth to the rumours, it displays an outrageous lack of respect for the club and its fans, not to mention a lack of genuine interest in the job. To think that a Conference National team assistant would demand to be regularly flown in to complete his duties as the manager of one of the biggest football clubs in Ireland is quite unbelievable really.


There is no denying that Declan Devine faces a difficult task in steadying the ship vacated by Stephen Kenny. An alarming number of first team players have already left the club and considering the club's expected frugality, Devine will need to cast his net far and wide to come up with appropriate replacements. It is likely that we will witness the promotion of a few more of the club's talented youth players and the recruitment of those plying their trade locally, but Devine and Hegarty may spring a surprise or two. Stalwarts Gerard Doherty, Eddie McCallion and Ruaidhri Higgins have already nailed their colours to the City mast and hopefully many more will follow their lead. If Devine can keep hold of young talent such as Stephen McLaughlin, the McEleney brothers, Daniel Lafferty et al, Derry can certainly challenge, but as yet, things remain unstable. Expectations of a top three finish should probably be readjusted, but until March, you never know. All eyes are on the Brandywell.

Who will be the next manager of Derry City?

 This article appeared on SportsNews Ireland


Back in early November, when Michael O'Neill was first linked with the Northern Ireland job, alarm bells were ringing in Derry. It seemed certain that, in light of their remarkable European and league success, Shamrock Rovers would be seeking the best manager in Ireland. And his name was Stephen Kenny.

Sure enough, as O'Neill quit the Rovers post in December 2011, Kenny's name was touted in the media and sure enough, the Dubliner had had talks with his hometown club. Many fans were livid with the apparent submission of the club to the financial might of Shamrock Rovers; they said it demonstrated a lack of ambition by the board. Derry had allegedly stalled on showing Kenny a budget - a claim that the Derry board strongly denies. However, when one considers all of the factors, it was always going to be difficult to keep Kenny.



So who will take up the reins at the Brandywell?

Derry City chairman Philip O'Doherty has stated that the board have set a deadline for applications at Friday January 6 and when questioned he gave the impression that he was not averse to having a local man take up the mantle. Speaking to the Sunday Journal, O'Doherty said that they had received "about 12" applications, but were keen for more. Sligo manager Paul Cook, arguably the most desirable candidate, ruled himself out following discussions with the club.

Jim Magilton (Guardian)

Jim Magilton
The Derry Journal has reported that the Derry City board have contacted former QPR and Ipswich manager Jim Magilton. A former Northern Ireland international, Belfast man Magilton was included in the Irish FA's three man shortlist for the job as Northern Ireland manager, but missed out at the expense of his former colleague, Michael O'Neill. Magilton's experience as a manager in England and as Michael O'Neill's assistant at Shamrock Rovers places him in an advantageous position, but he is likely to command a lucrative wage, something which might be a stumbling block.

Felix Healy (Donegal Democrat)

Felix Healy
Arguably one of the most gifted footballers to come out of Derry, Felix Healy enjoyed a successful football career which saw him line out for Coleraine and Derry City, picking up 4 caps for Northern Ireland along the way. He has also experienced relative success as a manager, which includes time steering the fortunes of Derry. In the period from 1994 to 1998, Healy won the League, League Cup and FAI Cup with Derry before resigning. The Derry man also managed Derry's local rivals Finn Harps where he guided them to promotion in 2004 before being sacked the following season. While he is currently employed in the role of Director of football with Finn Harps, Healy has not managed in quite some time. Nevertheless, his previous success with Derry would bolster his case

Peter Hutton (BBC)

Peter Hutton
Current Finn Harps manager Peter Hutton is one of the most respected characters in the League of Ireland, having enjoyed a successful playing career predominantly with Derry City, but also with Dublin club Shelbourne. A no-nonsense centre back, Hutton was a long-serving captain of his hometown club and has actually managed the club briefly on two occasions in 2004 and 2007, albeit in a caretaker-capacity. "Pizza" as he is known to fans, has been struggling with Finn Harps and he is relatively untried as a manager. Therefore, despite his iconic status, appointing Hutton would be a bit of a gamble by the Candystripes board.

Paul Hegarty (Sportsfile)

Paul Hegarty
Donegal man Hegarty has been linked with the vacant Derry City post and his appointment would not come as a surprise. A former Finn Harps and Derry City midfielder, "Heggsy" has had a number of forays into the world of coaching and has an abundance of experience managing teams in the north-west. Hegarty was the player-manager of Drumahoe side Institute from the period of 2002 to 2005, before joining Stephen Kenny at the Brandywell as assistant manager. Like Felix Healy and Peter Hutton, Hegarty has also managed Finn Harps, guiding them to promotion in 2007. However the Ballybofey side were relegated from the Premier Division in 2008 under Hegarty's stewardship and the Donegal man left the post in 2009.




Declan Devine

Declan Devine (Extratime Photos)

Devine could be an outside candidate for the role as Derry City manager, given his experience as assistant to Stephen Kenny. Devine plied his trade as a goalkeeper for a number of Irish clubs, including Derry City, Institute and Glentoran, before becoming a coach and he is a respected figure within the club. In 2006, Devine reluctantly followed Stephen Kenny to Scotland to become a coach at Dunfermline and followed him back to the Brandywell upon the Dubliner's return in 2007, so it has been suggested that Kenny will seek to have Devine as his number two at Tallaght. However, Devine may find the allure of management too desirable to pass up.

Brian Kerr and the Saturday Night Lights

Kerr is an accomplished manager

I found myself accidentally tuning into Brendan O'Connor's Saturday Night Show last night when I switched the TV on. I caught the introduction which promised interviews with Love Actually star Martine McCutcheon, an African Irish-speaker and most importantly, the former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr.

O'Connor's style is distinct, but it's uninspiring and surprisingly even unfunny, considering his background in comedy. Like most chat-show hosts he conveys an undertone of disinterest when interviewing his guests - an undertone that can be detected in his desperate attempts to crack jokes in order to conceal the awkwardness he is surely sensing. But saying that, he was frank in his conversation with Brian Kerr, perhaps as a result of already being familiar with the Dubliner, admitting at the outset that he was ignorant when it came to soccer.

What struck me about the conversation however, was not O'Connor's demeanour, but the revelations of Kerr, which is either an attestation of O'Connor's subtle interviewing technique, or Kerr's down-to-earth honesty. Kerr had a shit-eating-grin on his face for the entirety of the conversation, happily relating in his thick Dublin brogue the experiences he had while managing the Faroe Islands, only lamenting the Faroe Islands' FA's decision to hold games in Torshavn rather than Toftir - a place Kerr maintains would be a nightmare for bigger teams to come to (and when you're the Faroe Islands, almost all teams are "bigger").

He also dispelled any of the myths that had heretofore been cultivated about his relationship with the FAI. It had earlier been suggested that Kerr's exit from his job as Republic of Ireland manager had left, to put it mildly, a chip on the Dubliner's shoulder, but Kerr's reaction to O'Connor's probing insinuated that whatever it was then, it was now well and truly water under the bridge.

Crucially, however, when questioned about the Northern Ireland job with which he had been linked and had applied for, Kerr spoke candidly, still smiling heartily as he japed, "Well the IFA are holdin' interviews, and I'm here sittin' bein' interviewed by you!". Such an admission seems to reflect poorly on the Irish FA, who appeared not to have the courtesy to let applicants know whether they were considered suitable or not. It denotes a lack of respect for Kerr, a man whose managerial record when compared with that of the three candidates that appear to have made the "final shortlist" stands strongly, if it does not eclipse theirs.

Farewell, Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens

It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Christopher Hitchens. Even when embattled with cancer, his scholarly integrity shone through as he continued to churn out column after column of thought-provoking polemic. I credit him, among others, with having inspired me to put my thoughts to writing, to discuss, to argue, to have principles and to defend them as passionately as one's faculties permit.

Even though he had been diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2010 and it was, by his own admission, likely to kill him quickly, I was always rooting for Hitchens and, somewhat irrationally, believed that he would overcome the affliction. I had it in my head that the world simply could not do without figures such as Christopher Hitchens. He had to triumph - “Who, then, would be the voice of reason in a world increasingly characterised by sheer unbridled madness?”, I would find myself asking. I would sometimes comfort myself by watching previous debates and TV appearances, chortling contentedly at this man's unapologetic world-view, which, if only in its innate rebelliousness, resonated with my own. Then it hit me that the end was indeed nigh for dear Hitchens, when I saw a picture of him recently balded from chemotherapy and increasingly frail, his clothes hanging reluctantly to his gaunt frame.

However his mind remained indefatigable. His magazine columns appeared to retain the acerbically polished finish that his earlier writings displayed and his public appearances were characterised by a typically witty and curious disposition. Apart from the crackling of his distinctive voice, only upon viewing his withered body would one have been aware of how close to expiry he was. It was indeed a sad sight. But the nature of his masterful mind remained rousing.

Characters like Hitchens are inimitable. Do not be deceived, they are rare, a commodity in the tapestry of human existence. He will be missed.

Who Will Be Next Northern Ireland Manager?

This article appeared on SportsNews Ireland on December 8. I have since learned that Brian Kerr has not even made the IFA's shortlist. Interesting indeed!

Who should be the next Northern Ireland manager?

The BBC has reported that the Irish Football Association has narrowed down its preferences to a shortlist of six men, with Jim Magilton, Michael O'Neill, Iain Dowie, Gerry Armstrong and Dave Jones said to be on the list. Former Republic of Ireland and Faroe Islands boss Brian Kerr is among the favourites for the job and has repeatedly made his desire to take the job public.

So who is the best candidate? Which man possesses the requisite credentials to take Northern Ireland forward? Will we see managerial teams, or will such a prospect prove too expensive for the IFA?

Jim Magilton

Former Ipswich Town player and manager Magilton played 52 times for Northern Ireland during his career. Magilton was fiery midfielder with a no-nonsense attitude on the pitch and he appears to have carried this attitude on to his managerial philosophy. For example, the Belfast man was shrouded in acrimony when, as manager of QPR, he allegedly head-butted his own player during a post-match dressing room confrontation. This incident apparently led to Magilton's decision to leave QPR at the end of 2009. After a period in managerial wilderness, Magilton joined his compatriot Michael O'Neill as the assistant manager of Irish champions Shamrock Rovers. Magilton is considered by many bookmakers to be the favourite for the job, but he may end up forming a managerial team

Michael O'Neill

"My future is very much up in the air to be honest and the Northern Ireland job is very attractive, no doubt about that.". Those were O'Neill's words in mid-November. Like Jim Magilton, O'Neill is a young manager at 42 years of age and is also a former Northern Ireland international, having played 33 times during his career. However, despite his emphatic success as manager of one of Ireland's biggest football teams, O'Neill cannot yet boast an impressive CV, his experience prior to Shamrock Rovers limited to his time as manager of Scottish Second Division outfit Brechin City from 2006 to 2008. Therefore, considering this relative lack of experience, it is thought that, were Michael O'Neill to take the Northern Ireland job, his current assistant Jim Magilton would help form a managerial team contributing his greater experience to the IFA's cause.

Iain Dowie

English born Dowie is another former Northern Ireland international who scored 12 goals in his 59 appearances. Dowie's snarling visage has gone down in football's hall of infamy and, like Magilton, he is widely acknowledged to champion a strict approach. Out of all the touted candidates Dowie has one of the most extensive CVs, having managed six clubs, including Crystal Palace, Coventry and Hull City, but he has yet to steer the fortunes of an international team. Nevertheless he ticks many of the boxes for the Irish Football Association.

Gerry Armstrong

The newly appointed “Elite Player Mentor”, Gerry Armstrong has been tremendously vocal about his attempts to stop players from Northern Ireland opting to play for the Republic of Ireland and he has indeed been quite vocal about his desire to manage Northern Ireland. A legend of Northern Ireland football folklore, the World Cup hero has the advantage of having worked as an assistant to Bryan Hamilton and Lawrie Sanchez when they managed the team. However, Armstrong's managerial CV boasts only the lowly Worthing F.C., which, even at that, was a very short-lived venture. Rather than being appointed as manager, it is possible that Armstrong will reprise his previous role as assistant manager to a more suitable candidate.

Dave Jones

Dave Jones is the only candidate without a connection to Northern Ireland, but since being sacked from his job at Cardiff City, Jones has reportedly expressed an interest in taking over the reins. Jones has managed clubs in the top flight of English football, including Southampton and Wolves and has suffered the agony of narrowly missing out on promotion with Cardiff on three occasions. With the IFA looking for a man who is particularly aware of issues facing Northern Ireland football, Jones may not be the right man for the job, although his CV stands strong against the rest.

Brian Kerr

Although considered by some Northern Ireland fans as a non-runner due to his history as manager of the Republic of Ireland, Kerr is the only candidate who boasts extensive experience in the realm of international management. He has steered Republic of Ireland youth teams to success on the world stage as well as managing the Republic's senior team when Mick McCarthy stepped down. Interestingly, Kerr's Faroe Islands managed a draw with Northern Ireland in the European Championships Qualifiers, as well as doing what Nigel Worthington failed to do in defeating Estonia. Despite the apparent unease among sections of the Northern Ireland support, Kerr, like Iain Dowie has parents from Northern Ireland. However if he is appointed, I would expect a secondary role for someone such as Gerry Armstrong to soften the blow of having an ex-Republic of Ireland manager from Dublin as the Northern Ireland manager.

Reduced Rooney Ban an Education

Rooney lashes out.

As England fans rejoice at the news that Wayne Rooney's 3-match ban has been reduced by one game, the rest of the football world can learn an important lesson: the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Recently, the [English] FA kicked up a massive fuss when FIFA told them not to adorn their shirts with poppies for the friendly against Spain. The result of the whining saw FIFA eventually relent and agree to a compromise which allowed the England team to wear armbands embroidered with poppies.

Today, it emerged that UEFA agreed to reduce Wayne Rooney's three-match ban on the grounds that a two match ban was "more reasonable".

The FA's legal team also pointed to the fact that Miodrag Dzudovic, the Montenegro player who was the victim of Rooney's ire, had asked Uefa to show leniency because Rooney had acted out of “desperation rather than anger”, and had allegedly been “provoked by problems his family had to face a short time before the game”.

There you have it. Victory for England once again.

However, I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been if a lesser association, say, the Maltese FA, had appealed a similar ban? Without the clout that the [English] FA possesses, you'd probably wager that the Maltese FA's pleas would be dismissed.

On a related note it's interesting that the superiority complex of the FA has been noted in recent times by Sepp Blatter, who criticised the British media for hounding him:

"In the '60s and '70s, the major sports federations were in British hands. This is no longer the case. The English lost power and, more recently, the 2018 World Cup. They were anxious to have it - much more than they were to have the Olympics.They thought football was coming home and the World Cup was rightfully theirs: when they came here with Beckham, Prince William and Prime Minister Cameron, they were sure they'd win the rights. They got two votes. Since then, they have been looking for any means to justify their defeat."

Take from that what you will.