ONE small advantage of not inhabiting the southern media bubble 24/7 is the occasional bit of clarity distance affords you.
While the FAI continues to grapple with how it actually goes about trying to improve its standing in Irish society, members of the football media have become sharply divided over the Stephen Kenny regime.
Damien Duff’s shock departure from Kenny’s backroom team has become something of a media discourse in itself over the past week.
There are those who point to Duff’s departure as reason to believe the FAI is still not fit for purpose.
And there are others who speculate that something doesn’t feel right about the new managerial set-up. At the risk of getting splinters, there could well be merit in both sides of the argument.
But this column is centring on Damien Duff and his decision to quit the Republic of Ireland set-up.
It is understood he had reservations about working for the FAI in the first place but was persuaded by Kenny’s sales pitch to become part of the new managerial team.
Duff should never have accepted Kenny’s offer. He should have steered clear. He should have said: ‘Thanks, Stephen, but no thanks.’
At the first sign of adversity, the first sign of discord, Damien Duff decided to walk away rather than dog it out.
Eight games and Duff was out of there.
Since the FAI’s press release dropped in our in-boxes last Friday night announcing Duff’s departure, the former international great has received something of an easy ride.
Quite naturally, we’ve all been distracted by what this means for Stephen Kenny, the FAI and Ireland’s World Cup qualification prospects.
Everyone loves Duffer. We loved him as a player and we still love him.
I loved him. There were times during the early-to-mid-Noughties he was worth every one of those 200-odd miles to watch him play. Back then, he was one of the few world class footballers the team had.
I remember interviewing Brian Kerr during his managerial reign and he likened Duff’s performances with those of the great George Best.
It may sound outlandish to compare Duff with Best now – but there were a couple of seasons where Duff was truly exceptional.
It’s very difficult to be consistent as a wide player but Duff continually delivered outrageous performances down either flank or sometimes centrally.
One of the most demanding skills – which has become more of a rarity in the modern game – is the ability to dribble past an opponent.
Duff made it look easy.
When he was out of possession he always looked knackered; that unmistakable untidy gait, looking like he was in dire need of being rescued by a substitution – until he got on the ball and took flight.
In the early years he struggled in press conferences. He was desperately shy, but over time that changed and he became more animated, more opinionated when faced with scores of tape-recorders .
And yet, you never imagined he’d be cut out for a career in coaching. A bit like him out of possession on a football pitch before he would get on the ball and take off, the same is happening on the training field.
The word “adored” has been used by some of current Irish players since he hooked up with Stephen Kenny.
Since last Friday’s announcement, everyone searched for answers behind the anodyne quotes that were attached to the press release.
Dublin sports journalist David Snyed did some digging and gleaned probably the most accurate narrative as to why Duff walked away.
He was miffed at the FAI’s “urgent investigation” into video-gate from the friendly international game with England. Duff felt there was nothing wrong with the video shown to the team and told the Association’s interim chief executive Gary Owens in no uncertain terms what he thought of their so-called investigation.
Apparently things were brewing with Duff since that November friendly at Wembley. There are fresh reports that Duff and Kelly clashed over the merits of the video that depicted seminal moments in Irish history and the nation’s fractious relationship with England.
All historical fact, insisted Duff.
Now both men are gone. While there has been more traction over Duff’s departure, Kelly’s wealth of experience and knowing the terrain of the senior international scene shouldn’t be casually dismissed either.
It has been argued Duff has taken a principled stand and that he could no longer work for the FAI.
But the flip side of that coin requires the same scrutiny. No matter what angle you view his departure, he has left Stephen Kenny in the lurch.
You can kick up enough angry dust about the FAI’s handling of matters and people will back you – not necessarily for your decision, but more for what you did in a green jersey.
But when all that dust settles and Ireland are eye-balling Serbia in their first World Cup Qualifier in 61 days’ time, Duff’s absence will be keenly felt.
Would Duff have walked away if Ireland were preparing for Euro 2021? Of course, you get the sense there wouldn’t have been an “urgent investigation” into video-gate had Ireland been winning matches.
Covid well and truly ripped the heart out of Stephen Kenny’s early tenure.
As the World Cup qualifiers approach, what the new manager needed was for his coaching staff to stick around and to iron out any differences among them rather than throwing the toys out of the pram while at the same time hiding behind barely credible quotes in FAI press releases.
If you don’t like the FAI, don't work for them or get over it. If you don’t like other members of the coaching staff, get over that too.
Don’t walk away after eight games. Don’t weaken the manager’s ability to get results when he needs them most.
Save the principled stances for another time. If you sign up for something and things start to go awry, stick at it, dog it out. Don't just quit.
