I don't see what it overly unusual about rich folk paying for natinal team managers. Russia's Hiddink is paid for by Roman Abramovic, Croatia's Bilic (who wanted the irish job) is paid for by the ruling HDZ party, and there are a numer of others from other sports who are likewise looked after by people outside the association (the Hearts owner pays half of his homelands boss' salary).
What is very unusual is the act that O'Brien contacted the FAI BEFORE the former manager was sacked. Which makes it all a little sickly sweet now.
Trappatoni is a good appointment for sure, but the uninformed and blinkered Irish media, as well as an unambitious FAI, didn't even go looking for who might lift the country's fortunes. When you have top class coaches like Slaven Bilic, Felix Magath and Roy Hodgson actually contacting and making themselves known for selection, it makes the whole affair a joke.
Don was alking to someone who knew someone who had the phone number of a person who knew our new boss. Good god, why not just call the Red Bull club and ask to speak with the man? That's how football normally works.
What is very unusual is the act that O'Brien contacted the FAI BEFORE the former manager was sacked. Which makes it all a little sickly sweet now.
Trappatoni is a good appointment for sure, but the uninformed and blinkered Irish media, as well as an unambitious FAI, didn't even go looking for who might lift the country's fortunes. When you have top class coaches like Slaven Bilic, Felix Magath and Roy Hodgson actually contacting and making themselves known for selection, it makes the whole affair a joke.
Don was alking to someone who knew someone who had the phone number of a person who knew our new boss. Good god, why not just call the Red Bull club and ask to speak with the man? That's how football normally works.