Venables Still Waiting for Call

Irish Voice Sport

Venables Still Waiting for Call

December 6, 2007

by Cathal Dervan

TERRY Venables has spoken publicly for the first time of his desire to become Ireland manager in succession to Stephen Staunton after the FAI confirmed that under-21 boss Don Givens and former Arsenal manager Don Howe will act as their kingmakers.

Venables is still odds-on to land the Irish job as he awaits his first contact with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) via head-hunters Givens and Howe after breaking his silence on Sunday.

“I have not heard from anyone. I can assure you of that. If it comes around I will think about it then but not before,” said Venables, sacked as England coach last week after their Euro 2008 exit.

“I have enjoyed the international experience. England’s Euro 2008 campaign wasn’t as good as we wanted it by any stretch of the imagination.

“What I do or not remains to be seen. I thought I had finished three times or so but then we go again. That’s who I am. You cannot be away from the game because you love it.

“I like big challenges. In the main I have not been unhappy with the challenges I have taken on.”

Former Derby Billy Davies and Everton legend Howard Kendall are the latest names to offer competition to the former England boss as they join Gerard Houllier, Liam Brady, Aarie Haan, Graeme Souness and David O’Leary on the list of candidates.

Davies’ close association with the former Ireland striker David Kelly, his first team coach at Motherwell, Preston and Derby, will help his cause.

“There is a lot of speculation going around at the moment with regards to the Scotland job but I would be very, very keen with regard to the Republic of Ireland job, definitely,” Davies told Star Sunday.

“I am very, very keen to see where this goes. Absolutely I am interested in a top job in football and this is a top job. If the FAI are interested in talking then I would be ready to talk to them, without a shadow of a doubt.”

FAI sources have also denied claims that Howe and Givens will merely put names forward to the board of directors, and are adamant that their recommendation will carry most weight in the search for a new boss.

“Following Friday’s meeting with the representatives of the board of management the panel are fully aware of how the process will work and will be making a recommendation to the board,” confirmed an FAI spokesman.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, meanwhile, has backed former Ireland teammate Liam Brady for the job.

“The secret to Ireland doing well is to get someone who can work with the young lads, help them make the step-up from having a few caps to actually going and achieving. I think 20 players were capped in the last year or two, so those guys have to be brought on,” Quinn told RTE.

“The person that springs to my mind is Liam Brady. He’s one that all the players have serious respect for. People question his record at Celtic but it was at a time when Rangers decided to go mad and spend millions upon millions, and it was hard for him to do that.

“He’s learned so much at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, he’s brilliant with young people and he might just suit.”

Former Everton boss Howard Kendall, now 61, threw his name into the hat on Tuesday with Peter Beardsley as his assistant.

“I’ve had long enough out of football now and I feel it would be perfect for me and hopefully for them. I’ve made some enquiries,” Kendall told Sky Sports News.

“Look at my CV and go through the history of what I’ve done. I am in touch with the modern game, I write a column in the local newspaper and I go and watch Premier League football every week.

Celtic Advances

GLASGOW Celtic have made it through to the last 16 of the Champions League for the second year running despite going down 1-0 to AC Milan in their final group game in Italy on Tuesday night when Felippo Inzhagi scored the only goal.

The Bhoys had Benfica to thank for their passage to the knockout stages thanks to a surprise 2-1 win for the Portuguese side away at Shaktar Donetsk in the Ukraine.

Cork Doubt

DAMIEN Richardson’s future as manager of Cork City is in serious doubt despite Sunday’s 1-0 win over Longford Town in the FAI Cup final at the RDS.

Rumors on Leeside suggest that former Arsenal goalkeeper John Lukic is to be installed as director of football at Turner’s Cross, with Richardson set to leave if he doesn’t accept working under Lukic on a new two year deal.

A statement released by the club’s new owners, the venture capital firm Arkaga read, “In ongoing discussions with Damien Richardson we have indicated that Cork City Football Club intents to appoint a director of football and that that person will determine the club’s future footballing needs.

“Damien has, however, indicated in meetings with us that he has received offers from other clubs. Obviously it is up to Damien to decide whether or not to accept those offers or to look to renew his contract with Cork City and we will continue to discuss this with him.”

Cork City captain Dan Murray paid tribute to Richardson after Denis Behan’s goal won Sunday’s FAI Ford Cup final. Murray said, “We’ve tried to put the speculation to the back of our minds. We’re not happy with the board and they’re probably not happy with us, but I don’t think any other Cork manager has won the league and cup in three years.

“It’s all about winning trophies. That’s what Damien’s told to do. If the board’s not happy with that then there’s something wrong with the board and not the gaffer.”

Boruc Surgery

CELTIC goalkeeper Artur Boruc is set to have an operation on his knee after playing in Tuesday night’s make or break Champions League clash with AC Milan in Italy. Boruc has played through the pain in recent games but will undergo surgery on the team’s return to Scotland.

“We’ll look at Artur straight after the game,” said manager Gordon Strachan. “It might be he’ll come through the test with flying colors. But, if he hasn’t got any better, he’ll go straight into hospital for corrective surgery.”

Strachan is also hopeful that the knee injury picked up by John Kennedy in the CL game against Donetsk last week is not as bad as first feared.

“He will probably be out for three months but he is bending his knee and that is fantastic,” said Strachan. “We will send his scans to the surgeon Richard Steadman in the States and once he has had a look at the scans then we will go from there.”

Celtic, who drew 1-1 with Hearts on Saturday, have drawn Stirling in the Scottish Cup.

Soccer Shorts

SHELBOURNE have signed Alan Byrne, Alan Keely, James Chambers, Stuart Malcolm, Anto Flood, Mark O’Brien, Dave McGill, Phillip Hughes, James Keddy, Keith Dunne, Robbie Hedderman and Dean Delaney for next season . . .

IRELAND and Spurs striker Robbie Keane has failed in his appeal against the red card he received in the 3-2 home defeat against Birmingham on Sunday when he scored both Tottenham goals . . .

DUNFERMLINE have sacked Irish manager Stephen Kenny after a dismal start to their season in Scotland’s First Division after relegation from the Premier League last term . . .

WOLVES’ Irish goalkeeper Graham Stack, on loan from Reading, faces at least a month on the sidelines having undergone knee surgery on Monday . . .

WATERFORD United have signed defender Stephen Quigley and midfielder Michael Foley from St. Patrick’s Athletic . . .

SCOTTISH side Falkirk are closing in on the signature of Drogheda United midfielder Stephen Bradley.

GAA Shorts

KILKENNY legend Henry Shefflin hopes to return to action in the latter stages of the NHL next spring as he continues his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury. “The injury is progressing nicely. It has been a couple of months since the surgery. It has been slow going because it’s a six-month injury,” said Shefflin . . .

DUAL All-Ireland winner Teddy McCarthy has accepted a position as selector to the new Cork football manager Teddy Holland alongside Liam Hodnett, Diarmuid O’Donovan and Mick O’Loughlin. The Cork players are still threatening strike action, however, after the county board refused to let Holland appoint his own selectors . . .

MOOEREFIELD defenders Kevin Murnaghan and James Lonergan will miss Sunday’s Leinster SFC semifinal against Tyrellspass after the Leinster Council upheld their month long suspensions after ugly scenes marred their recent win over Dromard in the quarterfinal replay .

TV3 has landed live championship games for the first time ever in a new deal with the GAA which will kick in next season but RTE are expected to maintain broadcasting rights for the majority of games . . .

CROKE Park officials have confirmed that the 2008 National League finals will not be held at headquarters due to essential maintenance work on the pitch which has been planned for next spring . . .

THE Munster Council of the GAA have named Waterford’s Dan Shanahan and Kerry’s Darragh O Se as their hurler and footballer of the year respectively . . .

DUBLIN chairman Gerry Harrington has rubbished newspaper reports that Parnell Park could be sold for *50 million to developers . . .

CORK footballer Michael Shields has signed a two-year professional contract with Aussie Rules side Carlton Blues . . .

FORWARD Padraig O’Neill will miss the start of Kildare’s NFL campaign with a groin injury which requires surgery.

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