By Cathal Dervan

Brian Kerr has laid the blame for Ireland’s World Cup failure at the feet of his players in a new RTE television documentary in a move designed to protect his own reputation as he looks for a new job.

Kerr, still out of work since the FAI declined to renew his contract after the end of the World Cup qualifiers in October, is critical of both the players and his FAI employers in the program.

The failure to beat France or Switzerland in September and October saw Ireland finish fourth in the World Cup qualifiers and miss out on next summer’s finals in Germany.

The documentary, entitled Final Words, follows Ireland’s progress, or lack of it, through the group and includes a frank interview with Kerr after he lost his job in the week following the catastrophic draw with the Swiss.

The two draws with Israel in 2005 played a major part in Kerr’s downfall, but he was quick to shift the blame when interviewed for the show.

“I wasn’t in a position to head that ball clear from the free kick when your man headed it,” said Kerr bizarrely in relation to the Israeli equalizer in Lansdowne Road last June.

“We had prepared the players for dealing with those situations.”

Kerr again claimed in the documentary that the France win in Dublin last September was pivotal in deciding his future. He added, “When I think back on the whole thing now we were only behind for 20 minutes in the 10 group games and it took a bit of genius to beat us.

“We did so well in the friendly games that we raised expectations. We started well in the group but at the end of it we just weren’t quite good enough. I have no regrets, only the results of course, but no regrets about the way I did it.”

As regards the end of his relationship with the FAI, Kerr was also critical of his former employers for the manner in which they ended his term in office after the World Cup failure.

He said, “I didn’t always have the backing that I should have had from everybody who should have had the responsibility for giving me that backing.

“Six days after the Switzerland game they told my representative that my contract would not be renewed, but I had no contact from anybody at the top of the FAI in that intervening period until the time my representative called me to tell me I was no longer working for them.

“At the end, not to get the opportunity to explain your stewardship, or put a case for yourself to stay in the job was a bit odd. My employers have to deal with that in their own conscience and say, you know, were they informed? Did they know enough about it? Had they looked at my record?

“Were they influenced by the media? Are the media very informed? Do they know an awful lot about it, about football? You know, I enjoyed working with the players. I enjoyed the challenge of molding them into a team, playing and behaving the way I would like them to.”

Kerr, linked with the vacancies at Portsmouth and Southampton recently, also vowed to return to management in the short term.

“I mightn’t have been completely successful in all of that, but I know that they’ll move on with the new manager, and I will move on with new players,” he says.

“No regrets. Only the results, of course, but no regrets in how I did it. No regrets. It’s water under the bridge or me now. I’ve moved on. I will move on. They’ll (the team) move on. So will the media. Next for chopping.”

Given Favorite

GOALKEEPER Shay Given is the favourite to win the Senior Player of the Year title at the annual FAI awards after he was nominated for the senior gong alongside retired captain Kenny Cunningham and center-back Richard Dunne.

Reading striker Kevin Doyle has been nominated for both the young player and under-21 player awards. Spurs winger Andy Reid and Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott are also in the running for the young player trophy, while Jay Tabb and Wayne Henderson complete the nominees list for the under-21 category.

Manchester United’s Paul McShane, Bolton’s Joey O’Brien and Scunthorpe striker Andy Keogh will battle it out in the under-19 player award while Cork City duo Joe Gamble and George O’Callaghan will fight it out with Derry’s Peter Hutton for the Eircom League trophy.

Status Quo

WEXFORD goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry is against any plan to increase the value of a goal in hurling and football to four points.

“Every forward in the country is going to be dead for it and I would say that every goalkeeper in the country will be 100 percent against it,” said Fitzhenry.

“The sliotar is already coming to us at a ferocious speed and trying to stop it is hard enough without that added pressure. Every forward will now go out and try to nab an early goal and if he gets a point, he will have scored 0-5 and no manager is going to take him off.

“Goalkeepers will be busier and so too will full and corner backs. If this comes in, the stakes will be higher and there will be more shots on every goal.”

Byrne Move Off

JASON Byrne’s record move to Swedish side Djurgardens appears to be off after the club failed to make an improved offer to Shelbourne after their opening bid was turned down last week.

Shels want almost €500,000 for the Ireland international and manager Pat Fenlon revealed, “It’s all over now and I’ve spoken to Jason to tell him so. Of course he’s disappointed, as is everyone at the club disappointed for him on a personal level.

“It would have been a very good move for him but it wasn’t to be and he’s accepted that. It had to right for the club too, but their offer to us wasn’t good enough.

“Jason has two more years at Shelbourne on his current contract and he’s happy to stay on and carry on as he has done for the past three years, as top scorer in the league.”

Loughnane’s Critic

CLARE goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald has used the launch of his biography to blast former manager Ger Loughnane for his comments in his role as a television pundit. “There will only ever be one Ger,” said Fitzgerald. “I might not always have agreed with his methods but he delivered results. However in recent years he has turned against us.

“His criticism has not inspired us. In fact, it has done the exact opposite, it has hurt us. Loughnane openly criticizes the county board and the make up of Anthony Daly’s backroom team. If Ger has so much to say, why isn’t he in the thick of it now, helping us out?

“This is a shame because he still has plenty to offer. Ger makes a few bob for trotting out his opinions. But he seems to have a short memory.”

Murphy Out

WEXFORD boss Seamus Murphy has confirmed that he will quit the job when his contract expires at the end of the 2006 season. “Irrespective of whether we have huge success or minimal success, I will be calling it a day after the next year,” said Murphy.

“I have been involved with hurling teams for the past 25 years, and for my family’s sake, and my own, I will be taking a break in 2007. I would love to win some silverware, as this squad of players deserve it and we will be sparing no effort in trying to do so next year.”

Lohan to Play

CLARE hurling fans have received an early Christmas present with the news that all-star full-back Brian Lohan is to play on in 2006 despite recent speculation about his future.

“It’s a great boost to have Brian back because he has been a fantastic player for Clare and his return lifts everybody,” said PRO Des Crowe.

“He is one of these fellas who would have been training away on his own anyway so he won’t lack any fitness or anything like that.”

Soccer Shorts

SHAMROCK Rovers new manager Pat Scully has returned to former club Kilkenny City to sign defender Aidan Price and winger David Cassidy, while the experienced Ray Kenny has signed for the Hoops from Kildare County. Goalkeeper Brendan Murphy has agreed to stay at Rovers despite their relegation from the Premier Division of the eircom League . . .

CORK City striker John O’Flynn has been linked with a move to Swansea City while winger Liam Kearney is attracting interest from the continent. City have, however, agreed new contracts with first team regular Neal Horgan and youngsters Admir Softic, Shane Guthrie, Ray Lally and Brian McCarthy . . .

THE FAI have confirmed that they are involved in talks with the IRFU and the GAA to finalize terms for the rental of Croke Park in 2007. The GAA could make over €20 million in rental income from the FAI and the IRFU while Lansdowne Road is closed for redevelopment . . .

NEW Athlone Town boss Michael O’Connor has signed goalkeeper Robert Forde and midfielder Colin Fortune from Galway United and has agreed new deals with Tom Silke, Michael Collins and Damien Rushe . . .

SLIGO Rovers have signed Derby County defender Chris Turner and former Irish under-19 international Keith Foy ahead of their return to the Premier Division of the eircom League . . .

FORMER Irish under-21 international goalkeeper Alan Gough has been named player of the year by fans at Galway United. Alan Keane won the under-21 player of the year award . . .

IRELAND’S World Cup failure has proved costly again with the Republic now down to joint 24th in the latest FIFA rankings.

GAA Shorts

STAR forward Colin Moran looks set to miss Dublin’s opening games in the NFL as he awaits surgery on a troublesome groin injury. Paddy Christie, Stephen O’Shaughnessy and Shane Ryan are also likely to be missing when the Dubs open their league campaign in February . . .

PAT Tobin, Donnacha Sheehan, Mickey Cahill, Michael Clifford, Alan O’Connor, Kieran O’Dwyer and John Fitzgerald have all been dropped from the Limerick hurling squad by manager Joe McKenna . . .

TYRONE may have to forget about an inter-county return for Ger Cavlan after he suffered a hand injury in a club game, while all-star center back Conor Gormley has been given the winter off by manager Mickey Harte . . .

CROKE Park is to invest almost $3 million in hurling coaching and development in a bid to revitalize the game across the country but with particular emphasis on Connacht and Ulster . . .

CORK are now hot 13/8 favorites to land the McCarthy Cup again next September after one Midlands punter placed a €20,000 bet on the Rebels with the Boylesports chain.