The appointment of a new Ireland manager is normally a hugely exciting time. The prospect of a new coach at the head of our international team usually results in fans dreaming about what could be achieved over the coming seasons, with a world of possibilities in front of them.
Coming away from the introductory press conference for Heimir HallgrÃmsson, much of that elation has already been sapped away.
The 57-year old is an intriguing appointment, with his exploits with Iceland perhaps a nod towards what could be to come during his tenure with Ireland. He cut a charismatic figure during his first briefing with our local media, providing some insightful answers about his vision and what he wants to achieve with the team moving forward.
In saying that, the main story from this press conference was the FAI and the decision making that led us to this point.
The search for Stephen Kenny’s successor was a laborious one, dragging on for almost nine months before a new Ireland manager was eventually appointed. Time will tell if the right man was finally recruited, but the performance of Marc Canham during this media event would fill you with very little confidence about the process that brought us to it.
The timing for the press conference was questionable at best. Not only is it taking place the day before the Ireland Women’s National Team faced England, but it also came in a week when allegations of historical abuse towards women taking part in FAI ran courses and teams came to light.
While this scheduling was apologised for to kick off the press conference, the next half hour or so only led to more questions about the inner workings of the FAI.
Marc Canham insisted that Heimir HallgrÃmsson had long been the Association’s first choice for the role, a decision he said was made in March. He would also big up the process that eventually led to this appointment:
It is true this took time. We were always in control of the process, always.
We wanted to appoint someone who was the best person for the job, Irish football, and our senior men’s international team.
That is not something that at any point we were willing to compromise on. Despite lots of external pressure and pressure on making an appointment, we stayed true to what we believed was right to find the best person for the job.
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Indeed, there was an overwhelming sense of attempted self preservation from the FAI throughout this event. They insisted that the process all went to plan and that HallgrÃmsson was always the man they wanted. That may well be true, but the process that led to this point can certainly be questioned.
Some of what was said at the Aviva Stadium today did not really stack up.
Heimir HallgrÃmsson said initial contact from the FAI first came towards the end of last year. At this point, and on repeated occasions in the months that followed, he told them that he would not consider other positions until the conclusion of Jamaica’s involvement in this summer’s Copa America.
The FAI knew this, and while they may well have decided that he was the man for the job back in March, it does not fit seamlessly with the comments they made around this period.
It was around this time that Marc Canham delivered his now infamous ‘existing contractual obligations’ line, which suggested a deal was close and that an announcement would be made in early April.
If they knew that HallgrÃmsson was their preferred candidate, why would they make this statement when he had told them he would be unavailable until July at the very earliest? Here’s what Marc Canham had to say on that matter:
Us as a panel, we made the decision that we wanted to focus on someone who met that criteria as closely as possible, which you would expect. Heimir was clearly one of those candidates who met that criteria above and beyond.
We made that decision in March, we obviously communicated at that point that we hoped to make an appointment in early April. Heimir was one of those people that was under contract.
I think if we had our time again, and I acknowledged this in April in our video and I acknowledge it again today, we wouldn’t communicate it in that way. We hoped that we could do that.
We recognise and take responsibility that if we had our time again, we would have said from the very outset and very consistently the whole time, the focus was on getting the right person for the job however long that takes, we will take that time…
We made the decision that Heimir was our no. 1 candidate. We hoped to conclude that process, it wasn’t possible. Heimir was consistent all the way through that he was committed to the Nations League and Copa America.
The learning from us was the we shouldn’t have communicated that we hoped to make an announcement at this point.
If you feel that you are no closer to learning the thinking behind the FAI’s process, you are not alone. Marc Canham insists that while they made mistakes, the FAI always had this process under control.
Heimir HallgrÃmsson may well prove to be a wonderful appointment, at which point much of the lead up to him getting the job will be forgotten. None of what came before this afternoon is his fault.
For the FAI, it is a different matter. Today was not a great look for them, even if they did eventually get their man.
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