BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Republic of Ireland



By John Haughey BBC Sport Online

Mick McCarthy may be indulging in wishful thinking when he talks of stepping down as Republic of Ireland manager in 2004.

The Irish boss is now losing the propaganda war in his continuing media-fuelled battle with Roy Keane.

After the exiled Keane took criticism from the Irish public following the publication of his autobiography, it was the turn of McCarthy over the weekend.

McCarthy's revelation, in his World Cup Diary book, that he was "ecstatic" at Roy Keane's decision to walk away from the Irish World Cup squad in Saipan was not in the least surprising.

But the fact, that he dared to admit his delight is unlikely to have gone down well with the proud sporting nation that is Ireland.

McCarthy has heaped pressure on his own shoulders with a number of unwise comments

Sunday's newspaper headlines detailing McCarthy's joy, closed arguably the most turbulent week in the Irish manager's six-and-a-half-year Irish reign.

Such a comment may seem surprising given that that episode entitled "Saipan" remains so fresh in the mind.

But the events of that fateful week in the Western Pacific were fuelled by comments uttered by Keane both to the media and at that remarkable Republic team meeting.

Over the past week, McCarthy has heaped pressure on his own shoulders with a number of unwise comments.

At best, McCarthy's attempts to distance himself from the vacancy at Sunderland early last week could be described as feeble.

And his World Cup diary ghostwriter Cathal Dervan did not boost McCarthy's loyalty credentials by telling all and sundry that his pal was interested in the Premiership job.

Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy had an almighty bust-up in Saipan
The Roy Keane issue won't go away

Howard Wilkinson's bizarre appointment as Sunderland boss only served to turn the episode into something of an embarrassment for the Irish boss, although there were suggestions that the compensation the FAI would have demanded eventually ruled McCarthy out.

There were claims over the weekend that FAI officials were none too pleased at McCarthy's perceived equivocation over the Sunderland issue.

One theory is that the issue for the FAI now is not whether McCarthy can be convinced to stay on, but how they can contrive a situation where they can be well-compensated for losing him.

McCarthy's admission that he had not yet watched Roy Keane's Manchester United team-mate John O'Shea in action this season was also seized upon by certain commentators.

Apparently in the light of the Keane controversy, the Irish manager wants the dust to settle a little more before showing his face again at Old Trafford.

The wrong result will hear the calls for McCarthy's removal and Keane's return among the boos

Hardly the ideal scenario for an international manager.

Some suggest McCarthy could be forced to quit if the Republic do not beat the Swiss on Wednesday - a month after the lamentable display in the 4-2 defeat against Russia.

One commentator has even gone as far as saying that McCarthy is doomed no matter what happens against the Swiss.

It will be fascinating to note the reception McCarthy gets as his team play their first home game since the World Cup.

The wrong result will hear the calls for McCarthy's removal and Keane's return.