McCarthy says Keane chasm is beyond repair

Mick McCarthy believes the chasm which exists between Roy Keane and the Republic of Ireland is far beyond repair. It was inevitable after last night's surprising collapse against the Russians that McCarthy would be asked if it was time to attempt to make peace with his rebel former skipper, who he so famously banished from the World Cup following a highly publicised training camp bust-up.

The war of words has been escalated in the past couple of weeks by the publication of Keane's autobiography, in which the Manchester United midfielder said he would not play for Ireland while McCarthy remained as coach. Ireland could have done with Keane in the Lokomotiv Stadium last night as they kicked off their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, but then McCarthy has always stated his team are a much stronger outfit with their former leader at the helm.

When the question came as the media pack gathered around McCarthy in the airport departure lounge, he answered with his usual blunt honesty. McCarthy admitted: "Roy has a hip injury so he would not have been able to play anyway. But he has said he is not going to play. It is not going to change, that situation. I think the situation is far beyond repair. Roy tells everybody that and it is not going to make it any different. I am getting on with the team I have got. These are the lads I am concerned about - not anybody who is not going to play."

McCarthy was immediately backed by Football Association of Ireland general secretary Brendon Menton, one of the men who tried so hard to get Keane back into the fold in Japan. He said: "Nothing has changed. The official line of the Association is that we are backing the manager. The manager picks the team and we totally back him and his judgement in the situation. My job as general secretary is to run the Association and we are talking about a football matter here, which belongs to the manager. Mick said: 'Roy has said what he said,' and that is the situation."

With or without Keane, McCarthy backed his players following the worst result in the 68 games of his six-year reign and the first time an Ireland team had conceded four goals in a game since a meaningless World Cup qualifier 17 years ago, when they lost 4-1 to Denmark. "Obviously I am disappointed by the defeat but, as I said to the lads, this is the first bad day we've had at the office for a long, long time," said McCarthy, who laughed off suggestions he might make changes for next month's Group Ten qualifier at home to Switzerland.

He continued: "It was a bad day, but we were always going to have one at some stage, and it is unfortunate it was yesterday. The only time I would be angry with them is if we didn't compete or have a go, but that's not the case here. They all had a right go and there has been no lack of effort or commitment, so how could I be angry with them? I am not going to go screaming or shouting at lads who have been so consistent for so long. Some days you don't play as well as others and that for me is what it was about yesterday. Look back at this group of lads and how consistently they have performed over the last two years. There is not going to be major surgery or major changes and to suggest that would be ridiculous because they have been excellent. You could see how delighted Russia were to win, we have become a bit of a scalp - that goes with the territory."

"This result is finished now and it is what we do against the other teams. That is the way we have to look at it and that is the way I have always done. It worked for us in the World Cup qualifying campaign when we played the big team in the group (Holland) away first and got a draw, but it hasn't on this occasion. We have to beat them in Dublin now, but before that we've got Switzerland, Albania and Georgia."

On a slightly brighter note, McCarthy said that striker Damien Duff - who limped off after only 18 minutes with a strained left thigh - had not pulled a muscle. That means he will have a chance of recovering in time to play for Blackburn against Manchester City next Sunday.

Filed by Shane Murray