Martin O'Neill has leapt to the defence of assistant Roy Keane after he found himself at the centre of another media storm.
The outspoken 43-year-old, who hit the headlines last week after an incident with a fan at the Republic of Ireland's team hotel in Portmarnock, took a scatter-gun approach when he spoke to the media on Sunday.
Keane criticised Everton for their handling of injuries to Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy, urged teenage Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish to make up his mind over which country he wants to represent and rounded on reporters for suggesting he has become a distraction.
The comments prompted a swift and withering response from Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who accused him of saying "some stupid things sometimes".
However, manager O'Neill, who asked the younger man to join him in the Ireland set-up following his appointment in November last year, insists he has no regrets about doing so despite the attention Keane attracts with his pursuit by Celtic, his updated autobiography and the events of the last few days having dominated the agenda in recent months.
The former Northern Ireland international said: "Every single time that you mention Roy, it either seems to be a distraction or another issue. Let me tell you straight: I'm delighted to have him.
"I chose in the first place to bring him in here, he's been terrific, he's really been terrific. He has been terrific around the lads, he has been great. He has been everything that I wanted him to be.
"All the distractions - some things have materialised that actually aren't of his doing to begin with, so I haven't a problem.
"He's got a mind of his own, he can say what he wants. Again, unless it's absolutely and utterly in contradiction with what I am saying to you, then I do not have a problem with it. It is not an issue all the time."
"He has been everything that I wanted him to be" - Martin O'Neill on Roy Keane
Asked about the Keane’s Everton comments, O'Neill said: "Well first of all, I haven't picked up on Roy's comments. I don't follow him around. I haven't had the chance to read what he has said.
"From my own perspective, regardless of what Roy has said, I think the situation was this: way back, let me put it this way, the two lads were not fit for the game against Gibraltar and Germany, and obviously played [for Everton] a couple of days later. That is understandable.
"I had spoken to Seamus and Seamus just wasn't right. I didn't speak to James at the time, but there was a thought that he might have played against Manchester United then, but didn't do so.
"I hadn't really a problem with that at all, it was just that this particular time, James does have a muscle injury. He came here, he was wanting to try it and really wanted to give it a go.
"We always thought that time would be against us and I think he will be perfectly all right to play at the weekend for his club, and really there isn't much more I can say about it."
O'Neill's defence of Keane was backed wholeheartedly by defender John O'Shea, a former Manchester United team-mate of the Cork man.
O'Shea said: "As the manager says, it's brilliant having him on board and I'd definitely echo those sentiments, without a doubt."
Asked what he brings to the set-up, O'Shea added: "Well obviously, along with the rest of Martin's coaching team, Roy's experience playing at such a high level, just his passion for the job - all those factors combined are very helpful."
Keane insisted on Sunday that the publicity surrounding him had not been a distraction in the build-up to the Euro 2016 qualifier in Glasgow, which Ireland lost 1-0, and O'Shea agreed.
He said: "Look it doesn't bother us one bit, honestly. We don't see it either way. It's more yourselves that really enjoy those facts. We just have our jobs to do on the pitch.
"Ultimately we train great, everything is prepared for us great and it's up to us to do the job on the pitch."
O'Neill will hope the focus will now return to exactly that, with a much-changed side due to face the United States at Aviva Stadium on Tuesday evening in a friendly which will bring an end Ireland’s 2014 fixtures.
"I have said to you - and I don't need Roy Keane for this, I don't need Roy Keane to tell me - but I'm not going to go and chase him, I am not chasing him" - Martin O'Neill on Aston Villa prospect Jack Grealish
Derby full-back Cyrus Christie and Ipswich striker David McGoldrick will both be handed first senior caps, but there will be no place for 19-year-old Grealish as he continues to keep his options open with England also on his trail.
"I don’t ask Jack anymore," Keane said of the English-born Ireland youth international's future.
"Sometimes it’s respect, you don’t want to pester people but, unfortunately, a lot would be coming from Jack’s dad. Knowing his dad, we could be waiting a bloody long while."
Keane's frustration with that situation may be clear, but O'Neill has been adamant from the start that he would not involve himself in a lengthy courtship.
He said: "I've spoken to Jack Grealish's father, I spoke to him at the time a way back some time ago. I spoke to the two of them and Jack's father and Jack were not in any great hurry at that particular time to make their minds up - fine, absolutely. I left it entirely up to them.
"Now at the end of it all, if Jack pulls out of the Under-21s and wants to concentrate on his club football, good luck to him, good luck to him.
"I can understand, Roy is not going to be running around there asking Jack Grealish's father every single day 'has he made his mind up?'. Let them decide themselves.
"If you are asking about young Grealish, it would be nice to have someone like that on board. I have said to you - and I don't need Roy Keane for this, I don't need Roy Keane to tell me - but I'm not going to go and chase him, I am not chasing him."
