Kevin Kilbane has hailed Paul Jewell as 'a forward-thinking coach' as the Republic of Ireland begin their search for a new manager.
Legendary Republic player-manager Johnny Giles has already sounded out Jewell regarding the prospect of taking up the post vacated by Steve Staunton following his sacking at the end of last month.
Giles has conceded he acted in an unofficial capacity, albeit with the blessing of Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney, to approach out-of-work Jewell following his departure from Wigan in May.
Jewell has conceded to being flattered and interested in the job, but is among a host of prospective candidates that include Terry Venables, Gerard Houllier and Roy Hodgson.
Of the current players in the Ireland squad, Kilbane knows Jewell well as the winger/full-back was signed by the former Latics boss for £2 million from Everton in August last year.
Although Kilbane has not spoken with Jewell regarding the post, he does speak highly of the 43-year-old.
'Whether or not he wants it, I don't know,' remarked Kilbane.
'But he signed me for Wigan, and I always got on well with him, so we will have to wait and see.
'Last season it all came down to the last game against Sheffield United, and probably his Wigan career will be judged on that.
'Prior to that he did so well, taking the club up from the old Second Division and winning promotion to the Premier League.
'He then kept them up, took them to the League Cup (final), so he has a good track record hasn't he?
'On the training ground, he was a forward-thinking coach, and he is a good man-motivator.
'But he's not indicated he wants the job. It's all speculation at the moment, with a number of top-quality candidates mentioned.
'I'm sure it will be sorted soon, and it will be good when it is.'
No matter who is appointed, Kilbane has no intention of retiring from international football yet as he is determined to add to the 86 caps he has already won.
'I'm definitely carrying on,' insisted Kilbane.
'I'm 30 years of age. It's not as if I'm 35 or something like that.
'I feel as though I've still something to give, whether it be in or around the squad, I don't know what. We'll wait and see.'
Kilbane, though, knows there has to be significant improvements if the Republic are to end a run of three successive qualification campaigns without reaching the finals.
'We certainly have to improve, and with the full squad we have, we need to keep everybody fit,' he said.
'If we do that then I'm sure we will have a successful campaign in the World Cup qualifiers.
'At least whoever comes in - and they are all quality candidates - they will know they have good players here.
'We have to build, be in it for now, and be right for the World Cup campaign if we are to go forward.'
Predictably, the Republic's final Group D game with Wales mirrored their European Championship programme as a whole.
Ireland occasionally showed promise, only for the game to end in disappointment as Jason Koumas scored a late penalty after captain Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle had cancelled out the midfielder's opening goal.
'It was an unfortunate way to end what has been a disappointing campaign,' added Kilbane.
'I've seen the penalty decision (a Paul McShane tug on substitute David Cotterill), and it certainly didn't look a penalty to me.
'But ultimately it has cost us, so it's disappointing the way it has finished.'
