Before beginning the process of looking for his successor, the FAI should explain their decision to award Martin O’Neill a contract extension earlier this year, according to Richie Sadlier.
After 55 games in charge of the Republic of Ireland, the FAI confirmed today that O’Neill, assistant manager Roy Keane and his backroom team had departed by "mutual consent" following an abject 2018, which saw the team manage just one win in the calendar year.
Sadlier believes the "right outcome" has been reached, but given the fact O’Neill signed a lucrative contract extension earlier this year, the former Millwall striker was keen to know the details.
"I’d be really interested to know what the specifics of that agreement are," told RTÉ Radio 1’s News at One.
The RTÉ soccer analyst has called on the FAI and its chief executive John Delaney to shed light on the circumstances that led to O’Neill’s extension, despite the Derryman being heavily linked with vacancies with Everton and Stoke City. O’Neill admitted he held talks with the Potters in a campaign that ultimately saw the club lose its Premier League status.
"This time last year, Martin O’Neill said in a video released by the FAI, that he had verbally agreed to extend his contract. A couple of months later, he still hadn’t signed the contract and was publicly pursuing work in the Premier League, attending job interviews. We all knew that. He still hadn’t signed his contract and the FAI said nothing.
"Why did they think Martin O’Neill was the right man then, in ways that they don’t now?"
"Subsequently he signed a contract extension to remain as Ireland manager. We heard nothing from the FAI throughout that period. John Delaney said nothing. Something about that just doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.
"Why did they think Martin O’Neill was the right man then, in ways that they don’t now? Why would you agree to extend the contract of a manager before the conclusion of a qualifying campaign? It wasn’t obvious to me at the time why they would do that, but that’s what they did.
"Did Martin go there [Stoke City] with their [FAI] blessing? Did he go their behind their back?"
While the main focus of attention will centre on O’Neill’s replacement, Sadlier believes that reflection and acknowledgement from the FAI is imperative if lessons are to be learned going forward.
"I think we should hold off and maybe move the spotlight onto the process and the people involved in the process. Why the FAI conducted themselves the way they have for the last 12 months and before that to give us some sense that we are in the right hands in relation to where we go from here
"Let’s hear from John Delaney"
"They obviously believed he was the man to take this team through what everyone regards as a difficult, transition period to rebuild and fins players from somewhere. That’s a judgement call the FAI made. It’s now turned out to be an incorrect call.
"Let’s hear from them. Let’s hear from John Delaney. Not just some brief little statement where he kind of swerves the issue. Let us hear him explain in detail why he did what he did in the last 12 months and what the thinking behind it was."
