RTÉ Soccer analyst Richie Sadlier feels there is no clear answer to the manager conundrum that the FAI have landed themselves in as Stephen Kenny waits for his chance to take over as Republic of Ireland manager from Mick McCarthy.
Confirmation that the Euro 2020 play-offs would not be played in June has put pressure on the Association to make a call on whether they follow through with their plan for Kenny to take over in late summer of this year.
With the likelihood of a September date for the Slovakia game - or possibly even later - and a rejig of the Nations League, it leaves the board of the FAI with a big decision to make.
McCarthy has been a long servant for Irish football as a player and now a two-time manager, while Kenny is seen as the future of the senior side after a remarkable record in the League of Ireland with Dundalk and a revitalisation of the Under-21 side.
Sadlier told RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland: "The 1 August is now the key date. If the play-offs aren't played before then or if they are and Ireland are successful, we’ll get to a scenario where both Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny will feel like they have a right - and possibly a legal right - to be the manager of the senior team.
"We don’t know the specific wording of the contract or what the clauses are in it if it would allow the FAI some wriggle room if a scenario like this presented itself
"I think this is a scenario of their own making in one way. It was a ludicrous succession plan to have come up with a couple of years ago. I think the FAI are going to have to pick one or the other. I don’t think it’s workable to try to meet the obligations of both contracts.
"By that I mean, if Ireland qualify for the European Championships in 2021, you can’t allow Mick to do the job then and allow Stephen to meet his obligations of being the manager for the Nations League.
"You have to go with one or the other. It’s a conundrum for the FAI to solve. I don’t know what the right answer is.
"Hopefully it’s all in the context of Ireland playing in the Euros next summer."
