The FAI's decision to appoint John O'Shea and Paddy McCarthy as interim head coach and assistant coach provides a moment to recalibrate our thinking.
It's essential to understand that, in the grand context of the national team's current state, the immediate results under our next manager's guidance are not the sole indicators of success.
Ireland finds itself in a period of transition, grappling with legacy issues that require more than just a master tactician to navigate.
Results become important for me when this next crop of young players have cut their teeth on the big stage and have established themselves into a stronger, more competitive side.
The process of selecting the new manager has unfolded in a lengthy, albeit unusual manner, marked by potential candidates or close friends of potential candidates using their platforms through punditry work to express interest or decline involvement.
Contrasted with the FAI's discreet approach, this has added a unique dimension to the search for leadership. What emerges from this situation is not a criticism of the process but an acknowledgment of its uniqueness as we come nearer to a permanent appointment.
The association has circled early April in their diaries as the moment to unveil their new permanent head coach.
If the FAI is still engaged in a long-standing dance with a candidate it has been courting for months, it might be time to change the tune.
The role of managing the national team is not a proposal to the debs, it's a professional commitment. This shouldn't take this long. If those in the running didn't accept the job months ago, there's a fair chance they're now just basking in the attention.
Attention that potentially distracts from what should be the heart of this discussion - namely the type of leadership required for the national team during this period. The emphasis should not solely be on achieving immediate success on the pitch but on instilling confidence within the current squad.
A leader who doesn't enforce a certain playing style on the players but creates a style that suits the personnel at our disposal.
The ideal candidate would be someone who embodies the ethos of the Irish fanbase - a manager who can connect with both the players and the public on a profound level.
To put it simply – someone who can run a dressing room and play the media well enough to limit expectations. We need a character.
The appointment of a new manager, therefore, is about more than finding a tactician. It's about identifying someone who can chart a course for the future.
The characteristics of understanding the fanbase, alongside the ability to instil confidence in the current squad, while blooding this new crop who are doing well at underage level.
John O'Shea, with a transition from player to coach that has been admirable, brings a wealth of experience and a level of respect from the football community that few can match.
His understanding of our current group of players as well as the next group who are yet to play at senior level, positions him as an ideal figure to navigate the challenges ahead.
Combine all this with his best asset – his approachable nature.
I played in what sadly turned out to be Paddy McCarthy's final professional game. He signed for Preston on a short-term loan just in time to play against Sheffield Wednesday on the Saturday. His game time only lasted 10 minutes before leaving the pitch injured.
Despite the unfortunate end to his playing career, being in his company for a brief 48 hours gave me an insight into Paddy that has remained with me since. His approach to the game, even after just arriving at the club without knowing anybody, demonstrated leadership and an ability to inspire those of us around him.
It's these attributes, observed first-hand, that make his early success in coaching no surprise to me.
Should the interminable search reveal that the traits sought in the next permanent head coach align with those exhibited by O'Shea and McCarthy during their time in the roles, it could hint at their suitability for the job on a longer-term basis.
Their deep knowledge of our current players and the players to come, combined with their early success as highly thought-of coaches within the game, suggests that they could be the right figures to lead us through this transitional period and beyond.
In this context, John O'Shea and Paddy McCarthy stand out not just as interim solutions but as potential stewards of Ireland's footballing future.
John could be the character we crave.
