Appointing John O'Shea as permanent manager at this stage would represent a PR disaster for the FAI, according to former Dundalk striker David McMillan.
O'Shea oversaw the fourth game of his stint as interim manager against Portugal in Aveiro, shipping the heaviest defeat so far, with Ronaldo bidding farewell to the home support with a brace of goals in a 3-0 win.
The previous week, O'Shea had steered the side to a rare win, Troy Parrott scuffing home a late winner against Euro 2024 bound Hungary in Dublin.
Seven months after Stephen Kenny departed as manager, there remains huge uncertainty as to who will succeed him on a permanent basis, with the 2024-25 Nations League campaign under three months away.
While several pundits, including RTÉ soccer analysts James McClean and Keith Treacy, feel O'Shea has done enough to warrant being given the job, McMillan says he "can't see it" at this stage in the process.
"I think if the FAI appoint O'Shea at this point, it'll look like an absolute disaster for them," the ex-Dundalk striker said on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
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"To have dragged it out this long and then appoint O'Shea... what were they doing? I can't see it. For them, it'll be a PR disaster if it happens.
"I'm not convinced O'Shea is the right man. I don't think the results have been that amazing or that the performances have changed that significantly from the Kenny era. I don't think it's been a monster change."
While Keith Treacy feels John O'Shea should be in "pole position" for the 🇮🇪 Ireland job, David McMillan believes that "if the FAI appoint O'Shea at this point, it will look like an absolute disaster for them" #COYBIG
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While McMillan accepts that judging O'Shea's Ireland against a team of Portugal's current quality is almost redundant, he still feels an experienced manager is what's required.
"It's fine to write off the Portugal game. They are an exceptional team. Even watching Scotland the other night against Germany - and Scotland are a good, good side - but you can see the gulf in quality that's there to the top, top teams. You do go into those games hoping for anything. Portugal is just littered with talent.
"If they do go with O'Shea, I'm sure the country will get behind him absolutely. But it's the scenario we've been left in, you'd hope there's a name there we can pull out of the bag.
"We'd be hoping for an experienced manager. Someone with international and club experience. And can help lift the squad.
"It's not the strongest Irish squad by any means but there's enough to be challenging and I think that's all anyone wants to see."
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