James McClean labels FAI’s search for new manager a ‘shambles’ and reveals his pick for Ireland job

James McClean has hit out at the FAI’s lengthy search for a new manager and labelled the process as a “shambles”.

After Stephen Kenny’s reign ended last November, the FAI embarked on the search for his successor as outgoing CEO Jonathan Hill outlined that they aimed to appoint a new boss before the Nations League draw last February.

That failed to come to pass and last month, FAI director of football Marc Canham said that “existing contractual arrangements” were preventing the association from announcing their chosen one, before saying “we look forward to announcing that new head coach in early April.”

Last week, Abbotstown officials indicated that they planned to reveal the identity of their new boss this week, but that timeline has now been pushed back again with the process clouded in uncertainty yet again, following fresh approaches to Chris Hughton and Anthony Barry in recent weeks.

Yesterday, John O’Shea, who was interim boss for last month’s double-header, admitted that he has “no idea” where the search currently stands, with former teammate McClean backing him for the job.

“The way the FAI has gone about it has been a bit of a shambles really. It seems that they’re just trying whoever’s available. Throwing out all sorts of names and no one seems to want the job,” said McClean, speaking to Dublin Live today.

“John’s a great football man, (he has) a lot of knowledge in the game. So I don’t see what they could lose in giving it to John to be honest.

“He’s quite a likeable man, he’s good with the lads. He knows the game inside out, has been there and done it at the highest level.

“I think they could do a lot worse than give it to John. John gets my vote, hands down, I think he already knows that.”

McClean retired from international football last November after winning his 104th and final cap against New Zealand, having made his debut in 2012.

After signing for Wrexham from Wigan last August, the 34-year-old helped Welsh side win promotion to League One last weekend, hitting three assists in their 6-0 win over Forest Green which sealed a first return to the third tier since 2004/05.

McClean was speaking today at an AsIAm Autism awareness event in Dublin.

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.