Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy feels his successor Stephen Kenny has appointed a very fine backroom team in Keith Andrews and Damien Duff.
Their appointments means there's unlikely to be a role for Ireland's leading goalscorer Robbie Keane in the new Ireland set-up.
Keane's got two years remaining on his FAI contract, and it's likely the association will need to come to an agreement to massage his departure.
Kenny's told RTE that his not wanting Keane among his staff is "nothing personal" and that he has the height of respect for the former Tottenham man.
"I think with Keith Andrews - who's a good coach," McCarthy told Sky Sports, "and Duffer who's coming from Celtic, he's got really good guys coming with him."
Remarkable
McCarthy's again been full of praise for Kenny, who will aim to finish what McCarthy started and qualify Ireland for Euro 2021.
"His record - certainly at Dundalk - was incredible, winning the league I don't know how many times on the bounce", McCarthy added.
"And what he's achieved with the under-21s since taking over has been remarkable.
"They play some really good football, he's got some really talented players."
McCarthy says Kenny has one particular advantage in making the step up to the senior job, "I think he's been in a really good position for his future that he's been coaching the U21s for the last twenty months."
The former Ipswich and Wolves manager says he wasn't surprised by how things unfolded last weekend, "I said 'No I'd be leaving on July 31, 2020'. So that's what's happened and I'm not surprised.
"Good luck to Stephen. He's got the job now and let's hope they qualify."
McCarthy doesn't believe the Ireland job will prove to be his last.
He says - without an eye on any one role in particular - that he is open to offers for a return to work.
Charity
The 61-year old's also backed the creation of the #PlayersTogether initiative by Premier League footballers.
"Lots of players I'm have their own foundations and they've been giving to charities but they don't go around telling everyone about it", McCarthy said on Thursday afternoon.
"It's just a shame they were called out.
"It's not an easy thing to say that 'we should all take a 30% cut', and where does it go to? If a club's just stopped their money - where does it actually go to?
"I'd like to know where it was going, and that whatever I'm giving the full amount is going to the NHS or wherever they're going to give it to."
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