Former Ireland player, captain and manager John Giles has confirmed he is to step away from duties with RTE's football panel after Euro 2016.
Giles has worked with the station since the 1980's and has been part of the station's coverage for all of Ireland's appearances from Euro 88 up to Euro 2012.
The former Leeds United star clarified his position on Thursday morning in a statement to The Herald. "I’ve been approached recently about my position with RTE after the Euros and I want to clear up any speculation. In my negotiations with RTE Head of Sport Ryle Nugent last year, he made it clear to me that this was to be the final year of my full-time engagement with RTE."
John Giles with Rory McIlroy in Newstalk in October 2013
"He said that this was designed to allow him to continue the requirement to plan and prepare for the future. This was perfectly understandable to me and I signed the contract which finishes after the Euro 2016 final in France in good faith. But I want to make it perfectly clear that I’m not retiring or even thinking about it."
Giles' departure from the panel is a major change in the landscape of how Irish football analysis has looked on RTE in recent memory. With the retirement of the late Bill O'Herlihy after the 2014 World Cup adding and now Giles' departure, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady remain the two last components from the famous group.
"I’ll be busy with my work for The Herald, Newstalk radio and I wouldn’t rule out television work in the future", Giles revealed in his statement. As always, you can hear John on Off the Ball on Thursday evening. This week he will be looking ahead to Ireland's internationals with Switzerland and Slovakia.
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