Announcing Stephen Kenny as the next Republic of Ireland manager is unfair to Mick McCarthy, according to Brian Kerr.

The former Ireland manager was speaking at Off The Ball’s Alex Hotel Roadshow in association with Virgin Media Sport and felt that the decision has hampered McCarthy during his time in charge.

“He shouldn’t have been put into that situation where his successor was picked when he was given the job. I’ve never come across that.

“I’ve never come across it in any job but certainly not in football where they pick your successor and tell you at the time. It’s a mad one.

“Has it gone well for Mick? I don’t think it’s helped Mick knowing that whatever happens you’re gone and that there’s already a mood there that the move is on.

“I think Stephen is a very good choice for the job but I just didn’t think it was right and I don’t think it’s helped Mick.

“I don’t think it's helped the speculation about the way we’re playing, the way we should be playing and how we should get results in the two games,” Kerr said.

'Players need to have faith in the manager'

The Dubliner is worried that players may be more concerned with impressing Kenny than they are McCarthy, as they know the current manager’s time in charge is limited regardless of results.

“Players need to have faith in the manager. They need to respect him but they also need not to be looking at him going, ‘Well I know you won’t be here too long anyway. It’s the next bloke I need to impress.’ It’s a really odd one,” Kerr commented.

“Off The Ball was at the Alex Hotel in association with Virgin Media Sport, who have over 400 UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Nations League games all live this season, with these games being available to all Virgin Media TV customers”

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