Former Dundalk manager and assistant to Stephen Kenny has urged the Football Association of Ireland and Irish supporters to stick by the current Ireland boss for the long haul.
After a 3-2 defeat in Belgrade extended Kenny's winless run as Ireland manager, Perth insisted that the future will be brighter if he is trusted to continue in the role.
"I think we've got to back this manager," he insisted on Thursday's OTB AM. "People will say, 'Vinny would say that, he's talking about his mate.'
"Well, no, that's not true because if anyone has a gripe with Stephen Kenny in Irish football it is me, so, I'm not backing him for the sake of it.
"We've got to back him and make a long-term decision to run this national team like a club."
REACTION: 'If anyone has a gripe with Stephen Kenny in Irish football it’s me...' 🇮🇪
Vinny Perth issues rally call to back the Irish boss & calls-out anyone with an agenda against him | #COYBIG #SRBIRL#OTBAM with @GilletteUK | #MadeOfWhatMatters pic.twitter.com/jFgWzvGQEJ— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 25, 2021
Manager and assistant during Dundalk's recent period of success, when Kenny left the role to take over Ireland's U21s and subsequently the senior role, Perth took over as Dundalk boss.
Watching from afar as Kenny comes under increasing pressure from certain sections of the media, Perth insisted that we must "shut out the noise."
"I think the Coleman piece you done yesterday Ger was just sensational," he stated, alluding to a video clip from Wednesday's OTB AM that you can watch here. "It answered so much and shut people up and I thought Seamus was brilliant on it.
"It was nonsense the people, some of the journalists, have been so out of touch with what's happening in Irish football.
"We need to stop the noise and the rubbish. If he makes a mistake, call him out on it - he's big and ugly enough to deserve that! But don't make stuff up."
While he appreciates that such an outlook may not best serve Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the end will justify the means as far as Perth is concerned.
"I'm not suggesting we write it off and give Stephen Kenny a free pass," he allowed, "because there has to be constant improvement throughout this campaign up until the last game.
"I think we'll get the rewards of that in the European Championships and World Cup that follows.
"What he has done with the U21s for 18 months is starting to payoff in the first-team. Yes, he needs to win games but just back the man for god's sake."
You can watch Vinny Perth's full analysis of Ireland's defeat to Serbia here, and watch what Gary Breen had to say on matter on Thursday's OTB AM here
