Mick McCarthy has said he is “hugely disappointed” to be leaving the Ireland job prematurely but feels it is the correct decision.
Stephen Kenny was today appointed as the new manager with immediate effect and will lead Ireland into the Euro 2020 playoff with Slovakia.
That game has been kicked back until September at the earliest, but a November date looks likely.
And with a Nations League campaign to come before it, the FAI felt it was only right to honour Kenny’s contract as he was due to start on August 1.
McCarthy said today: “These are extraordinary circumstances - for everyone - with the coronavirus and football has been cancelled world wide.
“When I started on December 1, 2018, I said I would be leaving on July 31, 2020 come what may and that is still the case.
“It has obviously been brought forward because of what happened world wide and that is hugely disappointing - but I understand it.
"This gives everyone clarity. My phone has been going with people asking me what‘s going to happen, but credit Gary Ownes and Roy Barrett (from the FAI) as the decision was made quickly.”
McCarthy told FAI TV: ”I’m disappointed that I can’t finish it off as I think we’ve had a really good campaign.
“But the playoffs have been pushed back and I fully understand that. Stephen Kenny was contracted in August and good luck to him as he gets the chance to qualify.”
McCarthy revealed that the decision was made yesterday and he phone his backroom team to thank them.
Assistant manager Terry Connor is also leaving but Robbie Keane has another year to run on his contract although he’s not expected to be part of Kenny’s setup.
McCarthty continued: “If a reconnection (with the Ireland team) was needed, I think we certainly got it and we gradually got better.
“We only lost one out of the 10 games and that was to Switzerland away. It’s been brilliant and I’ve loved being back.
“It was an absolute pleasure and an honour to do the job again and I’m leaving Stephen with a healthy balance. It's bittersweet but I support him.”
