Crisis continues to engulf the FAI but Mick McCarthy insists it’s just noise to him and his players.
The Ireland boss claims the unfolding drama in Irish football is not a talking point in the squad - or a distraction heading for Denmark next week.
But McCarthy knows that positive results in this double-header against the Danes and minnows Gibraltar will help lift the mood.
“Whether you’re a national team, a town team, village team or city team, if you’re winning games everybody feels better about themselves,” he said, speaking at the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s National Finals.
“All the stuff that has gone on… staff in the FAI will be aware of it because they’re working there every day.
“But the players aren’t FAI employees. They don’t come in every day, they’re not having to hear it, read it, listen to it. They just come in and play football.”
Meanwhile, the Ireland boss was asked if Christian Eriksen’s Champions League final date with Tottenham – six days before the Denmark game – is a boost for Ireland.
“Only if someone clubs him,” he laughed. But McCarthy doubts the 5-1 World Cup play-off defeat to the Danes will be a factor next week.
He said: “If I lost heavily I wouldn’t be worried about that loss, I’d be more focused on getting a win. You want revenge but you’re not looking back.”
Mick McCarthy was at the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s National Finals, where he watched on as future stars were in action at the AVIVA Stadium with girls and boys from 13 counties battling it out for national honours.
The 2019 SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme was the biggest yet with a record 37,448 participants from 1,696 schools taking part in county, regional and provincial blitzes nationwide.
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