Ireland boss Stephen Kenny insists he is not the new International Football Director as part of a FAI shake-up.
However Kenny confirmed that he will be a participant at executive level within the organisation, though he claims it will be on a more informal basis than was recently reported.
“To be honest my job hasn’t changed at all," said the Dubliner.
"I don’t have the title of Director. I’m the manager of the international team, that’s all I ever wanted to be. That’s a huge privilege and honour to do that.
“Since I’ve come into the organisation as under-21 manager I’ve been a strong voice, and I think that’s recognised.
“Football needs to be at the centre of the decision-making process, particularly with the international teams at all levels. I articulate my views, and we have a great Technical Director in Ruud Dokter, and he’s doing a very good job behind the scenes along with all of the underage international managers.
“My job is international team manager with eight games ahead in the Autumn, which is a big challenge. If I can contribute and give my experience and my views, not with the board of directors but with the senior management at the FAI, I’ll do that. I do that anyway.
"I think this just gives me a seat at the table if I require it. I don’t intend on attending all of the meetings, that’s not what I’m there for.
"It’s important, because of austerity at the FAI over the last number of years, some of the international teams at underage level may not have been resourced in the ways they might have wanted.
“That has a knock-on effect, as it affects how they do in qualifying for tournaments and how players come through.
“We haven’t seen players come through. We have Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady at 28 who have come through, and nobody for nine years until Aaron Connolly came through, aside from the two Cork City players, Alan Browne and Sean Maguire".
