e dall'Irish Independent
Manager's door opens for Trap?
By Daniel McDonnell
Wednesday January 30 2008
IT had been quiet for a few days so it was no surprise that while the impasse continued another substantial gamble took place on the Irish manager's market yesterday, WRITES DANIEL McDONNELL.
This time, it was the turn of former Italian boss Giovanni Trapattoni to become the ninth favourite to replace Steve Staunton in the 99 days since he was sacked.
Trapattoni is currently manager of Red Bull Salzburg in Austria and it is hard to envisage how he would leave a location close to his family in the north of Italy to take the Irish job.
But, somehow, a number of punters seemed to believe it was a runner during the afternoon as the 68-year-old was backed into favourite ahead of Terry Venables.
The wild rumours suggested that Trapattoni might link up with Liam Brady in some capacity given that he managed the Dubliner during his time in charge of Juventus. In fact, such connections are the very method by which such unusual betting patterns are justified.
In the meantime, the real business of appointing a new boss will be on the long finger at board level at least for the next few days as FAI chief executive John Delaney travels to Zagreb today for UEFA Congress. He won't be back until Friday night which means that the earliest the Board of Management can convene is Saturday.
It was intended that the kingmakers Don Givens, Don Howe and Ray Houghton would be in a position to make a recommendation this week and the break gives them more time to find an option after being knocked back by Gerard Houllier.
For all the concerns that exist about Terry Venables there is still a strong chance that he will benefit from the Frenchman's decision. Along with the bookies.