Madam, - When Mick McCarthy, the former Republic of Ireland soccer manager, turned up recently to watch the League of Ireland game between UCD and Waterford United he was jeered by a section of the Waterford supporters.
Mr McCarthy was appointed Sunderland manager in March 2003 after his resignation as Ireland manager. At that time the club was in deep crisis and already doomed to relegation - it ended that season with a total of 19 points, the lowest ever in the Premiership.
A squad of mostly ageing and highly-paid professionals needed to be drastically reduced and replaced if the club were to have any chance of returning to the Premiership. With little money to spend and with some supporters unsure of his managerial ability, Mick McCarthy set about the task of rebuilding the side. The road back was expected to be a long one.
Next Sunday at the Stadium of Light, a crowd of almost 50,000 Sunderland fans will acclaim him and his team for a remarkable achievement. Last Friday just over two years after his appointment, McCarthy led his club to the Championship title (promotion to the Premiership had already been secured the previous week), with victory over West Ham.
I do not know why he was jeered at Belfield Park but Mick McCarthy, who was once described by Roy Keane at that infamous Saipan meeting as "a crap manager", has, perhaps, made some people think again. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD BURKE, Springfield Court, Ennis, Co Clare.