On Irish squad selection
"If you keep picking the same players who are not performing all the time, it's insanity, you get the same results.

"We all know what players we are talking about. There is a very fine line between loyalty and stupidity. Very fine line.

"That doesn't really appeal to me."

On talking to Steve Staunton

"I don't think there's any need to talk to him. I have got a couple of lads in the Welsh squad; I've not spoken to their manager. I have got a lad away with Hungary; I have not spoken to their manager.

"I think he has tried once or twice, he has left one or two messages. I've tried to get back to him, yeah, but we just keep missing each other."

On aspirations to manage Ireland

"I enjoy seeing my players every day, I have to say. It's not necessarily that they enjoy seeing me, but I enjoy working with them and being away every weekend, organising trips and working with them all the time.

"I enjoy getting to know their characters, and even getting to know their families. Whereas with an international manager, you're looking at six to eight matches a year.

On the FAI

"The FAI and soccer can learn a lot from the rugby lads, even the cricket lads. If you go into something believing that you are going to get there, then there's a good chance you will get there.

"If you think you're not going to get there, then I guarantee you won't get there. That's obviously coming from the top, from the FAI. If you cut corners that gets through to the teams. If you do things by half measures you're not going to get anywhere."