Soccer:Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has said Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni deserves a "second chance".
The former international striker said he would like to see the national team reconnect with their fans and play like warriors.
“In some respects I think that it’s a little worrying when after a few years into a man’s contract the association are telling him to work harder. Naturally whatever business it is, whether it’s football, industry or whatever, that’s a little bit of a worry,” said Quinn.
“But okay I’m willing to say yes he’s done enough in the past to warrant a second chance almost, not that he was sacked or anything.”
Quinn said the Irish team out-performed their abilities in getting to the European Championships. “It’s the demise since then is the worrying part and is he the man to bring it forward? I said at the time after the Germany game I didn’t think so but I am willing to accept that it might be in everyone’s best interests that he’s kept on.”
Quinn said it was important for him that the players spoke highly about Trapattoni. However, he said he’d like to see the players reconnect with their fans again and show spirit even if they lose.
“That they don’t go down the way they did to Germany, where there wasn’t a warrior to be seen on our pitch that day. That’s the thing that worried me most.”
Quinn was speaking at the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, where he discussed his experience of doing business in Africa at the Africa Ireland Economic Forum.
