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When Damien Duff contacted Stephen Kenny over Christmas to let him know that he wanted to leave his post on the Republic of Ireland coaching staff, the coach was understandably taken aback.
But this wasnt a complete bolt of lightning out of nowhere, as the may reveal how the Irish centurion had been willing to resign during a tense meeting with former acting FAI executive director Gary Owens in November.
As part of the investigation into the use of the now-infamous motivational video in the Wembley dressing room ahead of last year’s friendly with England, Duff passionately expressed his opinion that there was nothing to regret after famous moments in Irish history, like the 1916 Rising, they were represented.
And he was adamant that he would not accept any statement of apology from the FAI regarding the video.
In fact, rather than any dispute with Kenny, sources indicate that Duff no longer wanted to work for the FAI and that the drama related to a leak about the video had taken its toll.
Despite Kenny’s best attempts to persuade him to remain part of the setup, Duff held his ground into the New Year and his departure came to fruition in recent days.
Last night’s statement from the FAI came in at 9.41pm, and is believed to be another source of annoyance for Duff and others, as they did not want the story to be released at such a late hour.
The news was also greeted with astonishment by those inside the locker room. One source described Duff’s departure as “a massive blow”, another explained that “he was the main link between the players and the staff.” Many on the team had come to “adore” Duff for how he operated in boot camp, as well as for his use of crisp video analytics and also on a personal level.
“There is no nonsense with him, he makes his message get through very well,” added a source.
FAI staff also feel the sense of loss, some of whom describe Duff as an attractive presence (even with Covid restrictions) around the camps, far more so than his legendary colleague Robbie Keane, who was part of the regime. above by Mick McCarthy.
Ireland’s record scorer is still an FAI employee, but there is no chance that Kenny will turn to him to fill the void left by Duff.
the He understands that there are no hard feelings between the two men, and that Duff’s “determined” nature is a trait worthy of admiration, but there is no way to escape the optics of his departure.
Especially since Ireland have not won in Kenny’s first eight games and the World Cup qualifying campaign is just over two months away, but the Ireland coach is understood to accept Duff’s reasoning for wanting to walk away.
When some players and staff began to hear the news last night, the shock quickly subsided and a source added: “I assumed it was related to the video when I heard that he (Duff) was up in arms.”
The way the FAI dealt with the aftermath of “Videogate” should not be discounted. And such was the depth of Duff’s anger over how the Association added to the controversy, that the In England, whipped by describing the motivational tool as “anti-English,” it is understood that he lashed out at Owens and the FAI in a tense one-on-one interview in Abbotstown.
A statement issued by the FAI, so often almost shy about mundane press inquiries, said they were “investigating this (video) internally as a matter of urgency.”
It was during this process, in which Kenny and assistant manager Keith Andrews were interviewed, while senior players also backed the coach, that Duff declared his full support for the Ireland manager, insisting that if any disciplinary action was taken at against him for resorting to Irish history, he would feel unable to continue being part of the FAI.
That is a feeling that, ultimately, you have not been able to undo.
In fact, Duff hinted at the level of frustration he felt over the matter while working as an expert for ahead of Manchester United’s exit from the Champions League last month, though he tried to temper it with humor as he looked towards the opening double header of the March World Cup with Serbia and Luxembourg.
“And closer to the moment, obviously it’s up to us staff not to make any motivational videos, because even if they are based on real historical events, Irish events that you should be proud of, they can be very offensive to some people. So we’ll stay away from that in March. “
It turns out that Duff will have no involvement whatsoever, and while the Ireland manager is trying to take the loss in stride, there is no doubt that this news is another major headache in early 2021.
After a miserable start to his reign in 2020, with Covid decimating his squads, David McGoldrick retiring and also missing out on Euro 2020, the prospect of a new year offered hope for a change in fortune.
Kenny will now begin the search for a successor to Duff, who is not believed to have any other jobs in store but is content to continue in his role as Shelbourne’s U-17 head coach, which he already had while working with Kenny. . .
The 41-year-old is not believed to be looking forward to a quick return to Great Britain, where he previously garnered rave reviews for his work on Celtic’s coaching staff, and was promoted to the first team by Neil Lennon after the game. by Brendan Rodgers.
Based on fate, Duff is likely tied to the top job at Parkhead, as Lennon continues to feel the pressure after the Hoops’ bid for 10 straight Scottish league titles fizzled out.
Duff made his mark in Glasgow, where he remains highly respected, described as a diligent coach with a dry and deadly sense of humor, who “doesn’t screw around” and was always available at the club’s analytics center. to talk to players about specific areas of their game where they could improve.
There is an early story from his time with the Celtic first team that illustrates true affection. Duff closed out a training session by participating in a crossover and spike drill, with some of the foreign players in the locker room chatting about this impressive new coach. They were then explained exactly who he was, in what seemed like a lightbulb moment for some.
“Oh, Duff! Worthless! “It’s that kind of reverence that many on the Ireland team felt too, even if the quotes within the FAI statement last night kept things short.
“I want to thank Stephen Kenny for the opportunity he gave me to coach with the Irish senior team and I wish Stephen, Keith [Andrews] and good luck to the players for the next World Cup qualifiers, ”said Duff.
Kenny added: “Damien is an excellent coach, as he demonstrated in his time with us and his contribution to the Irish team was greatly appreciated by me, my staff and the players and I wish him the best of luck for the future.”
It’s one that Duff is clearly determined to follow on his terms.
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