David Wilson

The FAI have kind of announced a new sort of structure as far as how the underage set up is going.

I'm going to read you a little bit of the statement here and we can kind of discuss what it all actually means after that.

So the FAI has confirmed a new full-time international coaching structure that will strengthen the development and level of support provided across Ireland's underage international pathway.

That's what they intended to do anyway.

The innovative model will see five full-time international lead coaches, some familiar names in here, Noel Hunt, Chelsea Noonan, John Cotter, Keith O'Halloran and James Scott, who are going to work alongside four full-time international coaches in Conor McCormack, Graeme Gartland, Mark Connors and Richie Smith.

across all teams from under 15 up to under 19 level and they conclude this post by saying that the structure has been designed to transition away from a traditional age group model and instead create a more connected coaching team working across development phases supporting player development and ensuring greater alignment throughout the pathway now we've got a couple of additional comments

From the FAI Director of Football, John Martin, who said that this new coaching structure is about creating greater alignment, consistency and connection across our international pathway.

We want our young players to experience a clear identity and level of support throughout their journey with our national teams, regardless of the age group.

And then FAI Technical Director, Shane Robinson.

went on to say that the introduction of the new coaching structure is an important step forward for our international pathway and reflects the direction we want to take as an association.

We wanted to build a full-time coaching structure that is more connected, collaborative and aligned across the pathway.

So echoing similar sentiments there, both John Martin and Shane Robinson.

So the main takeaways there is the fact that this is going to be

you're moving away from your under 16 under 17 under 18 under 19 which of course will still exist to a degree but you're kind of making sure that all of these players are being told the same things from a younger age so that by the time they reach ideally the senior set up and the under 21 set up they've got a clear vision of what the Republic of Ireland national team wants to be and should be and is going to be by the sounds of what we're reading here

Unintentionally.

He was spoken to that with Darren O'Dea on a couple of weeks ago and it was the same thing about have you spoken to and he was like well

I've had little bits here there but like talk to me I want to give you my knowledge you know without saying it because that sounds like a very kind of cocky for want of a better word thing to say like oh I know all this stuff let me tell you but like it is the reality of it and when you mentioned about Graham Garland there and what he has to offer we've obviously heard him tell loads of different stories about the different things he's been through in his career and being over in England and things not working out for him and

And in different kind of areas, you know, obviously stuff did work out for him in different points.

But I think he was at Barnsley, he was at or something.

And I remember him getting released and the kind of brutal nature of it.