“I think this is a mistake and I feared we might get to this position some months ago with Seamus,” Kenny Cunningham said on RTÉ Radio 1’s Inside Sport, as rte.ie reported.
According to former Republic of Ireland skipper Cunningham, Seamus Coleman’s current hybrid role cannot last and his position inside the national setup must be clarified soon. Leaving Everton when last season concluded left the 38-year-old Coleman clubless, and once again he has missed out on selection for the 24-man group assembled for this week’s international fixtures.
However, unlike the previous four-game window, Coleman is around the camp this week. Heimir Hallgrimsson explained that the full-back would be involved in a hybrid capacity that encompasses training with the squad and a support role alongside the coaching staff.
During Ireland’s painful first round play-off shootout defeat to Czechia back in March, the Euro 2016 veteran logged all 90 minutes plus the beginning of extra-time. He recently said he is edging towards retirement in a UK media appearance but so far has yet to make that call.
In Cunningham’s view, the ideal course of action would have seen Coleman hang up his international boots right after the match in Prague and transition straight into a coaching position. He argues that two and a half years is a long time until the next major finals at the European Championships for someone not playing regular first-team football.
“My gut feeling was what would be best – and again this may be not my place to say – would be if he stepped aside then and a role was made for him on the coaching staff immediately,” Cunningham told rte.ie.
He says that Coleman is hugely respected within the squad and his words carry weight. In the meantime, Cunningham suggests Coleman could have had a hands-on role in finding players to replace him in the full-back positions, noting that James Abankwah is there at the moment but isn’t a natural fit.
“We haven’t got a natural successor to Seamus, particularly in the right-back position,” Cunningham said on rte.ie.
Coleman will remain around the current setup for this window, but Cunningham is adamant that his role needs a surer footing when the squad reconvenes in March for a promotion-relegation play-off or friendlies.
“This can’t go on. After this window, the players will come back together next March and this needs to be resolved one way or the other,” Cunningham said on rte.ie.
Coleman is excluded from the 24-man squad because he is currently without a club after leaving Everton at the end of last season.
Heimir Hallgrimsson explained that Coleman is training with the squad and taking on a support role alongside the coaching staff this week.
The team faces Austria in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, with live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
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