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Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny futures could be issue for Republic of Ireland bosses

Kenny was already set to replace McCarthy after the Euro 2020 Championships

The FAI is on a collision course with manager Mick McCarthy and his successor Stephen Kenny ahead of the rearranged European Championship next summer.

The Republic of Ireland were committed to having McCarthy guide the team through the Euro 2020 playoffs and then to the tournament itself as long as they got past Slovakia in a game that was scheduled for later this month.

It had also been agreed that former Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny would oversee the U21s before succeeding McCarthy after Euro 2020 - or earlier if Ireland lost in the playoffs.

McCarthy was appointed for a second spell in charge in November 2018.
Image: Mick McCarthy might not be able to lead the Republic of Ireland into the Euros if they qualify

But with those playoffs now rescheduled for June and Euro 2020 now due to take place next year, the FAI has a problem - Kenny's contract to take over from McCarthy begins on August 1 and he would be within his rights to insist on that as his start date, even if Ireland qualify for the rescheduled Euros.

Stephen Kenny
Image: Stephen Kenny is scheduled to take over from McCarthy on August 1

If McCarthy, 61, steers his nation into the tournament he will want to stay on after the rearranged playoffs in June and manage the team into the main event.

The FAI will be aware of a possible backlash among fans if McCarthy successfully negotiates the playoffs and is then dispensed with in favour of the inexperienced Kenny, who left Dundalk in November 2018 to join the FAI set-up when McCarthy returned to replace the departed Martin O'Neill.

It is believed Kenny and his advisors will push to assume No 1 duties at the originally agreed date of August 1 - by then he will have served 20 months as the Republic's U21 manager.

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Talks have yet to take place about either eventuality, with some sources doubting that the playoffs will even go ahead in June as the Coronavirus crisis deepens around Europe.

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