FAI...New Manager Hunt continues

[David McKeown]

Kenny approached Sykes to declare. That might have given him hope, he's paying League 1 so will have a bit to do.
There has been other Northern players in the past who switched, and were never capped by the Republicx like Daniel Kearns

He's no chance of a call-up for forseeable.  From a caeer / money point of view, seems a bad move as he's unlikely to follow same trajectory of Gavin Whyte without having international football to help boost his profile.  As another poster said though, I guess his heart wasn't in it.  Fair enough, but as with Grealish and Rice, just a shame it took him 7 years to work that out and at same time took away potential opportunity for development from someone else.

Must say I don't get the taking away the development of someone else used a lot by NI supporters. Nationalists and those of nationalist backgrounds are entitled to whatever sporting facilities are available to them in NI. They pay tax - in fact latest tax show the nationalist population as the largest tax contributors - and this tax funds much of this. Many sports stars also develop as athletes through the GAA before switching codes to soccer and rugby - and people like Gerry Armstrong have gone this route. Same thing happens in South and that is okay. It's the way of the world. No one is missing out, if they are good enough they will rise to the top.

Not really to do with money.  I wouldn't imagine that a huge amount of the money required to run the IFA day to day comes from tax payer's money.
There are a finite number of spaces available in underage football so his place would have been better served going to someone else, particularly given that underage international football is designed to be a vehicle to develop players for the senior international team. 
As for the 'if they are goood enough argument', it's tough going making it in professional football in England.  You could argue that Sykes might not have made it to the dizzy heights of the 3rd tier in English football without the increased profile and additional coaching and experience that he would have gained from playing underage international football.  Arguably another player from with similar ability could have maximised his ability in the same way that Sykes has done.

So your problem is with sectarian agreement in place at underage level between the IFA and the FAI of which a decision to switch is clearly a by product?

[GiveItToTheShooters]

Once a player gets to say 20/21, they should have to decide one way or the other and that's it. It'd save a lot of messing

Different players develop at different paces and ages, putting a deadline on it would be wrong. There also isn't any "messing", as you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture, as has happened in this case. There is no problem. The only uproar is from bitter NI fans.

[rodney trotter]

It's not a Club team. Not developing a player for a feeder team. It makes a mockery of International football. Declan Rice played the whole way up with Ireland and 3 Senior friendlies.

Ireland weren't developing him to play for England.

[6th sam]

If Declan rice and jack Grealish feel they want to play for England , good luck to them. I respect their right to choose , regardless of their choice of international youth development pathway. The anti-English racism from some ROI followers is equally appalling.

Regarding the GFA, it accepted the NI state through the consent principle , and many of us were that happy to see the end of the conflict that we didn't perhaps appreciate that many actually envisaged the continuance of  NI state as a long term solution. 22 years on NI state as we know it is "a dead man walking" , as unionist politic missed their opportunity to show equal respect for Irish identity.

The lack of empathy and respect for NI citizens wanting to play for ROI is a clear indication of this blind spot.

Does the IFA and NI supporters not get this: a sizeable proportion of the citizens of the NI state have absolutely no affinity to the NI football team, and never will. No matter what the IFA and NI supporters do, and they are trying hard, that won't change.

The equivalent would be of footballers in the Balkan states being forced to play for the country they happened to reside in at the time of the carve up
Of the former Yugoslavia  , in spite of their ethnicity and patriotic leanings .

I can see all above points but I don't think the emotive aspect is a high in Sykes' case.   People are ignoring the fact that he went along in Euro qualifier squads.  One injury and he could have played and be fully committed to Northern Ireland. 

So it's not a case of a young lad only having access to local development training, it's not a case of someone who could not bring himself to play for Northern Ireland but actually someone who was happy to until something better came along.

That has to grate for genuine Northern Ireland fans.

/Jim.

To be fair, I think he went to Euros to gain experience / help with training and small sided games etc.  He was in 3 senior squads though and would have been tied to NI if he played even a couple of mins.

These are difficult decisions for players trying to advance their career in their chosen profession . It's a lot hardier because they expose themselves to be pilloried snd subject to racism if they choose ROI. NI soccer have a disgraceful history in terms of anti-irishness and sectarianism. If they want throw those shackles off they should embrace the decision of players to choose their international team. Anyone who doesn't respect this , should it be in the case of James McClean or Declan Rice, leaves themselves open to accusations of racism . James mcclean has proven to be one of Ireland's most committed and loyal and patriotic players. I think it's bizarre That NI would want a player such as mcclean who has no affinity to them, it's the equivalent of Down fans resenting Kieran Mcgeeney playing for Armagh , because he was born in Newry.

[macdanger2]

Once a player gets to say 20/21, they should have to decide one way or the other and that's it. It'd save a lot of messing

Different players develop at different paces and ages, putting a deadline on it would be wrong. There also isn't any "messing", as you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture, as has happened in this case. There is no problem. The only uproar is from bitter NI fans.

That's my point, I think that rule should be changed; I understand that at younger ages a player is happy to get any call up but I think the limit should be set at 20/21. Doesn't matter what pace you develop at, you should be pretty clear on where your allegiances lie by the time you're 20/21

[Baile Brigín 2]

Fair play to Mark Sykes. Well within his rights to do what he has done, no issue here. Looking forward to seeing him in an Ireland jersey once his transfer goes through.

There is zero chance of a call up. All this fella did was tell the IFA he would rather not play internationally at all than play for them.

[An Watcher]

Give the fella a chance. He's young, still developing and could be one for the future. Beggars can't be choosers

[David McKeown]

Once a player gets to say 20/21, they should have to decide one way or the other and that's it. It'd save a lot of messing

Different players develop at different paces and ages, putting a deadline on it would be wrong. There also isn't any "messing", as you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture, as has happened in this case. There is no problem. The only uproar is from bitter NI fans.

That's my point, I think that rule should be changed; I understand that at younger ages a player is happy to get any call up but I think the limit should be set at 20/21. Doesn't matter what pace you develop at, you should be pretty clear on where your allegiances lie by the time you're 20/21

That would make the disgraceful agreement between the IFA and FAI even more abhorrent

[Baile Brigín 2]

Give the fella a chance. He's young, still developing and could be one for the future. Beggars can't be choosers

He is 23 and just finished his first season as a pro in L2. I'm not knocking the lad. But he wasn't able to break the 6 county side after coming through the youth ranks. He is at least 10th in line for the RoI

[Baile Brigín 2]

Once a player gets to say 20/21, they should have to decide one way or the other and that's it. It'd save a lot of messing

Different players develop at different paces and ages, putting a deadline on it would be wrong. There also isn't any "messing", as you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture, as has happened in this case. There is no problem. The only uproar is from bitter NI fans.

That's my point, I think that rule should be changed; I understand that at younger ages a player is happy to get any call up but I think the limit should be set at 20/21. Doesn't matter what pace you develop at, you should be pretty clear on where your allegiances lie by the time you're 20/21

That would make the disgraceful agreement between the IFA and FAI even more abhorrent

What agreement?

[general_lee]

Give the fella a chance. He's young, still developing and could be one for the future. Beggars can't be choosers

He is 23 and just finished his first season as a pro in L2. I'm not knocking the lad. But he wasn't able to break the 6 county side after coming through the youth ranks. He is at least 10th in line for the RoI

Is he aye? Tbh once a player shows a bit of form (or lack thereof) they can be thrown into/out of international squads quite easily.

[David McKeown]

Once a player gets to say 20/21, they should have to decide one way or the other and that's it. It'd save a lot of messing

Different players develop at different paces and ages, putting a deadline on it would be wrong. There also isn't any "messing", as you're free to choose your allegiance up until you play a senior competitive fixture, as has happened in this case. There is no problem. The only uproar is from bitter NI fans.

That's my point, I think that rule should be changed; I understand that at younger ages a player is happy to get any call up but I think the limit should be set at 20/21. Doesn't matter what pace you develop at, you should be pretty clear on where your allegiances lie by the time you're 20/21

That would make the disgraceful agreement between the IFA and FAI even more abhorrent

What agreement?

There's an agreement in place between the associations that the FAI will not select players born in Northern Ireland for youth teams unless they also qualify by some other means eg that they are living in the Republic. It came about after the IFA took a player to court to stop him playing for his country. So by and large the choice for aspiring footballers in the North is play for Northern Ireland or don't play underage international football even though you are eligible to Play for what is (if you so decided) to and may feel is your country.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

To be fair, I think he went to Euros to gain experience / help with training and small sided games etc.  He was in 3 senior squads though and would have been tied to NI if he played even a couple of mins.

The question in my mind is what would he have done if Michael O'Neill called him to go on as a substitute in one of those qualifiers?

For someone whose underage caps were a product out of compulsion/necessity and whose ultimate aim was to play for the Republic, it was a precarious position to put himself into.

/Jim.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

To be fair, I think he went to Euros to gain experience / help with training and small sided games etc.  He was in 3 senior squads though and would have been tied to NI if he played even a couple of mins.

The question in my mind is what would he have done if Michael O'Neill called him to go on as a substitute in one of those qualifiers?

For someone whose underage caps were a product out of compulsion/necessity and whose ultimate aim was to play for the Republic, it was a precarious position to put himself into.

/Jim.

Rice and Grealish were the same. If only Martin o Neil brought them on when 6-0 up against Gibraltar or something might have saved a lot of nonsense

[michaelg]

To be fair, I think he went to Euros to gain experience / help with training and small sided games etc.  He was in 3 senior squads though and would have been tied to NI if he played even a couple of mins.

The question in my mind is what would he have done if Michael O'Neill called him to go on as a substitute in one of those qualifiers?

For someone whose underage caps were a product out of compulsion/necessity and whose ultimate aim was to play for the Republic, it was a precarious position to put himself into.

/Jim.

If he took his place in the squad I would be fairly certain that he would have gone on the pitch.