After yet another disappointing campaign under Nigel Worthington, and a continuation of the
unenviable streak that will now see Northern Ireland fail to make a major tournament for at least
32 years, the IFA will seek out a new manager to try and reverse the fortunes of the small nation
who have struggled in recent years for both talent and results on the international playing
field.
Robbie Fowler wants Northern Ireland job
Robbie Fowler wants the chance to lead Northern Ireland to the 2014 World Cup. Fowler has thrown
his hat into the ring after Nigel Worthington stepped down as manager.
View the full story here: The Mail
A news article on 2011-10-18 10:37:27 from: The Mail
This news item has been reproduced from today's media.
Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington will lead his team out as manager for the
last time on Tuesday night as his team take on Group C winners Italy. Worthington took the
job in 2007 but has failed to qualify for any major championships in his time and fans have been
frustrated with the fact their Country was beaten twice by Estonia who could now qualify for their
very first international finals.
Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington will lead his team out as manager for the
last time on Tuesday night as his team take on Group C winners Italy. Worthington took the
job in 2007 but has failed to qualify for any major championships in his time and fans have been
frustrated with the fact their Country was beaten twice by Estonia who could now qualify for their
very first international finals.
Some rather strange news this morning that Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington is unable to
get in touch with Newcastle United's impressive defender/winger Shane Ferguson, before tonight's
European 2012 qualifier against Estonia. Shane Ferguson - gone missing? Our immediate question
would be, why not?
Shane you couldn't make it Newcastle youngster Shane Ferguson has avoided a call-up to Northern
Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifier against Estonia this evening after failing to answer calls from
manager Nigel Worthington. Worthington went public to say that he had attempted to draft the
20-year-old into the squad but had been unable to get in [.
By Chris Wright
Celtic's Paddy McCourt was handed his first full competitive start for Nigel Worthington's Norn
Iron at Windsor Park last night, and went on to bag a brace in a 4-0 win over the Faroe
Islands.
The winger's second goal (the last goal of the night) was a thing of beauty, with McCourt
cutting in from the wing, tacking between a pair of listless defenders before hooking a perfect lob
over the Faroes 'keeper - all in a night's work for 'The Derry Pele'.
Pat'll do Celtic winger Paddy McCourt was the star of the show as Northern Ireland beat the Faroe
Islands 4-0 at Windsor Park to keep their Euro 2012 qualification hopes alive. McCourt scored two
goals on his first competitive start for Nigel Worthington's side, but it was second of his brace
that really (Mc)caught the [.
Robbie Keane expects his Ireland team-mate Shay Given to be back playing Premiership football next
season.
Manchester City goalkeeper Given has endured a frustrating year at Eastlands after losing his place
in the team to Joe Hart.
The 34-year-old Donegal born goal stopper is expected to move on in the summer and Keane has
underlined the qualities the former Newcastle goalkeeper offers.
Speaking ahead of tonight's Carling Nations Cup game against Nigel Worthington's IFA team, Ireland
captain Robbie Keane has waded into the eligibility issue stating that it was "totally up to the
players" themselves if young Irish internationals from the North decide to play for Ireland rather
than the IFA team.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has announced a provisional 33 man selection from which a squad
will be chosen to face Nigel Worthington's IFA team on May 24 and Scotland on May 29 in the Carling
Nations Cup followed by the Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia on June 4.
Ireland squad
Given (Man City), Westwood (Coventry), Forde (Millwall); Dunne (Aston Villa), O'Shea (Man Utd),
Foley (Wolves), Delaney (Ipswich), Clark (Aston Villa), Coleman (Everton), Kilbane (Huddersfield),
Kelly (Fulham), McShane (Hull); McCarthy (Wigan), Whelan (Stoke), Wilson (Stoke), Gibson (Man Utd),
McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Fahey (Birmingham), Lawrence (Portsmouth), Treacy (Preston), Hunt
(Wolves), Ward (Wolves); Keogh (Wolves), Stokes (Celtic) Folan (Colorado Rapids), Walters (Stoke),
Keane (West Ham), Long (Reading).
Ireland international striker Kevin Doyle has set his sights on playing for Ireland in their three
internationals at the end of the season.
Doyle has basically ruled himself out of the remainder of Wolves' battle for Barclays Premier
League survival after suffering a knee ligament injury when Ireland beat Macedonia in Dublin last
month.
Angin up boots lol Leeds defender George McCartney quit the Northern Ireland international set-up
by text message on Sunday night. The 29-year-old, on loan at Elland Road from Sunderland, sent an
SMS to Northern Ireland assistant manager Glynn Snodin also a coach at Leeds to say he was retiring
from international football.
Qualification for Euro 2012 begins again next month next month and I thought it was a good time
to review what has happened so far in qualifying.
It is no surprise to see holders and world champions Spain on maximum points along with Germany
and the Netherlands. Russia and Norway, revived by Egil Olsen, have also made a perfect start,
while Montenegro have been hugely impressive in their debut campaign.
