STEPHEN BRADLEY has said the FAI does not deserve any praise for the appointment of Heimir Hallgrímsson – even if he is a success as Ireland coach.
And he scoffed at the Association’s claim that the Icelander had been identified as their first choice as early as March.
Bradley will bid to get one over Hallgrímsson’s compatriots when Shamrock Rovers take on Vikingur in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier at Tallaght Stadium, following a 0-0 draw last week.
And the Hoops boss has been encouraged about the feedback on the former Iceland and Jamaica manager from football contacts.
He said: “I spoke to a few people in Iceland when I was over there, before I went and when I came home and obviously when he got appointed I asked their opinion and they really like him.
“They said he’d be very pragmatic, back to basics. He’d be all about winning. They said he’s a very good man, the Irish public will like him. From the feedback I got, it was all positive.”
But he added: “Everyone has said it, he process has been awful, there’s no getting away from it.
“They can’t pat themselves on the back and think ‘we’ve done a good job here’. It’s been awful. But hopefully he is what we think he is and everyone supports him and gets behind him.
“Let’s be clear, though, there’s no pats on the back here.”
Asked if he believed the FAI’s claim he was identified as their preferred option in March, Bradley said: “I’ll tell the jokes around here. No, no, I don’t think anyone believes that.
“How many days did it go on? 231. And then to come out and say he was the first choice, honestly, you couldn’t write it.
“You’d have to question the timing of the whole thing as well. But look, the man is in and let’s support him and get behind him.”