DAMIEN DUFF has somewhat addressed his exit from the Ireland setup.
The former Celtic coach left his post in Glasgow because of the distance between himself and his family on a regular basis. He got a move into the Irish setup with Stephen Kenny but he surprisingly left the role at the back end of 2020.
There was a breakdown between Duff and the FAI, the manager had nothing to do with the former Celtic reserve coach leaving the role.
It all stemmed from a video being played in the Irish dressing room ahead of the England game. Damien was unhappy with the way things were handled by the governing body and decided it wasn’t for him.
He didn’t want to indulge many of the details and knows himself it was a move which ultimately was to his detriment but he had to make it for his own sanity.
“I appreciate you have to ask but I don’t really have a lot to say on the matter, I know I made the right decision, not one day has passed where I have regretted it.” Duff told RECORDSPORT.
“I know it’s not ideal for the manager but at the same time I guess it’s a chance for him to bring in a better coach than me, he has done OK on the goalkeeping side already, he has brought in Dean Kiely, a great guy who will bring a great energy to the side, a top coach who is coaching at the top level in the Premier League every week.
The only person that’s lost out is me by walking away, you are soon forgotten, staff and players, I am sure they don’t have a problem with it and it’s water under the bridge.
“I have given up because I walked away, the chance to represent my country which is a massive, massive honour, the chance to coach elite players, which doesn’t come around very often. I lost a lot of focus which a lot of ex-players will tell you you need in your life.
“I felt strongly about things and I would have been unhappy with myself if I’d stayed.”
Celtic fans would love to see Duff make a return to the club but the same reasons he left Glasgow are still there at the moment.
There’s no doubt the coaches presence has been missed behind the scenes and on the face of it, Gavin Strachan has not been a fitting replacement to this point.
There could be a time when the former Premier League winner does make a return to Celtic but we can’t see it in the immediate future.
