Omar's moving finger writes.....

It was interesting to read the comments or should I say ‘alleged’ comments of Norn Iron manager Laurie Sanchez, regarding the possibility of doing the Norn iron job on a part-time basis. Admittedly there’s not a lot to do once qualifying or in our case, ‘failing’ to qualify, is over. But one has to always remember the old adage, ‘no man can serve two masters’. This especially rings true in regard to football management, it’s bad enough having the ‘wrangle’ over getting players released for matches, especially friendlies and we don’t want to have to negotiate the release of the manager as well. Just imagine the scenario, its mid-April, Norn iron have a prestigious friendly lined up against say Argentina, Laurie Sanchez is managing Portsmouth or whomever and they are involved in a relegation dogfight and must play the team that’s one place above them in the league. How in ‘hells name’ are we going to get any club to agree to release our manager for the International game? It’s not going to happen is it? No, I firmly believe that Laurie must decide what job he wants to do, probably like all managers he misses the ‘day to day’ involvement with the players, that’s one of the disadvantages of International management, but surely the ‘plusses’ must outweigh the minuses. If they don’t then Laurie will have to consider if this is the right position for him, if it isn’t he should walk away now and allow a ‘new man’ (don’t ask me who that would be) to take over during this period of non-activity. It would be a big loss to David Healy and company, as there is a great team spirit in the camp at the moment, but as they say, ‘life goes on’ and I believe we could survive, but let’s just hope we don’t have to and that Laurie will stay for another two years at least. After all ‘we’re not Brazil, we’re Norn Iron!