Brian Kerr speculated that it was perhaps an inner desire to right a wrong from two decades ago which led to Liam Brady suggesting him as the "safe pair of hands" who could be the next Ireland manager.
Kerr was Ireland manager from 2003 to 2005 as the senior side failed to qualify for the European Championships and World Cup.
"To be honest, I haven't been offered any position by the FAI since I finished with them, since I got a letter telling me they didn't need me anymore in 2005. Since then, my contact with them has been very, very little," Kerr told Virgin Media during their Europa League coverage on Thursday.
"Though, some individuals have talked to me and sought my advice now and again. That's been rare, and I don't expect that they are going to come to me at this stage and offer me a job. I'd be surprised if they did.
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"What more can I say? Maybe Liam's conscience was at him about things he said back in 2005 when we weren't that far away from qualifying. Himself and his mates on TV were giving me a bit of stick."
Brian Kerr responds to Liam Brady linking him to the Ireland manager's job:
🗣 "I haven't been offered any position in the FAI since I got a letter telling me they didn't need me anymore in 2005."
🗣 "Maybe Liam's conscience was at him for things he said in 2005."#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/sgxBEAPUuq
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 14, 2023
Kerr and former Ireland international Richard Dunne also dismissed Anthony Barry as a possible successor to Stephen Kenny. Barry, an assistant coach to Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich, previously worked with the Irish team during Kenny's reign. The Telegraph reported this week that he is a "leading candidate" to become the next Ireland manager.
"I'm sure there have been loads of agents of out of work managers who have been in touch," said Kerr.
"I've seen people at times saying, 'But sure who would want the job?' There would be hundreds of fellas that would love to have the Irish international job but not that many of them would be qualified in my view.
"Anthony (Barry) is certainly an interesting suggested candidate. He seems to be a very busy fella at the moment. He's full on with Bayern Munich. He's also operating with (Roberto) Martinez with Portugal.
12 October 2005; Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr shakes hands with Robbie Keane after he substituted him. FIFA 2006 World Cup Qualifier, Group 4, Republic of Ireland v Switzerland, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
"I don't think he should go from being a coach [to manager]. There's a huge difference between being the coach in the situations he's in and being the manager.
"The manager has the full responsibility. I think Stephen Kenny had something like 27 or 28 staff. You have a huge responsibility to all those staff to be on top of all the roles. When you're the coach, your responsibilities are much more contained and limited. You've got to be on the ball with regards to training.
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"I think it would be too big of a step to go from being a coach to the overall manager. Some of the other candidates, I wouldn't fancy them at all. Honestly, I think it should be someone with an Irish background with a feeling for Irish football.
"Two of our most successful managers weren't [Irish], Jack Charlton and Trapattoni. Neither of them played very good football but the public didn't mind for most of the time.
"Neither of them had much interest in Irish football outside managing the senior international team. I think the person should have an interest in the overall well-being of the game; it doesn't mean they have to spend a huge amount of time at it but they should have an interest in the development of the game.
𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻? 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆? 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆? 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗻? 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗼𝗻?
Brian Kerr and Richard Dunne discuss the FAI's search for the next Ireland manager. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/hZ4Q2dSumP
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 14, 2023
