Darren Randolph is expected to retain his place as Ireland's #1 goalkeeper when Martin O'Neill names his team to play Georgia on Saturday, but it would have been interesting to see if that would happen if the Bray man had remained at West Ham United this summer.
Randolph started and finished the season as the Hammers' backup keeper but was first-choice for the majority of the campaign and put in some fantastic performances along the way - most notably his displays at Old Trafford and Anfield - so some were surprised to see him drop down a division with Middlesbrough.
Speaking to the press at Ireland's post-training press conference today [via Independent.ie], Randolph admitted that playing starting regularly for his club so that he could keep his Ireland place played a role in his decision, but also admitted that he and Adrian were in a race to leave the club once Joe Hart was confirmed to be arriving.
I wanted to be playing games so I had to get out. I couldn't expect to keep playing (for Ireland) if I'm not playing at club level, so that was definitely a factor.
I heard about Joe Hart coming in at the end of last season. I went away on holiday and then came back to Ireland for the Austria game.
It was clear he was going to sign and that there was a race to see who could try and get out of the door first. I just think with the situation we were in, they weren't going to let both of us go. They would have had to keep one and then let one go.
Some admirable honesty from Randolph, as most would have left it at wanting to retain their international spot, but he was under no illusions to the fact that the club were planning for life without him as their goalkeeper.
It hasn't made much of a difference, as Hart has shipped 10 goals in their opening three games, while Boro on the flip side have conceded three in five games, but everyone on Teeside will be hoping the club can move up the table and challenge for promotion again this season.
