Northern Ireland Ian Baraclough has spoken publicly for the first time since Oxford United player Mark Sykes indicated he'll be switching allegiance from the North to the Republic, and it's clear he was blindsided by the decision.
Sykes played for Baraclough as a Northern Ireland U21 but yesterday confirmed he wants to represent the Republic of Ireland. Speaking to the media today, Baraclough said he was shocked and disappointed to learn of Sykes's decision.
"I was shocked to take his call," he said.
"The conversation that developed was certainly not one that I was expecting, and one of big disappointment really.
"As a player that I've worked with at the under-21s, had a really good relationship with him, still got a good relationship with him.
"When you think about it really, if he'd have made a competitive appearance we wouldn't be talking about this situation and would you have a player on your hands that didn't really want to be there?
"I'm disappointed for all the coaches, managers, the people that have been involved in his development through all the age groups.
"I'm disappointed that he may have now taken a place of some other young kid who was coming through the system, and decisions had to be made and the other lad was maybe let go at a certain time."
Interestingly, Baraclough also revealed he rang Stephen Kenny about the situation, though he said the contents of that conversation will remain between him and the Ireland manager.
"I made the call (to Kenny), whether that call would have come back the other way I'm not sure."
"We had a conversation, and that will remain private between us."
Baraclough and Kenny would have managed against each other in the League of Ireland and took similar routes to their respective jobs as international managers. Sykes was omitted from Stephen Kenny's first Ireland squad today, but Kenny did reveal that Sykes is a fluent Irish speaker.
"Mark is someone who expressed an interest in playing for Ireland. He’s a good player, a really good player, he’s had a good season, he’s a fluent Irish speaker, he’s very proud of his Irish identity but it’s in its infancy really."
Meanwhile Sykes has told the Oxford United website that representing the Republic has always been a personal dream of his.
"I genuinely wish Northern Ireland all the best and know they will do well under their new manager, who I have worked with before and really like.
"The last few weeks have given me time to think about things and I have to do what my heart says.
"The Republic of Ireland are the team I have always dreamed of playing for and I have to try my best to achieve that. I am proud to have been involved with the Northern Ireland team, and have always given it my all, but I had to make a choice and it had to be now."
