Stephen Kenny has often split opinion during his time as Ireland boss, with the 'civil war' surrounding the team perhaps the dominant narrative during his time in charge.
While some supporters and ex-players want to give the former Dundalk boss time and can see what he is attempting to do with the team, others feel the results and performances up to this point mean he is already running out of time.
Paul McGrath has found himself leaning towards the latter.
Speaking on RTÉ 2FM's Game On earlier this week, the Ireland legend said that he feels Kenny might not be the man to lead the team forward.
When I watched the Portugal and Serbia games, the football that the lads played, in midfield and playing out from the back, they really are good players, but I have to say, it’s my belief that Stephen might not be the person to take us on to that level where we are starting to win things again.
I like Stephen, I love what he done with Dundalk, but there is something about Stephen in his way with the team at the moment, I don’t think he is going to change just because we are losing or drawing most games.
I think we do need to change. If we are losing games, we need to go to something else to try and win.
I think he has a tough job. Maybe some of the players aren’t as good as players we have had in the past, and I understand every country goes through that, but it would be nice to get a couple of wins and I hope Stephen does.
Maybe he will prove me wrong.
Stephen Kenny has now responded to those comments.
Speaking after the announcement of his squad for the upcoming games against Azerbaijan and Qatar, the 49-year old said that he had no problem with McGrath's opinion and hoped that he would prove him wrong further down the line.
Paul McGrath is an Irish legend, there’s no doubt about that.
I don’t think he was overly-critical. I think he said also he hoped I proved him wrong, and that’s certainly the intention in that regard. We want to do well, we want the team to be successful.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and that’s the nature of football, particularly international football but I’ve no major issue.
This month's fixtures would be a good place to start.
Ireland have yet to win a competitive fixture under Kenny's with the game in Azerbaijan perhaps their best opportunity to do so before the end of the year.
SEE ALSO: In Picking Keane Over Scully, Has Kenny Gone Against His Own Philosophy?
