Ireland are woeful but Heimir isn't even our main problem

THERE was a terrible result for Irish football last week.

- BY GARRY DOYLE

Think we are referring to the debacle in Yerevan?

Yes, the 2-1 defeat to Armenia was an embarrassment, the performance an absolute disgrace, but the bigger problem, or worse result, came on Saturday afternoon.

Eight matches took place in the Premier League. And just three Irishmen, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jake O'Brien and Nathan Collins, featured in them. Add in Josh Cullen's outing for Burnley yesterday and that's your lot.

Four Premier League players, none of them operating in a good team.

That's way worse than a one-off result on a Tuesday evening 4,050 kilometres away ~ because the lack of a presence on Premier League team-sheets suggests that if today is dark, tomorrow won't be any brighter.

So the first question has to be: What is to be gained by sacking Heimir Hallgrimsson?

For an organisation struggling financially, a payoff, coupled with the expense of recruiting a replacement, isn't a luxury the FAI can afford to have.

And it begs the following question. Who would want the job? Because we don't need a new manager half as much as we need a new team.

Ireland simply don't have the players for any coach to make a difference.

Losing to Armenia still felt like a shock to a lot of Irish fans. But should it have been a surprise?