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Fergie refutes Ireland link

17/10/2005

Sir Alex Ferguson has denied suggestions that he could take over as coach of the Irish national team.

Brian Kerr's position as Ireland manager is in doubt after his side failed to qualify for the World Cup and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) will discuss his future at a meeting in Dublin on Tuesday.

Denis Irwin, who played under Ferguson at Old Trafford, is quoted as saying that the Manchester United manager has been contacted by the over the job and is interested in it.

"My very reliable sources in both Manchester and Dublin say there has been contact between the FAI and my old manager," Irwin told the Daily Star newspaper.

"Of course he is denying it… but that doesn't mean he won't be manager of Ireland by the time our next competitive games come around."

However Ferguson has flatly denied such claims and believes the former Ireland full back has been misquoted.

"I don't know where these things start," said Ferguson.

"Denis has told me he has not spoken to anyone and doesn't know where it has come from. It is the usual nonsense."

The experienced manager also reaffirmed his belief that he will retire from the game on leaving his current post.

"I made the point last week, after this job I'm finished," Ferguson reiterated.

"It is important to clarify this. Ireland have already got a manager. I don't think it is nice to be linked to a job that someone is already in."

Kerr's contract with the FAI ran out after Ireland missed out on the World Cup and Martin O'Neill, Sir Bobby Robson and David O'Leary have all been linked with his job.

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