Further changes inevitable as axe hovers

FURTHER changes in personnel appear inevitable at Shamrock Rovers given the surprisingly strong-worded critique of the existing team by new manager Pat Byrne, following the summary dismissal of Alan O'Neill and his assistant Terry Eviston.

The domestic game reverberated to the swift sacking of the previous managerial team after just one Premier Division game and the slightly messy way in which the change was handled. Byrne will remain on as commercial manager as well for the time being.

O'Neill and Eviston had been informed of the board's decision by club chairman Alan McGrath on Monday night. They in turn informed the players at Tuesday night's training session, and Eviston left before Byrne arrived to talk to the players.

An agreed press statement was scrapped yesterday when news of the managerial change was leaked, and both O'Neill and Eviston were reputedly further angered by radio interviews with Byrne yesterday morning, in which the new manager did not disguise his dim view of recent performances.

Although both their two-year contracts will be honoured financially, it is unclear whether O'Neill or Eviston will have any further involvement with the club. Byrne regarded Eviston's departure on Tuesday as "unprofessional", while a bitterly disappointed O'Neill was revising his decision to remain on as the team's goalkeeper. O'Neill was "not talking to the press" yesterday.

"Maybe I am too blunt. If Alan is hurt by what I say then I apologise but it's the truth," said Byrne, adding: "for the last two weeks the team has been going through the motions."

Tomorrow night's difficult trip to Richmond Park to play champions St Patrick's Athletic will reveal the players' and Byrne's attitude toward some of them.

"Friday is a big test because I can't change too much immediately. I have to see if people will play for the club and I'll know "that on Friday." Byrne does note believe he has a championship winning side as things stand.

Byrne has money to buy new players if needs be, reiterating that O'Neill had enjoyed the same spending power if he had felt obliged to do so. Indeed according to Byrne, O'Neill declined to sign Pat Scully the then commercial manager's recommendation. Byrne conceded: "Maybe the problem has been me," to the extent that his advice was deliberately countered by O'Neill in a desire to remain his own man and his own manager.

It had always been felt that O'Neill and Eviston were under severe pressure to obtain good results or else face the consequences. Byrne admitted yesterday that "someone said that was inevitable that it was going to happen. It was already organised at the start of the season. That hasn't been the case whatsoever. If people want to think that fine. I'm not going to try and defend myself to anybody. If I come in and do a bad job I'll be gone."

Following the club's change in ownership toward the end of last season and Byrne's appointment as commercial manager, their predecessor Ray Treacy warned them: "Lose three games and you're gone." In the event, last Friday's opening league defeat to Shelbourne was sufficient.

"It's not really one game," maintained club chairman McGrath. "We've had a look at a few games. Effectively, the team is not competitive against the major Dublin sides at the moment. That's what Shamrock Rovers aspire to, to be the best team in the country, to beat Shelbourne and St Patrick's and Bohemians. Better to do it now than in the middle of the season if it was required.

"Harsh isn't the word I would use, though they have been very deeply upset and hurt. But I have to take a view on what I think is best and I want a full-time professional set-up. I don't think we can go anywhere without it. I want a 24-hour commitment from the people who are running the team. Alan and Terry have commitments to their job and so are able to do that."

To that end McGrath and his, directors have moved swiftly, some would say ruthlessly, after a less than encouraging start to the season. Admittedly some limitations were already being exposed - a lack of pace all-round, little creativity on the flanks, and, as yet, no balance up front.

Then again Shelbourne, St Patrick's and Bohemians are all further into their seasons because of European involvement and, after just three defeats in 14 league games, it is hard to make a definitive judgment on O'Neill's fledgling managerial career.

Either way, if nothing else, the last three days proved one thing. As a country-based club chairman said yesterday: "These guys mean business."